On September 9, 1776, the Continental Congress formally
declares the name of the new nation to be the “United
States” of America.
This replaced the term “United Colonies,” which had been
in general use.
On September 9, 1776, the Continental Congress formally
declares the name of the new nation to be the “United
States” of America.
This replaced the term “United Colonies,” which had been
in general use.
During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress passed
a resolution stating that “two Battalions of Marines be raised” for
service as landing forces for the recently formed Continental Navy.
The resolution, drafted by future U.S. president John Adams and
adopted in Philadelphia, created the Continental Marines and is
now observed as the birth date of the United States Marine Corps.
John Adams (October 30, 1735– July 4, 1826)
The U.S. Army was founded on 14 June 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized enlistment of expert riflemen to serve the
United Colonies for one year.
John Adams Jr. (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826)
On September 27, 1779, the Continental Congress appoints John Adams to
travel to France as minister plenipotentiary in charge of negotiating treaties
of peace and commerce with Great Britain during the Revolutionary War.
Adams had traveled to Paris in 1778 to negotiate an alliance with France,
but had been unceremoniously dismissed when Congress chose Benjamin
Franklin as sole commissioner. Soon after returning to Massachusetts in
mid-1779, Adams was elected as a delegate to the state convention to draw
up a new constitution; he was involved in these duties when he learned of
his new diplomatic commission.
On this day in 1775, the U.S. postal system is established by the Second Continental Congress, with Benjamin Franklin as its first postmaster
general. Franklin (1706-1790) put in place the foundation for many
aspects of today’s mail system.