Today In History: U.S. Military Academy Established

OCEANSIDE CA — In 1802 congress authorized the U.S Military Academy, the first military school in the United States. Though the location was used for training cadets in engineering starting in 1794, it officially became the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1802.

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In 1781, George Washington called the fortified site “the most important Post in America,” and he worked to keep Patriot control of West Point throughout the Revolutionary War. For the revolutionaries, holding West Point meant preventing the British from controlling the Hudson River and dividing the colonies in two.

During the Revolutionary War, West Point was known as Fort Arnold, but after Benedict Arnold's betrayal, it became known as Fort Clinton. Ten years later, and another threat of war with Britain, Congress expanded the Academy and troop levels to allow more students to attend.

In 1976, the first female cadets were admitted. The academy is now under the general direction and supervision of the department of the U.S. Army and has an enrollment of more than 4,000 students.

Sources:

• A Brief History of West Point
• The History Channel
• 10 Facts: The United States Military Academy at West Point