The Navy
Fleet Week
has come and gone. There is nothing quite like driving on 80, heading to Pinole
and have the Blue Angels buzz the freeway. The normally slow traffic comes to a
halt. Why Fleet Week in October, you ask”? Well, here’s why.
October 13, 1775, The Second
Continental Congress passed a resolution founding the Navy. After the
Revolutionary War, however, the Navy was disbanded. President John Adams
reestablished the Navy with the Naval Act of 1794 to help combat piracy in the
Mediterranean and protect the U.S. merchant ships. That Navy consisted of six
frigates.
From those
six ships, the U.S. Navy grew to a supreme force. It battled the French in the
Quasi Wars, the British in the War of 1812, and provided a blockade, which
brought the South to its knees during the Civil War. However, by 1878, the Navy
consisted of a mere 6000 men and a few outdated ships.
During the
1880s, Congress provided for a massive buildup of naval resources. New ships
were built and included armored cruiser and battleships. The Navy quickly grew
from twelfth in size to the fifth largest Navy in the world. A couple of
decisive battles during the Spanish American War, the Navy continued to grow
and by the end of the Great War, the United States Navy was larger than the
Royal Navy.
To be continued.
