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The '''Continental Congress''' refers to two separate organizations that played a major role in leading the [[Thirteen Colonies]] into the [[American Revolution]].  The First set the stage in 1774. The Second became the national government of the United Colonies, which in July 1776 became the United States of America.  Both congresses met in Philadelphia and were composed of delegates selected by the 13 colonies/states. The Second Continental Congress in March 1781 took a new name, "The United States in Congress Assembled."  The Congress was a weak national government--there was no president or executive branch, and no judges; most business was handled by committees.

The '''Continental Congress''' refers to two separate organizations that played a major role in leading the [[Thirteen Colonies]] into the [[American Revolution]].  The First set the stage in 1774. The Second became the national government of the United Colonies, which in July 1776 became the United States of America.  Both congresses met in Philadelphia and were composed of delegates selected by the 13 colonies/states. The Second Continental Congress in March 1781 took a new name, "The United States in Congress Assembled."  The Congress was a weak national government—there was no president or executive branch, and no judges; most business was handled by committees.

[[File:2-congress.jpg|thumb|280px]]

[[File:2-congress.jpg|thumb|280px]]

==Background==

==Background==

[[File:Dollar1776.jpg|thumb|1776 Continental currency|190px]]

[[File:Dollar1776.jpg|thumb|1776 Continental currency|190px]]

During the war Congress printed paper money called "continentals" that soon became worthless--indeed, any worthless thing was said to be "not worth a continental."  

During the war Congress printed paper money called "continentals" that soon became worthless—indeed, any worthless thing was said to be "not worth a continental."  

By the end of the war the national government had foreign debts of $8 million (mostly to French and Dutch bankers), and debts to Americans amounting to $42 million.  Annual interest payments were $2.5 million. The Congress had no taxing powers, and the states were reluctant to give it money.  It borrowed more from Europe. The best solution was to sell land.

By the end of the war the national government had foreign debts of $8 million (mostly to French and Dutch bankers), and debts to Americans amounting to $42 million.  Annual interest payments were $2.5 million. The Congress had no taxing powers, and the states were reluctant to give it money.  It borrowed more from Europe. The best solution was to sell land.

[[File:Nw-territory2.jpg|thumb}220px|left]]  

[[File:Nw-territory2.jpg|thumb}220px|left]]  

The Continental Congress successfully urged the states to cede their land claims to it and promised that the territory so ceded would be erected into new states having full equality with the old. New York and Virginia ceded their claims in 1781 and 1783.  Virginia ceded its lands in Ohio on condition of being allowed to reserve for itself the Military District between the Scioto and Little Miami rivers to satisfy military grants made during the Revolution. Virginia also retained its land south of the Ohio, which became the state of Kentucky in 1791. In 1785 Massachusetts ceded its claim to a belt of land extending across the present states of Michigan and Wisconsin, and in the following year Connecticut ceded its western lands. Connecticut reserved to itself a tract of 3.8 million acres in northeastern Ohio--called the Western Reserve--a part of which was set aside for the relief of Connecticut sufferers whose property had been destroyed by the British during the Revolution. The remainder was sold to the Connecticut Land Company. South Carolina ceded its narrow strip of land in 1787, and North Carolina transferred its western lands in 1790.  All the land in Kentucky and Tennessee had already been granted to revolutionary war veterans, settlers, and land companies so the national government received no land but only political jurisdiction.   

The Continental Congress successfully urged the states to cede their land claims to it and promised that the territory so ceded would be erected into new states having full equality with the old. New York and Virginia ceded their claims in 1781 and 1783.  Virginia ceded its lands in Ohio on condition of being allowed to reserve for itself the Military District between the Scioto and Little Miami rivers to satisfy military grants made during the Revolution. Virginia also retained its land south of the Ohio, which became the state of Kentucky in 1791. In 1785 Massachusetts ceded its claim to a belt of land extending across the present states of Michigan and Wisconsin, and in the following year Connecticut ceded its western lands. Connecticut reserved to itself a tract of 3.8 million acres in northeastern Ohio—called the Western Reserve—a part of which was set aside for the relief of Connecticut sufferers whose property had been destroyed by the British during the Revolution. The remainder was sold to the Connecticut Land Company. South Carolina ceded its narrow strip of land in 1787, and North Carolina transferred its western lands in 1790.  All the land in Kentucky and Tennessee had already been granted to revolutionary war veterans, settlers, and land companies so the national government received no land but only political jurisdiction.   

These cessions of 222 million acres of western lands gave to the national government a vast public domain in which it owned the land and over which it had governmental jurisdiction.  In 1785 a land ordinance provided a method of selling the lands. In 1787, in response to demands of the Ohio and Scioto land companies, which were negotiating for the purchase of large tracts of land north of the Ohio, the [[Northwest Ordinance]] was adopted to provide a form of government for what came to be known as the "Old Northwest."  The Ordnance, written by [[Thomas Jefferson]], provided for an elaborate survey that created the checkerboard land pattern still in use, and provided that no slavery was allowed there during the territorial stage.<ref> Benjamin Horace Hibbard, ''History of the Public Land Policies'' (1965)</ref>

These cessions of 222 million acres of western lands gave to the national government a vast public domain in which it owned the land and over which it had governmental jurisdiction.  In 1785 a land ordinance provided a method of selling the lands. In 1787, in response to demands of the Ohio and Scioto land companies, which were negotiating for the purchase of large tracts of land north of the Ohio, the [[Northwest Ordinance]] was adopted to provide a form of government for what came to be known as the "Old Northwest."  The Ordnance, written by [[Thomas Jefferson]], provided for an elaborate survey that created the checkerboard land pattern still in use, and provided that no slavery was allowed there during the territorial stage.<ref>Benjamin Horace Hibbard, ''History of the Public Land Policies'' (1965)</ref>

==Sermons preached in front of the Congress==

==Sermons preached in front of the Congress==

* Morison, S. E.  ''Sources and Documents Illustrating the American Revolution, 1764-1788, and the Formation of the Federal Constitution'' (1923) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=8875493 online edition]

* Morison, S. E.  ''Sources and Documents Illustrating the American Revolution, 1764-1788, and the Formation of the Federal Constitution'' (1923) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=8875493 online edition]

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====References====

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[[Category:United States History]]

[[Category:United States History]]

[[Category:American Revolution]]

[[Category:American Revolution]]