Congress calls on all the states in…
1776 CE
By June, nine colonies are ready for independence; one by one, the last four fall into line—Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and New York.
Richard Henry Lee is instructed by the Virginia legislature to propose independence, and he does so on June 7.
A committee is created on June 11 to draft a document explaining the justifications for separation from Britain.
After securing enough votes for passage, independence is voted for on July 2.
The Declaration of Independence is drafted largely by Thomas Jefferson and presented by the committee; it is slightly revised and unanimously adopted by the entire Congress on July 4, marking the formation of a new sovereign nation that calls itself the United States of America.
The Second Continental Congress approves a new constitution, the "Articles of Confederation," for ratification by the states on November 15, 1777, and immediately begins operating under their terms.
The Articles will be formally ratified on March 1, 1781.
At that point, the Continental Congress will be dissolved and a new government of the United States in Congress Assembled will take its place on the following day, with Samuel Huntington as presiding officer.
People
Groups
Thirteen Colonies, The
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New York, Province of (English Colony)
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Delaware Bay, Lower Counties on the (English Colony)
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Maryland, Province of (English Colony)
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Virginia (English Crown Colony)
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Britain, Kingdom of Great
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Delaware, State of (U.S.A.)
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United States of America (US, USA) (Philadelphia PA)
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Virginia, Commonwealth of (U.S.A.)
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Maryland, State of (U.S.A.)
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Regions
Northern North America
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