Who commanded the Continental Army?

George Washington commanded the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The Second Continental Congress appointed him commander-in-chief on June 14, 1775, shortly after fighting began at Lexington and Concord.

Washington was chosen partly because of his military experience from the French and Indian War and partly because he was a Virginian who could help unite the northern and southern colonies. He faced a difficult task: the Continental Army was often short of money, weapons, supplies, and trained soldiers, while Britain possessed a professional military and powerful navy.

Washington’s leadership helped keep the American cause alive through setbacks such as the 1776 losses around New York. His army later won important victories at Trenton, Princeton, and Yorktown. At Yorktown in 1781, American and French forces forced British General Charles Cornwallis to surrender, effectively ending major combat. Washington resigned his commission in 1783, reinforcing the principle that military power would remain under civilian authority.