How did the Second Continental Congress influence the conflict between the colonists and Britain?

The Continental Army was appointed by the Continental Congress, which had authority under the Articles of Association. Washington was appointed as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army and received instructions from Congress. State authorities raised local militias- instead of a draft like today the militia men, also known as the "minute men," were volunteers who made up the majority of American troops (Their impact is depicted well in the movie with Mel Gibson and Kieth Ledger titled the "The Patriot")- which were organized according to State and County. Enlistments were periodically renewed. Continental Army regiments were organized by state, divided into numbered Regiments. Companies were often raised on a local level, by Captains, for instance Captain Daniel Piatt of the 1st New Jersey Continental Regiment raised his company at Raritan Landing in New Brunswick- a small local port. Unlike militias, they were sent to other states according to orders. Militiamen served in their state of origin for enlistment periods from two to six weeks- most of them returning home to tend their farms. The Continental Army was better trained than militias and performed better in pitched battles with British "Regulars." At the end of the Revolutionary War, the Continental Army was disbanded. Many people feared a "standing army" was a threat to peace and liberty. Local militias were retained in case of foreign invasion or conflicts within the states.