In 1775, the Second Continental Congress convened after the American Revolutionary War (1775-83) had already begun. In 1776, it took the momentous step of declaring America’s independence from Britain. Five years later, the Congress ratified the first national constitution, the Articles of Confederation, under which the country would be governed until 1789, when it was replaced by the current U.S. Constitution. The Declaration of Independence stated certain ideals that the colonists believed were important for man to have, such as liberty and equality. ... These acts were in part a major cause of the American Revolution because they were written and passed to give England complete control over the thirteen colonies.
