The Continental Congress was a collective that represented and acted on behalf of the 13 colonies. There were several iterations of this congress; the one featured here is the Second Continental Congress that formed in 1775 and lasted until 1781. The Second Continental Congress is most notable for founding the Continental Army and adopting the Declaration of Independence. Afterward, the Congress acted as a provisional government, directing the war effort and devising a constitution to guide the fledgling United States.

The Continental Army was established to better recruit, organize, and coordinate the American forces during the Revolutionary War. The Continental Congress founded the army in 1775. It consisted of soldiers from all 13 colonies, with George Washington serving as its commander-in-chief until the war’s end in 1783.

The Hessians were German soldiers who allied with the British during the Revolutionary War. They were widely renowned for their strict discipline and military proficiency, and this reputation caused many colonists to fear them as cruel and indifferent mercenaries. The Hessians forces were key to Britain’s victories in New York, especially at Fort Washington.