The Continental Army was established on June 14, 1775, an early milestone in the revolutionary history remembered by America250.
The Second Continental Congress created the army during the American Revolutionary War, shortly after fighting began at Lexington and Concord. Congress appointed George Washington as commander in chief on June 19, 1775. The army brought together military forces from the colonies under a continental command rather than leaving the war effort entirely to separate colonial militias.
June 14 later became the birthday of the United States Army, although the modern Army’s institutional history includes changes after the Revolution. The Continental Army was formally disbanded after the Treaty of Paris ended the war in 1783, and the federal government later created a permanent United States Army.
This date is distinct from July 4, 1776, the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The army existed before independence was formally declared, reflecting how armed conflict preceded the political decision to announce separation from Britain.