The Birth of the United States Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps was established by the Continental Congress, in the document bellow, on November 10, 1775. As part of the Department of the Navy, they were first known as the Continental Marines, their duties were "to conduct ship-to-ship fighting, provide shipboard security and discipline enforcement, and assist in landing forces."

The first Commandant of the Marine Corps was Captain Samuel  Nicholas who signed the declaration from congress. He began recruiting out of his family's tavern in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which is now known as Tun Tavern. At the time, the United States was already seven months into the American Revolutionary War and they needed all the man power they could get. The first Marine Corps invasion was in March 1776 at New Province Island in the Bahamas, where they took over the island from the British. When the war was over, the Marines were disbanded. However, they were called back in May 1798, to protect the United States from the "increasing conflict at sea with Revolutionary France." During that time, they conducted amphibious assaults in Santo Domingo against the Barbary Pirates. Another significant battle for the Marine Corps was in the War of 1812 where they defeated the British in New Orleans alongside, soon to be President, Andrew Jackson.

With Congress' establishment and signing of the Marine Corps, they changed the course of this country forever. The Marine Corps has the reputation of being the toughest and best military branch of the United States, past and present. Some people may disagree with that, but the Marine Corps have always been the "first to fight" and have fought in some of the greatest battles this country has ever been in. If it wasn't for the military, all branches included, we would not have the freedom and be the country we are today.

Primary Source:
"Taggert of The Marines" Congressional Document of the Marine Corps. November 10, 1775. Online. Internet. September 23, 2010.
Available FTP: http://taggertmarines.com/History.htm

Secondary Sources:
"Birth of the U.S. Marine Corps." This Day in History. Online. Internet. September 23, 2010.
Available FTP: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/birth-of-the-us-marine-corps

Marine Corps History. Online. Internet. September 23, 2010
Available FTP: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usmc/history.htm

History of the United States Marine Corps. Online. Internet. September 23, 2010
Available FTP: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_United_States_Marine_Corps