The Continental Congress

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The Continental Congress
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• 1777 Congress approves the Articles of
  Confederation
• 1780 New York cedes western lands
• 1781 All states ratify the Articles of
  Confederation Virginia cedes western lands
• 1783 Treaty of Paris signed
• 1784 Economic depression begins (ends in 1789)
• 1785 Land Ordinance
• 1786 Annapolis Meeting Ohio Company formed
  Shays Rebellion
• 1787 Northwest Ordinance Philadelphia
  Convention
• 1788 First Ohio Company meeting

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Powers of the Continental Congress

1. Borrow money
2. Request that states contribute money to the
   central government
3. Regulate Indian affairs
4. Run postal service
5. Coin money
6. Declare and wage war
7. Negotiate treaties
8. Settle disputes between states

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Powers denied the Continental Congress

1. They could not tax
2. They could not tax goods traveling between states
3. Could not regulate state currencies
4. Could not administer court system

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Close

• The first Continental Congress met only briefly
  (seven weeks) in 1774.
• The Second Continental Congress is the one so
  often described as so bad that the Constitution
  had to be written in order to avoid chaos.
• Based on the evidence you compiled today, how
  would you evaluate the Congress?

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Make Comparisons
Powers of the Continental Congress Powers denied the Continental Congress