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A History | The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress
George Washington grew increasingly exasperated with the
Continental Congress' inability to help him as he and the army were being
chased from New York and through New Jersey in the fall of 1776. Congress, however, had more than a few problems
of its own.
The Declaration of Independence had shown that representatives of the
thirteen colonies could come to an agreement on a single vital issue. But always crucial to Congressional thinking
was the problem of how to create an effective union, without creating an overpowering central government like
England's.
The Articles of Confederation were introduced in Congress in July of
1776 as a means to this end. For the next year, the issue of how the states would govern themselves was arduously
debated in Philadelphia before it was finally passed in 1777. Another 4 years went by before these same articles
were ratified by all the states.
Conducting and financing the war, establishing a foreign policy and finding allies to the cause were paramount
considerations to the 2nd Continental Congress.
To finance the war, Congress resorted to issuing paper money and certificates promising future payment for goods
and services. Both were quickly and steeply devalued.
The foreign mission was more successful, but it took over a year from the time Congress sent
Benjamin Franklin to France for him, and the other legatees, to secure a treaty of
alliance with Louis XVI.
And throughout this period, Philadelphia was threatened by British forces. In fact, Congress made the first of
several moves, to Baltimore, on December 13, 1776.
Many in Congress, including John Adams, sniped at Washington, complaining that he was
too inexperienced to lead the war effort after the disaster in New York. They preferred
Charles Lee, a former British officer, who lobbied not too subtly for the post in Philadelphia. Lee remained
the darling of some until he was surprised and captured by a British regiment in New Jersey in early December of 1776.
Just a few weeks later, Washington and the Continental Army surprised the Hessian
garrison at Trenton.
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