Historical eventJune 141777

Second Continental Congress

The Second Continental Congress adopted the stars and stripes design for the flag of the United States.

Everything on June 14Original source

In context

When
Saturday, June 14 1777249 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
18th century · 1770s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

Russia, Greece and some other countries used the Julian calendar into the early 20th century, so local records may show a date up to 13 days earlier.

At a glance

Dates: 1775-05-10 – 1781-03-01.

Place: Philadelphia, United States.

Type: congress, provisional government, and Continental Congress.

What came before

Part of: American Revolution.

Timeline

Follows: First Continental Congress. Followed by: Congress of the Confederation.

What happened

History A 5-dollar banknote issued by the Second Continental Congress in 1775 An 1876 Currier and Ives portrait of George Washington being appointed commanding general of the Continental Army John Trumbull 's 1819 painting, Declaration of Independence , depicting the Committee of Five presenting the Declaration of Independence to Congress De facto government The First Continental Congress had sent entreaties to King George III to stop the Intolerable Acts .

The Second Continental Congress (1775–1781) was the meeting of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that united in support of the American Revolution and Revolutionary War, which established American independence from Great Britain. The Congress constituted a new federation that it first named the United Colonies of North America, and in 1776, renamed the United States of America. The Congress began convening in present-day Independence Hall in Philadelphia, on May 10, 1775,

June 14 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1777Second Continental Congress
  2. 1986Mindbender (Galaxyland)
  3. 1992Disappearance of Helena Andersson
  4. 19941994 Vancouver Stanley Cup riot
  5. 1996Foreclosure
  6. 2002Near-Earth object
  7. 2014War in Donbas
  8. 20142014 Ukrainian Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 shootdown
  9. 2017Steve Scalise
  10. 2017Grenfell Tower fire
  11. 20262026 Rio de Janeiro mid-air collision

Also in 1777

  • January 3American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War: American forces commanded by George Washington defeated British troops at the Battle of Princeton (depicted).
  • July 31Second Continental CongressThe Second Continental Congress passed a resolution commissioning the Marquis de Lafayette (pictured) as a major general in the American…
  • December 8American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War: British commander-in-chief Sir William Howe withdrew his troops from the Battle of White Marsh to Philadelphia.
  • August 6Battle of OriskanyThe Battle of Oriskany, one of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolutionary War, was fought about 6 mi (10 km) east of Fort Stanwi…
  • January 2American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War: American forces under the command of George Washington repulsed a British attack at the Battle of the Assunpi…
  • July 7American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War: British forces caught up with American troops withdrawing from Ticonderoga, capturing more than 200 men at th…
  • October 6American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War: Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery were captured by British forces under Sir Henry Clinton, dismantling the Hud…
  • August 16American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War: American forces routed British and German troops at the Battle of Bennington in Walloomsac, New York.

Everything we record for 1777 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Second Continental Congress”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/second-continental-congress-1777-june-14, accessed October 27, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did Second Continental Congress happen?

June 14 1777 — 249 years ago, on a Saturday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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