Topic: American Revolution (Second Continental Congress)

During the American Revolution, from 1775 to 1781, the Continental Congress was the main way the colonies organized their resistance against the British. This Congress served as the governing body for America until the Articles of Confederation were written and adopted. The Articles of Confederation were the precursor to the modern-day Constitution, created with the intent of letting states retain most of their autonomy. During its stint as the primary form of American government, the Continental Congress was in charge of many critical decisions. One of the more notable works of the Congress was the Declaration of Independence, written to announce America's separation from the crown. This document stated that the colonies would no longer be under British rule and outlined many reasons. The colonists believed that they were entitled to rights that the British had infringed upon. A major grievance for them was being taxed like British citizens without proper representation in Parliament. Being so far from Great Britain, it seemed unfair for the government to have so much influence over the daily lives of colonists. These tensions escalated into what would become known as the Revolutionary War. While the Continental Congress was the first substantial iteration of a national government, it lacked real power. Many important issues, including taxation, were relegated to the states, making it difficult for Congress to be as effective as it needed to be. Since none of the colonists had experience in running a country, the war effort became a logistical nightmare. By the end of the war, the shortcomings of the Continental Congress were obvious to the founding fathers. It was clear that a new form of government would have to be devised to address these problems. While the war occurred well over a century prior to the inception of the United Nation, many of the American ideals developed during this time would influence future UN values. A key tenant of the Declaration of Independence was that people had rights that no other entity could deny them. That same sentiment was echoed when the UN drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The American Revolution had a huge impact on global politics, inspiring other countries to turn to democracy. In this committee, delegates will have to work together to ensure the success of the American Revolution. Some of the issues they will face will include securing funding for the war, finding foreign allies, and establishing a new government.

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