The Second Continental Congress established the Continental Army on June 14, 1775, during the era commemorated by America250.
Congress created the army to coordinate the military efforts of the colonies after the fighting at Lexington and Concord. It incorporated patriot forces already gathered around Boston and created a unified force representing the colonies. George Washington was elected commander in chief the following day and served in that role throughout the Revolutionary War.
The Continental Army was not identical to the later United States Army, although the modern Army recognizes June 14 as its birthday because it traces its institutional origins to the 1775 creation. Colonial militias and state-controlled units continued to operate alongside the Continental Army, so the revolutionary military effort included more than one kind of force.
The Continental Army remained active until the peace settlement of 1783. Most of it was disbanded after the Treaty of Paris formally ended the war. Its creation came one year before the Declaration of Independence and helped provide the military structure for the struggle that followed.