Simone Lawson
The United States Army is the country's oldest and largest military service branch, with its roots in the Continental Army formed on June 14, 1775, to fight against the British for independence during the American Revolutionary War. The US Constitution, which was ratified in 1781, established the ability to raise troops for the common defense of the United States and designated the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the Army. The Constitution also grants Congress the power to raise and support armies, make rules for the government and regulation of the military forces, and appropriate funds for their use, with a two-year limit on funding appropriations. The US Army has participated in major conflicts throughout US history, including World War II, where millions of Army troops played a central role in the liberation of Europe and the defeat of Nazi Germany. Today, the US Army continues to be a vital component of the country's military might, with a mission to fight and win our Nation's wars and maintain land dominance across a full range of military operations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of creation | 3 June 1784 |
| Created by | Congress of the Confederation |
| Replaced | Continental Army |
| Roots | Continental Army, formed on 14 June 1775 |
| Commander-in-Chief | The President |
| Size in 1789 | 800 members |
| Size in 2018 | 450,000 active duty personnel |
| Size in 2022 | 480,893 soldiers |
| Size in 1945 | 8 million soldiers |
| Size in 1947 | 684,000 soldiers |
| Size in 1917 | Selective Service Act introduced conscription |
| Size in 1812 | 10,000 men (Provisional Army) |
| Size in 1812 | 30,000 men (Eventual Army) |
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What You'll Learn
- The Continental Army was formed in 1775 to fight for independence against Great Britain
- The Articles of Confederation allowed individual states to declare war
- The US Constitution designates the Army of the United States
- The US Army is the country's largest military branch
- The US Army is headed by a civilian senior appointed civil servant
The Continental Army was formed in 1775 to fight for independence against Great Britain
The Continental Army was formed on June 14, 1775, by the Second Continental Congress, to fight for independence against Great Britain. The Continental Army was established after the outbreak of hostilities at Lexington and Concord, and it predates George Washington's assumption of command outside Boston in July 1775. The American Revolutionary War, which lasted from April 19, 1775, to September 3, 1783, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution. During this conflict, American Patriot forces, organized as the Continental Army and commanded by George Washington, defeated the British Army.
The Continental Army was made up of soldiers from all 13 colonies, and later, from all 13 states. The army was supplemented by local militias and volunteer troops loyal to individual states or independent. The Second Continental Congress voted to incorporate these colonial-based Patriot militias into a central military force, the Continental Army, and unanimously appointed Washington as its commander-in-chief. The Continental Army initially wore ribbons, cockades, and epaulettes of various colors as an ad hoc form of rank insignia.
Life in the Continental Army was difficult and monotonous. Soldiers served three primary duties: manual labor, such as digging latrines or erecting fortifications, guard duty, and drilling with their muskets and in marching formations. They cooked one meal a day, typically in the afternoon, and rations were determined by Congress. Each soldier received 1.5 pounds of meat, which included bone, fat, and gristle, and one pound of bread per day. Alternatively, they would receive 1.5 pounds of flour instead of bread. Constant supply problems plagued the Continental Army, and poor sanitation resulted in a high mortality rate among soldiers.
The First Congress officially recognized the U.S. Army under the terms of the new Constitution in 1789. The Articles of Confederation, ratified in 1781, established the ability to raise troops for the common defense of the United States. However, the Continental Army was largely disbanded in 1783 after the Treaty of Paris formally ended the war. The 1st and 2nd Regiments of the Continental Army went on to form the Legion of the United States in 1792, which served as the foundation for the creation of the United States Army.
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The Articles of Confederation allowed individual states to declare war
The Articles of Confederation, which were finally ratified in 1781, established the ability to raise troops for the common defence of the United States. The Articles also allowed individual states to declare war under certain conditions. However, the Articles of Confederation were not the part of the Constitution that created the Army.
The Articles of Confederation were first drafted in 1776 and adopted in 1777, serving as the United States' first constitution. They established a weak confederal government, with sovereignty retained by the original 13 states. The Articles provided rules for how the states' league of friendship, known as the Perpetual Union, was to be organised. They also directed the Revolutionary War effort, conducted diplomacy, addressed territorial issues, and managed Native American relations.
The Articles of Confederation gave Congress the power to make war and peace, negotiate agreements with foreign countries, and resolve disputes between states. However, Congress could not declare war, enter into treaties, or appropriate money without the assent of nine states. The Articles also stipulated that no state could wage war without the permission of Congress unless invaded or under imminent attack.
The Articles of Confederation were revised in 1787 due to disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade. The new Constitution, which remains in effect today, gave Congress the authority to raise and support armies, declare war, and make rules concerning captures on land and water. It also established the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy and allowed for the President to call up state militias under certain circumstances.
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The US Constitution designates the Army of the United States
The US Army has its roots in the Continental Army, which was formed on 14 June 1775 to fight against the British for independence during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). The Continental Congress decided that an army was needed in the conflict with Great Britain, and the First Congress recognised the US Army under the terms of the new Constitution in 1789. The Articles of Confederation, which were ratified in 1781, established the ability to raise troops for the common defence of the United States. The Articles also allowed individual states to declare war under certain conditions. However, the Continental Army was disbanded after the Revolutionary War, and the Congress of the Confederation created the United States Army on 3 June 1784 as a replacement. The US Army considers itself a continuation of the Continental Army and thus traces its institutional inception to 1775.
The US Constitution grants Congress the power to raise and support armies, as well as to declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water. This power is not intended to endow the national government with the ability to raise and support armies, but rather to designate the department of the federal government that would exercise these powers. The President of the United States is the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, and the Army operates under the authority, direction, and control of the US Secretary of Defense. The US Army is headed by a civilian senior appointed civil servant, the Secretary of the Army, and by a chief military officer, the Chief of Staff of the Army, who is also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Throughout its history, the US Army has played a significant role in major conflicts, including World War II, where millions of US Army troops fought on the European front and in the Pacific War, and the Camp David Accords, where the US and Egypt agreed to joint military training. The US Army has also undergone various reorganisations and reforms, including the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986, which brought the army together with the other four military services under unified combatant commands.
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The US Army is the country's largest military branch
The US Army has its roots in the Continental Army, formed on June 14, 1775, to fight against the British for independence during the American Revolutionary War. The Continental Congress decided that an army was needed to support the state militias in the conflict with Great Britain. The Articles of Confederation, ratified in 1781, established the ability to raise troops for the common defence of the United States and allowed individual states to declare war under certain conditions.
After the Revolutionary War, the Congress of the Confederation created the United States Army in 1784 to replace the disbanded Continental Army. The US Army considers itself a continuation of the Continental Army and traces its institutional inception to the origin of that armed force in 1775. On September 29, 1789, President Washington pushed the First Congress to pass an Act clarifying the Army's role under the new Constitution. This Act, known as the "Establishment of the Troops," allowed the President to call upon state militias in certain circumstances and required a loyalty oath to the Constitution from anyone in service.
The US Constitution grants Congress the power to "raise and support Armies" and provide and maintain a Navy." However, the Framers included limitations, such as restricting appropriations of money for this purpose to a maximum of two years. This was done to address concerns about the potential abuse of power by the national government and to ensure that standing armies would not infringe on the liberties of citizens.
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The US Army is headed by a civilian senior appointed civil servant
The US Army is designated as the Army of the United States in the US Constitution. It operates under the authority, direction, and control of the US Secretary of Defense. The US Army is the most senior branch in order of precedence among the armed services.
The US Army is headed by a senior civilian appointed civil servant, the Secretary of the Army (SECARMY), and a chief military officer, the Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA), who is also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The US Army is the largest military branch, with a projected end strength of 480,893 soldiers for the Regular Army (USA) in fiscal year 2022. The Army National Guard (ARNG) had 336,129 soldiers, and the US Army Reserve (USAR) had 188,703 soldiers, bringing the combined strength of the US Army to 1,005,725 soldiers.
The US Constitution grants Congress the power to raise and support armies, but with a two-year limit on appropriations for this purpose. This was included to prevent a standing army from being maintained outside of times of war, which was a significant concern for the Founding Fathers. The Articles of Confederation, ratified in 1781, established the ability to raise troops for the common defence of the United States and allowed individual states to declare war under specific circumstances.
The Continental Army, formed in 1775 to fight for independence from Great Britain, was the precursor to the US Army. Following the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress, under President George Washington, officially recognised the US Army under the new Constitution in 1789. The US Army considers itself a continuation of the Continental Army and traces its origins to this armed force.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Army was created by the US Congress under the terms of the new Constitution in 1789. The Congress has the power to raise and support armies, as outlined in Article I, Section 8, Clause 12 of the Constitution.
The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the US Army, as outlined in Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the Constitution. The President can also call upon state militias in certain circumstances.
The projected end strength for the Regular Army for the 2022 fiscal year was 480,893 soldiers. The combined-component strength of the US Army, including the Army National Guard and the US Army Reserve, was over 1 million soldiers.
The mission of the US Army is "to fight and win our Nation's wars, by providing prompt, sustained land dominance, across the full range of military operations and the spectrum of conflict, in support of combatant commanders".
