Prior to the second continental congress, states (then colonies) were fighting individually in one of history’s few fights for a “conservative” revolution (meaning a return to being as before, with taxes laws unenforced). But the continental congress formally turned the intention of the colonists from revolution to independence. This is not all the Declaration of Independence accomplished, it also established an united front between the states (formerly colonies). Alone, no state could have defeated Britain, but together, they had a chance, albeit small. Benjamin Franklin promoted this stance on numerous occasions, and does so again when he said, “We must all hang together, or assuredly we will all hang separately” To paraphrase, when working together the states had a small chance of victory, and a large chance at being hung (defeated) (hanging was a common punishment for treason, which declaring independence was), but if they fought alone they alone, they would all be hung.