What significant meeting took place in Philadelphia in 1775 to manage the colonial response to British action?

The significant meeting that took place in Philadelphia in 1775 to manage the colonial response to British action was the Second Continental Congress. This congress convened on May 10, 1775, and was a direct response to the escalating tensions between the American colonies and the British government, particularly following events such as the battles of Lexington and Concord.

During the Second Continental Congress, delegates from the colonies discussed and coordinated their resistance to British authority. The congress took on a governing role, managing the Continental Army, appointing George Washington as its commander, and ultimately moving toward a declaration of independence from Great Britain. This assembly was pivotal in shaping the course of the Revolutionary War and in laying the groundwork for American independence.

The context of the First Continental Congress, which occurred in 1774, was focused on addressing grievances and negotiating colonial rights with the British rather than managing a military response to conflict, making it distinct from the Second Continental Congress. The references to a Third Continental Congress and a Colonial Congress do not reflect historically recognized gatherings, as the focus remained primarily on the well-documented First and Second Continental Congresses during this period.