What was accomplished by members of the second continental congress during their meeting in Philadelphia
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer
Members of the Second Continental Congress accomplished several critical tasks that transformed the thirteen colonies into a new nation. Their primary achievements were:
- Creating the Continental Army and appointing George Washington as its Commander-in-Chief to manage the military conflict against Great Britain.
- Adopting the Declaration of Independence, which formally articulated the colonies’ separation from British rule and the philosophical principles of the new nation.
- Functioning as the de facto national government during the Revolutionary War, which involved printing money, establishing a postal service, and conducting diplomacy with foreign powers.
- Drafting the Articles of Confederation, the first constitutional framework for the United States, which unified the states under a single government.
Explanation
Convening in Philadelphia in May 1775, just after the battles of Lexington and Concord, the Second Continental Congress faced the immense challenge of guiding the colonies through a burgeoning war. Initially, its delegates were divided between reconciliation and revolution. As a final attempt at peace, they sent the Olive Branch Petition to King George III, but simultaneously prepared for a prolonged conflict by establishing the Continental Army and placing General George Washington at its head. This decision provided the scattered colonial militias with unified leadership and a symbol of collective resistance.
When the King rejected their petition and declared the colonies in rebellion, sentiment shifted decisively toward a complete break. On July 4, 1776, the Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, a monumental document that not only declared sovereignty but also defined the American creed of liberty and self-governance.
For the duration of the war, the Congress acted as the central government. It managed the difficult tasks of raising funds, securing supplies for the army, and establishing diplomatic relations abroad. Its greatest diplomatic success was securing a crucial alliance with France, which provided essential military and financial support that proved decisive in the war’s outcome.
Finally, looking beyond the conflict, the Congress drafted the Articles of Confederation. Ratified in 1781, this document served as the first constitution of the United States, formally uniting the states into a confederacy and laying the governmental foundation for the new republic until it was later replaced by the U.S. Constitution.
