1774-1789 · The congress of delegates from the American colonies, later states, that governed during the Revolution and under the Articles of Confederation
About Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was the assembly of delegates from the thirteen American states that declared independence in 1776 and directed the war against Great Britain. On 12 June 1776 it appointed a committee of one member from each state to draft a plan of confederation; John Dickinson of Pennsylvania wrote the committee's draft. Congress debated and revised that draft at intervals for more than a year, adopting the final text at York, Pennsylvania, on 15 November 1777 and sending it to the state legislatures for approval. Delegates signed on behalf of their states from July 1778 onward.
“Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.”
“The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare”
1777 (ratified 1781) · 18th Century · Political Theory
The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union were the first written frame of government for the United States. Richard Henry Lee's resolution of June 1776 asked Congress to prepare independence, foreign alliances and a plan of confederation together, and a committee chaired by John Dickinson produced a draft that summer.