Journals of the Continental Congress facts for kids
The Journals of the Continental Congress are super important official records. They tell the story of the first groups of leaders from the original 13 American Colonies. These groups eventually became the government of the United States of America.
These journals contain many important papers, letters, and reports. They show how the U.S. government was formed. They also show the day-to-day work of running a brand new country.
Contents
What Were the Continental Congresses?
The Continental Congresses were like early versions of the U.S. government. They were meetings of leaders from the American colonies. These meetings happened before and during the American Revolution.
The First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress met from September 5 to October 26, 1774. They met at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was at the very start of the American Revolution.
The leaders met because they were upset. The British Parliament had passed unfair laws. These laws were called the "Intolerable Acts" by the colonists. The Congress wanted to find a way to deal with these problems. On October 20, 1774, they created something called the Continental Association. This was a plan to stop buying British goods.
The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress started meeting in May 1775. This group was very important. They were in charge during the American Revolution until 1781.
This Congress made huge decisions for the new country. They approved the Declaration of Independence. This document declared that the colonies were free from Britain. They also created many other important papers. These papers helped set up the United States of America.
The Congress of the Confederation
After the Second Continental Congress, the Congress of the Confederation took over. This happened in 1781. This new Congress was formed after the Articles of Confederation were approved. The Articles were the first constitution of the United States.
The Congress of the Confederation lasted until 1789. It was the government during the end of the War for American Independence. It also helped guide the country in its early years.
Where Can You Find These Journals?
The Library of Congress published all these important papers. They put them into a complete set called Journals of the Continental Congress. This huge collection has 34 volumes! It was published between 1904 and 1937.
