Congress Establishes the United States Navy
The establishment of the United States Navy marks a pivotal moment in American history, originating from the Continental Congress during the American Revolution. Initially, the focus on a naval force waned post-Revolution due to various political and economic challenges, leading to the dissolution of the Continental navy by 1785. As tensions grew with Great Britain and France, along with threats from Barbary pirates, the need for a robust naval presence became clear. On January 2, 1794, the House of Representatives proposed the creation of a national naval force, leading to the commissioning of six ships.
Although these ships were authorized, they were constructed in civilian ports, and the Navy was not formally established until April 30, 1798, when Congress created the Department of the Navy, appointing Benjamin Stoddert as its first secretary. This move signaled a renewed commitment to maritime defense and the protection of American interests at sea. Over time, the Department of the Navy would evolve, ultimately becoming part of the contemporary Department of Defense. This historical development reflects the growing recognition of naval power in safeguarding national sovereignty and facilitating international trade.
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Congress Establishes the United States Navy
Congress Establishes the United States Navy
The first American navy was established by the Continental Congress during the American Revolution. After the Revolution, however, the nation had political and economic problems that caused it to lose interest in maintaining a significant naval force. Although Great Britain had a formidable navy, hostilities had ceased, and it was easier to simply let the old Continental navy fade away. By 1785, the last Continental vessel had been sold to raise funds for the financially strapped government.
The United States Constitution of 1787 gave the country a stronger government, and renewed the desire to have an American navy. Further, the country was by then on the verge of war with both Great Britain and France over interference with American shipping in the Atlantic. Pirates from northern Africa, coming from a region then known as the Barbary Coast, also harassed American merchants. On January 2, 1794, the House of Representatives passed a resolution recommending the creation of a national naval force, and a committee established to study the matter recommended that six ships be commissioned. The Senate approved, and on March 27, 1794, those first six ships were approved.
Although the first ships had been authorized, that did not mean that the United States had a Navy. Those first ships, named the Chesapeake, Congress, Constellation, Constitution, President, and United States, were built in civilian ports under the nominal supervision of government personnel. Further, a peace treaty with the Barbary pirates caused Congress to slow the pace of construction. Renewed tensions with France, however, finally convinced Congress that an American navy was necessary and inevitable. On April 30, 1798, Congress established the Department of the Navy, in effect creating the United States Navy. Benjamin Stoddert became the first secretary of the navy. In the twentieth century, the Department of the Navy would be absorbed by the modern-day Department of Defense.