In 1790, the United States founded its only maritime force to fight pirates and smugglers
Before the United States had a formal Navy, Alexander Hamilton established a small fleet of armed vessels to protect the young nation's fragile economy from rampant smuggling and coastal piracy.
On August 4, 1790, President George Washington signed the Tariff Act, authorizing the construction of ten 'cutters' to enforce trade laws. At the time, the United States was drowning in debt from the Revolutionary War, and smuggling was draining much-needed tax revenue from the treasury.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 2-question quiz