How is the United States Army older than the United States?
The U.S. Army is older than the United States because it was created before the country declared independence. The Continental Congress formed the Army on June 14, 1775, while the United States wasn’t officially founded until the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
Why the Army Came First?
The colonies needed a unified fighting force to resist British troops during the early stages of the American Revolution.
Local militias existed, but they were uncoordinated.
The Continental Congress voted to create the Continental Army and appointed George Washington as its commander
This Army later became the United States Army after independence was declared.
The Army is about 1 year and 20 days older than the United States itself.
Why This Matters….
*It shows the U.S. was born out of a war effort.
*The Army wasn’t created to defend an existing country — it was created to help create the country.
* This is why the Army celebrates June 14 as its birthday every year.