The Continental Congress was a series of legislative and governing bodies representing the Thirteen American Colonies and later the United States during the period leading up to and throughout the American Revolutionary War. It served as the collective political authority coordinating colonial resistance against British rule and eventually acted as the provisional government of the new nation. Key aspects of the Continental Congress:
- First Continental Congress (1774): Convened in Philadelphia from September 5 to October 26, 1774, it included delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies (all except Georgia). The Congress was called in response to the British imposition of the Intolerable Acts following the Boston Tea Party. Its main actions were to assert colonial rights, organize an economic boycott of British goods, and petition King George III for redress of grievances. At this stage, most delegates sought fair treatment within the British Empire rather than full independence
- Second Continental Congress (1775–1781): Meeting again in Philadelphia starting May 1775, this Congress managed the colonial war effort after hostilities began in Massachusetts. It established the Continental Army and appointed George Washington as its commander. Initially, it sought reconciliation with Britain but moved toward independence after King George III declared the colonies in rebellion. On July 2, 1776, it passed the Lee Resolution for independence, and on July 4, 1776, it adopted the Declaration of Independence, formally proclaiming the colonies as independent states
- Congress of the Confederation (1781–1789): After the Articles of Confederation took effect in 1781, the Continental Congress became the Congress of the Confederation, serving as the first federal government of the United States. It had limited powers, mainly to conduct foreign affairs, declare war, and manage western lands, but lacked authority to tax or regulate commerce effectively. It guided the country through the end of the Revolutionary War and laid groundwork for expansion with measures like the Northwest Ordinance. The Confederation Congress operated until 1789, when it was replaced by the new U.S. Congress under the Constitution
Throughout its existence, the Continental Congress was crucial in uniting the colonies, managing the war effort, declaring independence, and establishing the early framework of American government. In summary, the Continental Congress was the central political body through which the American colonies coordinated their resistance to British rule, declared independence, and governed themselves during and immediately after the Revolutionary War until the establishment of the U.S. Constitution
