Continental Army

In this episode, we explore the Continental Army, established on June 14, 1775, as the unified fighting force of the American colonies during the Revolutionary War. Led by George Washington, the army grew from scattered local militias into a more organized national military, facing major challenges in training, supplies, clothing, medical care, and coordination across the colonies. We look at how the army was supported by key allies such as France and Spain, how its volunteer ranks and racial integration shaped its identity, and how it fought in major battles that helped secure American independence. The episode also traces the army’s demobilization after the Treaty of Paris in 1783 and its lasting legacy as the foundation of the modern United States Army.