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How did the Second Continental Congress prepare the colonies for war?
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American Revolution
The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis (at Yorktown, Virginia, on October 19, 1781), oil on canvas by John Trumbull, completed in 1820; in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, Washington, D.C. The painting captures the moment when major fighting during the American Revolution ended and the colonies achieved independence.
The Second Continental Congress prepared the colonies for war by acting as a provisional government and taking decisive steps to organize a military and secure resources. Following the outbreak of hostilities at Lexington and Concord, the Congress took the following actions:1
- Military Organization: The Congress "adopted" the New England militia forces already besieging Boston and established the Continental Army on June 14, 1775. On June 15, 1775, they appointed George Washington as commander in chief. To address the unreliability of short-term militia, they later established a standing force of "Continentals" enlisted for longer terms.12
- Governance and Policy: The body adopted a Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms and appointed committees to manage domestic supply and foreign affairs.3
- Finance: To fund the war effort, the Congress issued paper currency, attempted to raise domestic loans, and sought financial support from abroad, notably from France and the Netherlands.4
- Infrastructure: The Congress established a postal service and created a navy to support the war effort.1