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