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Revolution and Early Republic
On 13 December 1636, the Massachusetts Bay Colony organized the first militia regiments in North America, marking the beginning of the National Guard. The Thirteen Colonies created their own organized militias, defending colonies against Native American attacks and serving alongside the British Army in the French and Indian War. Colonial militias fought British regulars during the opening battles of the American Revolutionary War, however, the Second Continental Congress determined that a regular military would be required for the United Colonies. On 14 June 1775, the Continental Army was established, marking the birth of the United States Armed Forces. The Continental Army, overseen by the Board of War and Ordnance, served as a nucleus that militia forces could be organized around, forming into a professional army. While the Continental Congress urged the individual colonies to conduct their own naval defenses, no individual colony had the resources to conduct this on their own. On 13 October 1775, the Continental Navy was established, gaining its first warships from the United Colonies' fleet of merchant ships to protect trade and prevent the Royal Navy from conducting an effective blockade. This was complemented by the establishment of the Continental Marines on 10 November 1775 to serve as a landing force for the Continental Navy. The Continental Army, Continental Navy, and Continental Marines served as the armed forces of the United Colonies and, after the signing of the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776, the United States. After defeat at the Battle of Yorktown the British Empire conceded, recognizing the United States' independence.

Having won independence, the Continental Congress decided to completely disband the Continental Navy and Continental Marines. The Continental Army, now known as the United States Army, was the only service to continue to exist, reduced to a force of 80 soldiers to garrison West Point and 700 militiamen for service on the frontier. The Constitution recognized that the Armed Forces needed to be reestablished due to the threat posed by European powers. The Army, overseen by the Department of War was expanded to face threats on the frontier. On 4 August 1790, the Revenue-Marine was established under the Department of the Treasury to enforce tariff and trade laws, as well as to prevent smuggling. It also became the United States' only armed force at sea since the Continental Navy's disbandment in 1785.

Harassment of U.S. merchant ships by Barbary Pirates and by European powers in the French Revolutionary Wars led to the reestablishment of the United States Navy under the Department of War on 27 March 1794, and Congress authorized the construction of six frigates. With the Department of War unable to effectively oversee both the Army and Navy, Congress created the Department of the Navy to oversee the service on 30 August 1798. This was followed by the reestablishment of the United States Marine Corps on 11 July 1798, although it was not moved under the Department of the Navy until 1834.

These four military services, the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and the Revenue-Marine, ensure the United States' continued independence in the War of 1812. They also served as the vanguard of westward expansion, exploring the frontier and participating in the various Indian Wars. Following Texas' admission as a state, the Mexican-American War broke out, leading to an American victory and the annexation of significant portions of northern Mexico.

Civil War
The United States Coast Guard traces its origin to the formation of the Revenue Cutter Service on 4 August 1790, which merged with the United States Life-Saving Service on 28 January 1915 to establish the Coast Guard. The United States Air Force was established as an independent service on 18 September 1947; it traces its origin to the formation of the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps, which was formed 1 August 1907 and was part of the Army Air Forces before being recognized as an independent service in the National Security Act of 1947. The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps was formerly considered to be a branch of the United States Armed Forces from 29 July 1945 until 3 July 1952, and is now one of the eight uniformed services of the United States.

The United States Space Force was established as an independent service on 20 December 2019. It is the sixth branch of the U.S. military and the first new branch in 72 years. The origin of the Space Force can be traced back to the Air Force Space Command, which was formed 1 September 1982 and was a major command of the United States Air Force.