TIMELINES: What American institution was founded on June 14, 1775?

What American institution was founded on June 14, 1775?
TIMELINES: What American institution was founded on June 14, 1775?
6/14/2011
Updated:
9/29/2015

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

On June 14, 1775, a unified army is raised by the Thirteen Colonies of North America to fight Great Britain in the Revolutionary War. The Continental Army was placed under the command of George Washington, who refused to accept pay for the commission. In a letter to the Continental Congress, Washington writes: “As to pay, sir, I beg to assure the Congress that, as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me to accept this arduous employment, at the expense of my domestic ease and happiness, I do not wish to make any profit from it. I will keep an exact account of my expenses. These, I doubt not, they will discharge; and that is all I desire.” After the war, the army is quickly disbanded and replaced by the United States Army, which continues to celebrate June 14 as it’s birthday.

Today, the United States has the largest military budget in the world with a total defense budget in 2010 of $691 billion. As of September 30, 2010 there were 1,430,985 active personal worldwide in all branches of the armed forces—in descending order: Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines—across about 150 countries.