SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

Second Continental Congress

Second Continental Congress

Second Continental Congress was the convention of delegates from Thirteen Colonies that met from May 10, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, shortly after war in War of Independence had begun. It succeeded First Continental Congress, which met briefly in 1774, also in Philadelphia. Second Congress directed colonial war effort, and gradually moved toward independence, adoption of United States Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. By raising armies, directing strategy, appointing diplomats, and making formal treaties, Congress acted as de facto national government of what became United States. With ratification of Articles of Confederation, Congress was known as Congress of Confederation.

When Second Continental Congress met on May 10, 1775 was, in effect, the new edition of First Continental Congress. Many of same 56 delegates who attended first meeting were present at second, and delegates appointed president himself (Peyton Randolph) and secretary (Charles Thomson). Notable newcomers include Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and John Hancock of Massachusetts. Within two weeks, Randolph was called back to Virginia to head House of Burgesses, was replaced in delegation of Virginia by Thomas Jefferson, who arrived several weeks later. Henry Middleton was elected as president to replace Randolph, but he refused, and Hancock was elected president on 24 May. (Fowler 1980)

Delegates from twelve of thirteen colonies were present when Second Continental Congress convened. Georgia had not participated in First Continental Congress, and initially did not send delegates to Second Continental Congress. On May 13, 1775, Lyman Hall was admitted as the delegate of Parish of San Juan in colony of Georgia, not as the delegate from same colony. On July 4, 1775, Georgians held the revolutionary provincial congress to decide how to respond to American Revolution, and that Congress decided on July 8 to send delegates to Continental Congress. They arrived on July 20.

Its predecessor, First Continental Congress had sent appeals to British King George III to prevent acts of coercion and created Continental Association to establish the coordinated protest of law enforcement, including the boycott had been placed in British goods. First, that Congress provided that Second Continental Congress meets on May 10, 1775, to plan further responses if British government had not repealed or amended laws are coercive. (Burnett 1941)

By time Second Continental Congress met, American Revolutionary War had begun with battles of Lexington and Concord. Congress was to take charge of war effort. For first few months of struggle, Patriots had made in fight on an ad-hoc and uncoordinated. Had seized arsenals, expelled royal officials and besieged British army in city of Boston. On June 14, 1775, Congress voted to create Continental Army militia units around Boston and quickly named George Washington, Virginia congressman, as commanding general of Continental Army. On July 6, 1775, Congress passed the Declaration of Causes outline reasons and need to take up arms in Thirteen Colonies. "On July 8, Congress extended request of olive branch to British Crown as the last attempt at reconciliation. However, it was too late to do ...