<P> The history of the United States Army began in 1775 . From its formation , the United States Army has been the primary land based part of the United States Armed Forces . The Army 's main responsibility has been in fighting land battles and military occupation . The Corps of Engineers also has a major role in controlling rivers inside the United States . The Continental Army was founded in response to a need for professional soldiers in the American Revolutionary War to fight the invading British Army . Until the 1940s , the Army was relatively small in peacetime . In 1947 , the Air Force became completely independent of the Army Air Forces . The Army was under the control of the War Department until 1947 , and since then the Defense Department . The U.S. Army fought the Indian Wars of the 1790s , the War of 1812 ( 1812 -- 15 ) , American Civil War ( 1861 -- 65 ) , Spanish -- American War ( 1898 ) , World War I ( 1917 -- 18 ) , World War II ( 1941 -- 45 ) , Korean War ( 1950 -- 53 ) and Vietnam War ( 1965 -- 71 ) . Following the Cold War 's end in 1991 , Army has focused primarily on Western Asia , and also took part in the 1991 Gulf War and war in Iraq , and the war in Afghanistan . </P>
<P> The history of the United States Army began in 1775 . From its formation , the United States Army has been the primary land based part of the United States Armed Forces . The Army 's main responsibility has been in fighting land battles and military occupation . The Corps of Engineers also has a major role in controlling rivers inside the United States . The Continental Army was founded in response to a need for professional soldiers in the American Revolutionary War to fight the invading British Army . Until the 1940s , the Army was relatively small in peacetime . In 1947 , the Air Force became completely independent of the Army Air Forces . The Army was under the control of the War Department until 1947 , and since then the Defense Department . The U.S. Army fought the Indian Wars of the 1790s , the War of 1812 ( 1812 -- 15 ) , American Civil War ( 1861 -- 65 ) , Spanish -- American War ( 1898 ) , World War I ( 1917 -- 18 ) , World War II ( 1941 -- 45 ) , Korean War ( 1950 -- 53 ) and Vietnam War ( 1965 -- 71 ) . Following the Cold War 's end in 1991 , Army has focused primarily on Western Asia , and also took part in the 1991 Gulf War and war in Iraq , and the war in Afghanistan . </P>
when was the first standing army created in the united states
when was the first standing army created in the united states
began in 1775 .
began in 1775 .