Massachusetts Provincial Congress facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Massachusetts Bay Provincial Congress of Deputies |
|
|---|---|
|
|
| Type | |
| Type |
Unicameral Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Province of Massachusetts Bay
|
| History | |
| Founded | October 5, 1774 |
| Disbanded | October 25, 1780 |
| Preceded by | Great and General Court of Massachusetts Bay (disbanded) |
| Succeeded by | General Court of Massachusetts |
| Leadership | |
|
Governor
|
|
|
President of the Congress
|
John Hancock
1774-1775 |
|
Joseph Warren
1775 |
|
|
James Warren
1775-1780 |
|
|
Clerk/Secretary
|
|
| Structure | |
| Authority | Governmental authority in Patriot controlled territory in Massachusetts |
| Meeting place | |
| 1st Congress: Salem, Concord, Cambridge 2nd Congress': Cambridge, Concord, Watertown 3rd Congress: Watertown |
|
| Constitution | |
| Massachusetts Bay Charter | |
The Massachusetts Provincial Congress (1774–1780) was a provisional government created in the Province of Massachusetts Bay early in the American Revolution. Based on the terms of the colonial charter, it exercised de facto control over the rebellious portions of the province, and after the British withdrawal from Boston in March 1776, the entire province. When Massachusetts Bay declared its independence in 1776, the Congress continued to govern under this arrangement for several years. Increasing calls for constitutional change led to a failed proposal for a constitution produced by the Congress in 1778, and then a successful constitutional convention that produced a constitution for the state in 1780. The Provincial Congress came to an end with elections in October 1780.
