What was the Second Continental Congress?
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The Second Continental Congress met on May 10, 1775. This was, in many respects, a continuation of the First Continental Congress. Many of the original 56 delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies had come back to participate in the Second Continental Congress. However, some new faces had joined them in this endeavor, notably Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and Thomas Jefferson.
In the Second Continental Congress, there was more of a consensus by the delegates that there needed to be a separation from England. During the First Continental Congress there were still lingering feelings of loyalty and hope that the colonies and England could rectify their sullen relationship. However, by 1775, the actual fighting of the American Revolution was underway, and British and Colonial soldiers were battling for the control of the colonies.
The Second Continental Congress came together as a convention of ideas and action. In the minds of the delegates it was necessary to formally separate from England. To do so, the idea of the Declaration of Independence was conceived. This was a formal document proclaiming the emancipation of the American colonies from English rule. It was written up and created by members of the Second Continental Congress and formally presented to the King of England.
In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was accepted and signed by the King, relinquishing control over the colonies. After the Declaration of Independence was signed and the colonies were formally over, the next item on the agenda was to create a governing system for the colonies in order to provide rights and protection to the people.
