Second+Continental+Congress

=The Second Continental Congress=

toc The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. Some of the most important men in America were elected delegates there. Other men that werent know yet would soon become important. The Massachusetts radicals were Sam Adams, John Adams, and John Hancock. Benjamin Franklin was there from Pennsylvaina. Virginia sent Patrick Henry and Gearge Washington. Although some of the delegats took extreem positions, not all of them did.

The Second Continental Congress meeting all started with the battle of Lexington and Concord fresh in the memories of everyone. The New England militia was still camped outside of Boston trying to drive the british out. The congress established that the militia was the Continental Army to represent the thirteen states. They also elected George Washington as the Commander in Cheif.

The Congress!
The Second Continental Congress was in the Indepence Hall. It was May 10, 1776. THis second Congress had a few delegates that werent at The First Continetal Congress. This Congress included sixty-five delegates. The Second Continental Congress had discused and dicided many important things. Such as to completely bread away from Great Britain. On May 15, 1776, 5 days later the decided to officially put the colonies in a state of defense.

What Happened??
Another thing they decided to do was organize the militia of colonies better. So, in order to do that the formed an army called The American Continental Army. They also discussed if they were going to print paper money. This passed, so paper money started to be printed later in the year. The Second Continental Congress was a very important government meeting in the history of the United States of America. The Congress disscussed and desided some of the most important ideas that the colonists fought for in the Revolutionary War. The Congress sent an olive branch petition asking the king to protect them against parlament. By this the delegates of the congress tried to settle the conflict thought compromise with the King so that there will be no more fighting. Unforchanitly it doesnt seem he complied.

Who Was There?
The Second Continental Congress was located at the State House in Philadelphia. The Second Congress had few delegates that hadnt been at the first one. Most had been there though. There were only 65 delegates included. One was Thomas Jefferson. He was a plantation owner and a lawyer who was well-known as a good writer. Another man there was Benjamin Franklin. He wanted independence, but many of the other delegates disagreed. They werent quite ready to break away from Great Britain.

the flag in 1776. the independace hall, were the congress met.

**The End of The Congress**
The Second Continental Congress was called together because lexington, concord, and bunker hill had been fought by massachusetts. So the rest of the colonies were to enter the conflict.

REFERENCES: Garraty, John A. The Story of America. Austin, TX: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1994. kidport reference library "The Second Continental Congress Meeting" 1998-2006, 26 october 2008 http://www.kidport.com/RefLib/usaHistory/AmericanRevolution/SecondCongress.htm voices of the american revolution. "taking action" 26 october 2008 http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312848/emailus.htm