Institution · Episodes 1–2–3–4–5–6 · published

Continental Congress

An intercolonial assembly that acquired governing functions through repeated acts before the final form or source of continental sovereignty was settled.

Congress did not become a government in one vote. Petition, association, military command, money, diplomacy, trade, declarations, and confederation accumulated into authority. The institution remained dependent on states and local compliance, making capacity and legitimacy continuing questions rather than settled attributes.

Connected chronology

first continental congress
second continental congress
continental army created
declaration independence adopted
articles confederation drafting

Sources

nara-first-continental-congress jcc-v2-1775 jcc-v5-1776 jcc-v6-1776 reid-constitutional-history