The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from
the 13 colonies that formed in Philadelphia in May 1775, soon after the
launch of the American Revolutionary War. It succeeded the First
Continental Congress, which met between September and October of 1774.
The First Continental Congress petitioned King George III to repeal
the Intolerable Acts (punitive measures passed by Parliament in response
to the Boston Tea Party) and initiated a boycott of British goods. The
First Congress established that the Second Continental Congress would
convene on May 10, 1775.
Many of the same 56 delegates present at the First Continental
Congress were in attendance at the Second Congress. The delegates
reappointed former Continental Congress president, Peyton Randolph, and
secretary, Charles Thomson, to reprise their roles at the Second
Congress. Randolph was soon called away by other duties and succeeded by
John Hancock as president. Other notable members of the Congress
included Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams.
By the time the Second Continental Congress met, the American
Revolutionary War was already underway. For the first few months of this
conflict, the Patriots had carried on their struggle in an ad-hoc and
uncoordinated manner. At this point, Congress intervened and assumed
leadership of the war effort.
On June 14, 1775, Congress voted to create the Continental Army from
Boston militia units. Congressman George Washington of Virginia was
appointed commanding general of the army. On July 6, 1775, Congress
approved a Declaration of Causes outlining the rationale and necessity
for taking up arms in the 13 colonies. On July 8, Congress extended the
Olive Branch Petition to the British Crown as a final, unsuccessful
attempt at reconciliation.
The Congress assumed all the functions of a national government, such
as appointing ambassadors, signing treaties, raising armies, appointing
generals, obtaining loans from Europe, and disbursing funds. In the
meantime, the Second Continental Congress tried to lead the new country
through the war with borrowed funds and no authority to levy taxes. The
Congress relied on money, supplies, and troops from the states to
support the war effort; however, individual states frequently ignored
requests for support.
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