Navy

An Historical Account of the United States Navy, 1775-Present

The history of the United States Navy should be divided into two parts: the first part consists of (roughly) the Navy's first 100 years; the second (and modern) part follows. It is the difference between the Old and the New, the days of sailing ships and the days of industrial and technological advancement so astounding that the "Old Navy" must now surely seem quaint. This paper will detail the history of the U.S. Navy and describe its transformation from a small force of six frigates in 1794 to the naval superpower of the world that it is today.

In October of 1775, the Continental Congress knew it ought to have some sort of American sea power, and it "passed a resolution urging each colony to fit out armed vessels for its individual defense."

Rhode Island had been the first to...
[ View Full Essay]