Legal Definitions - Continental Congress

The Continental Congress refers to a series of conventions of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that served as the primary governing body of the United States during the American Revolution. Initially convened in 1774 to address grievances against British rule, it evolved into the provisional national government, overseeing the war effort, declaring independence, and establishing the framework for the new nation until the Articles of Confederation were fully ratified in 1781.

Here are some examples illustrating the role of the Continental Congress:

• Imagine colonial leaders from Massachusetts, Virginia, and Pennsylvania gathering in Philadelphia in 1774. They are deeply concerned about new British laws, like those punishing Boston for the Tea Party. This assembly, known as the First Continental Congress, would be where they collectively drafted petitions to the King and organized boycotts of British goods, demonstrating a unified colonial front against perceived injustices. This illustrates the Continental Congress's initial role as a forum for inter-colonial protest and a unified response to British policies.

• Consider a scenario in 1776 where the colonies are already engaged in armed conflict with Britain. The delegates, now part of the Second Continental Congress, would be debating and ultimately approving a document declaring their formal separation from Great Britain – the Declaration of Independence. Simultaneously, this body would be appointing generals, raising an army, and seeking foreign alliances to support the war effort, thereby acting as the de facto national government for the nascent United States. This highlights its function as the governing authority during the Revolutionary War and its pivotal role in establishing the nation's independence.

• After the Revolutionary War concluded, but before the U.S. Constitution was drafted, the Continental Congress continued to operate. For instance, it would have been responsible for negotiating peace treaties, managing the fledgling nation's finances, and establishing policies for western land expansion, such as the Northwest Ordinance. This demonstrates how the Continental Congress served as the foundational national government, laying essential groundwork for the future United States even before a permanent constitution was in place.