The 2nd Continental Congress met in May 1775 in Philadelphia to govern the colonies and deal with Great Britain, as the colonies needed leadership after clashes began. It established the Continental Army under George Washington to better train colonial soldiers against the British, and took on roles like running the postal service and printing money. While some delegates still hoped to remain with Britain, others like John Adams pushed for independence, though an Olive Branch Petition to peacefully resolve taxes instead provoked more conflict.

1. The 2nd Continental Congress
By Michael Bregar

2. The Adjournment of the First
Continental Congress
When the First Continental Congress adjourned on October 26, 1774, the
delegates decided to meet again. On May 5, 1775 the Second Continental
Congress met in Philadelphia to discuss how the colonies would deal with
Great Britain.

3. The Purpose of the 2nd
Continental Congress
The 2nd Continental Congress was made in order to govern the
colonies. It built the Continental Army, it established a national
post office, it had a committee for foreign affairs and it printed
money. The Congress decided what the colonists would do and
what position people had; it was the governing colonial body

4. The Continental
Army
The Continental Congress created
the Continental Army in order to
established an army where the
soldiers would be better trained
than in local militias. The colonies
needed an organized force to fight
the British. The Congress
unanimously chose George
Washington to lead this army.

5. The Congress’s Opinion About
Leaving Britain
Although both American and British
blood had been spilled, many of the
delegates believed that the colonies
should stay with England. Only some
"radicals", such as John Adams, were
geared toward independence. That July
the Congress approved the Olive
Branch Petition. This petition pleaded
with King George III to attempt a
peaceful resolution to the problem of
the taxes. The petition did exactly the
opposite of it was supposed to do, it
incited war instead of preventing it.