Second Continental Congress

The second Continental Congress met for the first time at the State House (now, Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775.   This was the official governing body until superseded by the Congress of the United States under the U.S. Constitution on March 4, 1789.   On March 2, 1781, the date the Articles of Confederation were adopted, its official title was "The United States in Congress Assembled".   However, most people refer to it simply as the "Continental Congress" for that entire period.

The Congress had to move several times to avoid capture by British forces during the Revolutionary War (1775-1781).   From 1775-76, it was held in Philadelphia; from 1776-77, in Baltimore; 1777 first at Philadelphia and then at Lancaster, Pennsylvania.   From 1777-1778, it met in York, Pennsylvania, and from 1778 it met in Philadelphia.   It met in New York City from January 11, 1785 until it moved to Philadelphia on December 6, 1790, and then to Washington, D.C in June, 1800.

The Congress conducted and financed the Revolutionary War, and established foreign policies.   It issued paper money, "Continentals" (as in "not worth a continental") and "bills of credit", certificates promising future payment for goods and services.   Both were quickly and steeply devalued.   the Congress created a postal system and the first American Army, Navy, and Marine Corps.

The 2 most important documents promulgated by the Continental Congress are the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation.   It also produced the Northwest Ordinances of 1784, 1785, and 1787, which indicated how new states were to be bought, surveyed, and settled, and how they were to become states equal to the others.

The following delegates were elected to the second Continental Congress, but there were changes over the years.   Therefore, the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation, both promulgated by the same Congress, have different signatories.