How did the Continental Army become the beginning of the regular U.S. Army?

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United States Army American soldiers during the Korean War.

The Continental Army was established by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, initially comprising militia troops besieging Boston. Because these early forces were often unreliable and prone to leaving when danger passed, Congress established a standing force in January 1776.1

These "Continentals" were distinct from colonial militias, as they were enlisted for longer terms and received more thorough training. This stable, professional nucleus provided George Washington with a reliable fighting force during the American Revolution, serving as the foundation for the regular U.S. Army.1

Following the war, the army was largely disbanded, but the need for a standing force to address frontier conflicts ensured its survival in a reduced capacity. The transition to a permanent institution was further solidified by the Constitution, which placed military forces under the president as commander in chief, and the subsequent creation of the Department of War in 1789.1