The Second Continental Congress.—Formation and Character of the Revolutionary Government.—Appointment of a Commander-in-chief.—First Army of the Revolution.

New Continental Congress[28]
Delegates[29]
Colonies represented[29]
Duration of this Congress[30]
War commenced[31]
Massachusetts and New York apply to the Congress for Direction and Assistance[31]
The Congress proceeds to put the Country into a State of Defence[32]
American Continental Army created[32]
Washington chosen Commander-in-Chief[33]
Measures to defray the Expenses of War[34]
Treasury Department established[35]
General Post-office organized[35]
Militia[35]
Relations with Indian Tribes[35]
Royalists[36]
The Congress advise Provisional Governments[37]
Separation from England determined upon[38]
Suppression of the Royal Authority[39]
National Union formed before the State Governments[39]
The Revolutionary Government[40]
Note on Washington's Appointment as Commander-in-Chief[41]

CHAPTER III.
1776-1777.

Continuance of the Revolutionary Government.—Declaration of Independence.—Preparations for a New Government.—Formation of the Continental Army.

Independence proposed[49]
Committee to prepare the Declaration[50]
Instructions to the Delegates[51]
Declaration adopted[51]
Consequences of its Adoption[51]
The Title "United States of America" first used[52]
Articles of Confederation proposed[53]
The Revolutionary Congress, the Real Government[54]
Power of the Congress[55]
General Washington's Position[55]
Difficulties which he had to encounter[56]
Machinery of Government defective[57]
Formation of the Army[58]
Remodelling of the Army[59]
Difficulties attending it[59]
Committee appointed to confer with General Washington[60]
Error of Short Enlistments[60]
Washington does not concur in their Expediency[60]
Powers of the National Government[62]
Difficulties attending their Exercise[63]
Popular Feeling about the Grievances[64]
Tories[65]
Officers of the Royal Government in New Hampshire seized[66]
General Lee's Offer to seize the Tories of New York[66]
He prepares to defend New York[67]
Orders to disarm the Tories in Queen's County[68]
Orders countermanded[68]
Washington's Regret[69]
His Directions to Lee[70]
Tories of Queen's County arrested[71]
Inhabitants of New York alarmed[71]
Congress compelled to submit the Subject to the Colonial Authorities[72]
Questions of Prize[73]
Origin of the American Navy[73]
Vessels fitted out to intercept the Enemy's Supplies[73]
Falmouth burned[74]
Letters of Marque and Reprisal[75]
Prizes captured[75]
Adjudication of Prizes[76]
Delay in obtaining Decisions[77]
Means of defraying the Public Expenses[77]
Paper Money issued[78]
Delay in Signing the Bills[79]
Pressing Wants of the Army[79]
Washington borrows Money of the Province of Massachusetts Bay[80]
Defects of the Revolutionary Government[80]
Jealousy of Standing Armies[80]
Note on the Authorship of the Declaration of Independence[81]

CHAPTER IV.
July, 1776-November, 1777.

Consequences of the Declaration of Independence.—Reorganization of the Continental Army.—Flight of the Congress from Philadelphia.—Plan of the Confederation Proposed.

Effect of the Declaration of Independence[89]
More vigorous and decisive Measures adopted by the Congress[90]
Mischievous Adhesion to State Interests[90]
History of the Army[91]
General Washington abandons the City of New York[91]
Writes to the President of Congress[91]
He retreats to the Heights of Haerlem, and again appeals to Congress[92]
The Congress organizes a new Army[92]
Number of Battalions raised by each State[93]
Inducements to enlist[93]
Serious Defects in the Plan[93]
Washington suggests a Remedy[94]
Promotion of the Officers provided for[95]
Another Defect in the Plan[95]
Massachusetts and Connecticut offer further Pay to their Men[95]
Washington remonstrates[96]
Congress augments the Pay of the Army[96]
Ill Effects of the System[96]
Number of the American Forces near New York[96]
Washington's Discouragement[97]
His Situation and Trials[97]
His Retreat through New Jersey[98]
Loss of Philadelphia threatened[99]
Washington asks for Extraordinary Powers from the Congress[100]
Powers intrusted to him[100]
Unsettled Condition of the Political System[101]
The Congress apologizes to the Governors of the States[102]
Inaccuracy of their Position[103]
The States acquiesce in the Powers granted to Washington[104]
Articles of Confederation pending in Congress[104]
Eminent Men retire from Congress[104]
Delegations of the States renewed[105]
Striking Instance of State Jealousy[106]
Washington requires an Oath of Allegiance to the United States[107]
The Requisition denounced as improper[107]
Its Propriety[108]
Formation of a new Army[110]
Embarrassments in the Formation of the Army[110]
Persistence of the States in giving Extra Bounties[110]
Bounty offered by Massachusetts[111]
Army greatly reduced[111]
Washington hindered in his Efforts to plan and carry out a Campaign[112]
Applications for Troops to defend particular Neighborhoods[112]
Battle of the Brandywine[113]
The Congress leaves Philadelphia[113]
Sir William Howe takes Possession of it[113]
The Congress removes to Yorktown[113]
They resolve to consider the Articles of Confederation[114]
The Plan of a Confederacy submitted to the several Legislatures[114]
Necessity for a National Government[114]
End of the Revolutionary Government approaching[115]
Want of a Civil Executive[115]
States engaged in forming Governments[116]
Colonies accustomed to the Business of Government[116]
Practice of Representation familiar[117]
Previous Political Training of the People[118]
Distinctions between the Departments of Government[119]
Ideas not yet applied to a General Government[120]
Union of the People of the United States, as distinguished from a Union of the States, learned by a bitter Experience[122]
First Stage in the Constitutional History of the Country[123]

CHAPTER V.
November, 1777-March, 1781.

Adoption of the Articles of Confederation.—Cessions of Western Territory.—First Political Union of the States.