Final answer:
George Washington was commissioned by the Second Continental Congress as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. Attempts at reconciliation with Britain failed, leading to the pursuit of independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The commission issued by the Continental Congress was given to George Washington, who was appointed as commander-in-chief of the newly created Continental Army. The delegates to the Second Continental Congress initially hoped that reconciliation with the mother country, Great Britain, was possible.
Moreover, Thomas Paine's Common Sense and the possibility of securing foreign aid fueled the change in thinking. Thomas Jefferson and those on the committee drafting the Declaration of Independence chose to use the 'pursuit of happiness' instead of 'property' as a natural right, which was more inclusive and appealing to all colonists.