The Second Continental Congress, convening in May 1775, took actions towards reconciliation with the Olive Branch Petition, but ultimately moved towards independence with the Declaration of Independence and directed the Revolutionary War effort.
Step-by-step explanation:
Actions of the Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress took significant actions that shaped the course of American history. Upon convening in May 1775, one key decision was the attempt for reconciliation with Great Britain through the Olive Branch Petition. However, the rejection of this petition and subsequent events led the Congress to move towards independence. Key figures such as John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams played instrumental roles in these deliberations. In June 1776, the Congress established a committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence, which was released on July 4, 1776, marking a decisive move away from seeking redress of grievances to declaring full independence from the mother country.
Besides the push for independence, the Congress took command of the war effort, notably appointing George Washington as the commander of the Continental Army. Throughout its tenure, this congress functioned as the de facto government of the new American states until it was replaced by the Confederation Congress in 1781.