The Second Continental Congress. To prepare for war the continental congress would appoint george washington as commander in chief and act as a central government and put together an army for the colonies defense. By the time this second continental congress convened, hostilities had already broken out between british troops and its american colonists at lexington, massachusetts, and concord, massachusetts.

The second continental congress was presided over by john hancock, who replaced the ailing peyton randolph, and included some of the same delegates as the first, but with such notable additions as benjamin franklin and thomas jefferson. Click to see full answer. The second continental congress was a convention of delegates from the thirteen colonies that started meeting on may 10, 1775, in philadelphia, pennsylvania, soon after warfare in the american revolutionary war had begun.