If you have ever wondered when was the Army established, the answer might surprise you. The U.S. Army is actually older than the country it defends. While the United States declared its independence in 1776, the force that would secure that freedom was born more than a year earlier.
Understanding the origins of the U.S. Army requires looking back to the turbulent days of the American Revolution. It wasn't formed in a single day with a massive parade; it started with a resolution, a desperate need for defense, and a group of colonial militias banding together against a global superpower.
This guide explores the timeline of the Army's creation, from the dusty meeting rooms of Philadelphia to the battlefields that forged a nation. Here is the definitive history of when was the Army established.
The Birth of the Continental Army: June 14, 1775
The official birthday of the U.S. Army is June 14, 1775.
Before this date, the resistance against British rule was a scattered affair. Local militias in New England, particularly around Boston, were already fighting British troops—most notably at the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775. However, these were regional fighters with no central command structure or unified funding. They were passionate, but they were not yet a national army.
The Resolution that Started It All
Realizing that a disorganized collection of militias could not defeat the British Empire, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress appealed to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. They asked the Congress to take over the New England forces and create a unified defense for all the colonies.
On June 14, 1775, the Continental Congress passed a critical resolution. They voted to raise ten companies of expert riflemen from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. These troops were to march north to join the militia forces already besieging Boston.
With this vote, the Congress adopted the existing New England troops and expanded the force to represent all 13 colonies. This moment marked the transformation of regional militias into the Continental Army, America's first national institution.
Enter George Washington
Establishing an army was one thing; leading it was another. On June 15, 1775—just one day after the Army’s creation—the Congress unanimously selected George Washington as Commander in Chief. When was the Army established is important, but imagine if we didn’t have George Washington as the Army first general?
Washington was the ideal choice. As a Virginian, his appointment helped unite the southern colonies with the rebellion in the north. He officially took command of the troops in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on July 3, 1775. His task was monumental: he had to discipline a ragtag group of farmers and shopkeepers and turn them into a professional fighting force capable of standing toe-to-toe with the British regulars.
From "Colonies" to "United States" (1776)
For the first year of its existence, the Army fought for the "United Colonies." The goal was initially to restore rights within the British Empire, not necessarily total separation. However, the mood shifted rapidly as the war intensified.
On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. This political shift had a direct impact on the military. The troops were no longer defending colonies; they were defending a new, sovereign nation. Consequently, the force began to be referred to as the Army of the United States.
This period cemented the Army’s role not just as a defensive tool, but as the physical embodiment of the nation's sovereignty. Without the Army holding the line during the brutal winters at Valley Forge and the sweltering summers of the southern campaigns, the Declaration of Independence would have been nothing more than a piece of paper.
The Great Disbanding and Rebirth (1783-1784)
If you dig deep into military history, you might find some sources referencing 1784. This can be confusing, so let’s clear it up.
After the Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War in 1783, the new nation was wary of standing armies. Many founding fathers believed a large permanent military was a threat to liberty. As a result, Congress ordered the Continental Army to disband.
On June 2, 1784, the Army was effectively dissolved, leaving only about 80 soldiers to guard munitions at West Point and Fort Pitt. It seemed, for a moment, that the United States would have no army at all.
The First American Regiment
Reality quickly set in. The frontier was dangerous, and a total lack of military presence was unsustainable. Just one day after disbanding the force, on June 3, 1784, Congress realized the necessity of a standing force and authorized the formation of the First American Regiment.
Recruited from Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey, this regiment became the nucleus of the modern United States Army. While the force was technically "recreated" in 1784, the U.S. Army officially traces its unbroken lineage and heritage back to the original June 14, 1775 resolution.
Formalizing the Force: The Department of War (1789)
The final piece of the establishment puzzle fell into place with the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. In 1789, the old Continental Congress was replaced by the U.S. Congress we know today.
To manage the military effectively under the new federal government, Congress created the Department of War on August 7, 1789. This executive department was tasked with overseeing the Army's administration and operations.
This marked the transition from a wartime emergency force to a permanent, constitutionally mandated institution. The Department of War would eventually evolve into the Department of Defense, but the core mission remained unchanged: to fight and win the nation's wars.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Army established officially?
The United States Army was officially established on June 14, 1775. This is the date the Second Continental Congress passed the resolution to raise troops for the Continental Army.
Is the Army the oldest branch of the US military?
Yes, the Army is the oldest branch. The Continental Army was established on June 14, 1775. The Continental Navy was established a few months later on October 13, 1775, and the Continental Marines on November 10, 1775.
Why do some people say the Army started in 1784?
This confusion stems from the post-war period. After the Revolutionary War, the Continental Army was almost entirely disbanded on June 2, 1784. However, Congress authorized the First American Regiment the very next day, June 3, 1784. While this was a reorganization, the Army's lineage and honors date back to the original 1775 formation.
Honoring Centuries of Service
From the colonial militias of Lexington to the modern soldiers serving globally today, the U.S. Army has remained the backbone of American defense for 250 years.
While the uniforms, weapons, and tactics have changed dramatically, the spirit remains the same as it was that summer in Philadelphia. When the Second Continental Congress voted to unite the colonies in common defense, they didn't just build an army—they laid the foundation for a nation.
Every year on June 14, the Army celebrates this heritage. It serves as a reminder that before there was a President, a Constitution, or even a country named the United States, there was the Army.
When was the Army established? The answer is before just about everything in the country.