The Continental Congress Planned the Revolutionary War

by Will G. '07

Imagine if you had no voice in your own government. Imagine being ruled by one king. How would that make you feel? These things angered many of the colonists and made them form a Continental Congress. This paper will focus on the Second Continental Congress. This paper will tell what a Continental Congress is, who was present, and what decisions were made there.
What is a Continental Congress? It is a group of delegates from each colony. They wanted to create a declaration stating their independence from England and set up rules for self-governing. The First Continental Congress was held on September 5, 1774. It was in Philadelphia. The Second Continental Congress also occurred in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It happened on May 10, 1775.
Who was present at the Second Continental Congress? Thomas Jefferson was asked to write the Declaration of Independence. He was from Virginia. George Washington, another member, was elected chief for the party. He was also from Virginia. Benjamin Franklin was elected to edit this document. He was from Boston but moved to Philadelphia. John Hancock was elected to sign the declaration first. He wanted to control the Continental Army, but George Washington was chosen instead.
What decisions did the Second Continental Congress make? The Second Continental Congress made up fair rules for trade. They made up paper money which was used universally throughout the colonies. They also made plans for the Revolutionary War. The most important thing this group did was to say that the thirteen colonies should be independent from Great Britain.
In conclusion, I covered the Second Continental Congress. The three points I discussed were what a Continental Congress is, who was present, and what decisions were made. I learned that if you work together, you will get more done than working by yourself.