Final answer:
The Second Continental Congress governed the colonies during the Revolutionary War and approved the Articles of Confederation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Second Continental Congress was the only governing body in the American states other than the state legislatures until the approval of the Articles of Confederation in 1781. During the Revolutionary War, the Congress attempted to maintain the colonial army, create coherent diplomatic policies, and direct military strategy. It also approved the Articles of Confederation in 1777, which aimed to unite the states into one government.