Final answer:
In mid-June 1192, a committee of 20 met and decided to draft a statement expressing the case for independence from the mother country.
Step-by-step explanation:
In mid-June 1192, a committee of 20 met and decided to draft a statement expressing the case for independence from the mother country. This committee was part of the Second Continental Congress, which gathered in May 1775 to consider the response of George III to the petition drafted by the First Continental Congress in 1774. The committee released the Declaration of Independence to Congress on July 4, 1776, and it was soon released to the new states, marking a pivotal moment in American history. Prior to this, through a series of actions, the Continental Congress was preparing for the potential of war, as relations with Britain deteriorated. They worked on securing gunpowder, establishing the Continental Army, appointing George Washington as the commander-in-chief, and issuing bills of credit to fund the defense efforts.