Continental Congress

Primary Sources

Journals of the Continental Congress are online at the Library of Congress Website.

Secondary Sources

Grubb, Farley Ward. The Continental Dollar: How the American Revolution Was Financed with Paper Money. Markets and Governments in Economic History. Chicago ; London: The University of Chicago Press, 2023.

I recommend The Continental Dollar as the “go-to” resource for understanding Congressional war-time funding and monetary policies. It is time to bury that old saw, “not worth a Continental.” Hopefully, by embracing Grubb’s analyses, today’s historians will not perpetuate this made-up notion. For a complete book review Retire the Old Saw – “Not Worth a Continental”!

Henderson, H. James. Party Politics in the Continental Congress. Bicentennial of the American Revolution. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1974.

Irvin, Benjamin H. Clothed in Robes of Sovereignty: The Continental Congress and the People out of Doors. New York: Oxford University Press, 2014.

University of Arizona professor Benjamin H. Irwin asserts that the Continental Congress purposely took memorializing actions to reinforce with citizens and foreigners the formation of the thirteen colonies into a new nation. These actions include commissioning artifacts and establishing celebrations and ceremonies. To commemorate particularly meritorious war-time actions, the Continental Congress ordered the striking of medals and honorific swords. Additionally, Congress conducted the first celebrations of major events such as signing the Declaration of Independence. Other Congressional ceremonies include diplomartic protocols such as recognizing important holidays for allies such as King Louis XVI’s birthday. Irwin concludes that Congress was only partially successful as American society adopted some but not all of Congress’s attempts to assert sovereignty through artifacts, celebrations and ceremonies. However, more importantly, Congress successfully established the principle that the American people are free to celebrate the nation’s sovereignty as they feel fit.

Jensen, Merrill. The Articles of Confederation: An Interpretation of the Social-Constitutional History of the American Revolution 1774 – 1781. Madison: Univ. of Wisconsin Pr, 1976.

Although almost fifty years old, Merrill Jensen’s book is highly relevant to current scholars and casual readers. The former University of Wisconsin professor asserts that the Articles of Confederation represented the form of government desired by the revolting Americans during and after the War of Independence. Further, he purports that the Articles of Confederation were not a failed form of government. Jensen believes that counter-revolutionary leaders sought to regain power for the elites at the expense of a democratically-led populous. One of the strongest part of Jensen’s arguments is demonstrating on a state by state basis the differences in politics and interests. He avoids making sweeping generalizations and grounds his assertions in specific examples. Jensen concludes that the Articles of Confederation were replaced not due to effectiveness, but because the balance of power tipped towards conservative elites who grabbed power to the governmental reigns to preserve their positions of power.

McGhee, Shawn David. No Longer Subjects of the British King: The Political Transformation of Royal Subjects to Republican Citizens, 1774-1776. Yardley, PA: Westholme Publishing, 2024.