User:PstccAMoorehead/sandbox

1.    It convened on May 10, 1775 with representatives from 12 of the colonies in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania shortly after the battles of Lexington and Concord, succeeding the First Continental Congress which met in Philadelphia from September 5 to October 26, 1774. The representatives from the 12 colonies were young men in their 40’s that were of upper-class society, many were well educated and influential. They were labeled as “rebels” for challenging the British empire with their optimism of their developing country.

2. The Second Congress realized the dire situation of the need for authority and decided to take the role as a de facto national government. This meant that they assumed possession of authority and control of the state.  Taking authority at the outset of the Revolutionary War by raising armies, directing strategy, appointing diplomats, and writing treatises such as the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms and the Olive Branch Petition.

overall edit:

'The Second Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies in America which united in the American Revolutionary War. It convened on May 10, 1775 with representatives from 12 of the colonies in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania shortly after the battles of Lexington and Concord, succeeding the First Continental Congress which met in Philadelphia from September 5 to October 26, 1774. The representatives from the 12 colonies were young men in their 40’s that were of upper-class society, many were well educated and influential.' Although they were labeled as “rebels” for challenging the British Empire, when they met it was not to declare independence from Britain. Only a select few such as, John Adams were in that optimistic mindset. The Second Congress realized the dire situation for the need for authority and decided to take the role as a de facto national government. 'This meant that they assumed possession of authority and control of the state. 'At first they appealed directly to the King of England, George III, in the Olive Branch Petition. This Petition was an attempt at a peaceful resolution to end the war. When King George III refused, the Second Continental Congress took 'authority at the outset of the Revolutionary War by raising armies, directing strategy, appointing diplomats, and writing treatises such as the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms. ' Hostilities continued to worsen with the need for independence growing within the congress. As they continued to fight the war with hope for independence, at last, they found a solution. All thirteen colonies were represented by the time that the congress adopted the Lee Resolution which declared independence from Britain on July 2, 1776, and the congress agreed to the Declaration of Independence two days later. This severed the ties America had to Britain and began their own journey, as an Independent Country.