The Navy actually predates the United States itself. In 1775, the Continental Congress passed a resolution urging the individual colonies to build and equip fleets, followed on 26 August by a resolution from Rhode Island that there be a single Continental fleet. In the meantime, George Washington had begun to acquire ships, starting with the schooner Hannah which was paid for out of Washington's own pocket. Hannah was commissioned and launched on 5 September 1775, from the port of Beverly, Massachusetts. On 13 October, the Congress decided to start commissioning its own ships, starting with Alfred out of Philadelphia.

The U.S. Navy recognized 13 October 1775 as the date of the official establishment of the Navy — the date of the passage of the following resolution of the Continental Congress at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania But The US Navy from the Navy's Blue Jackets Manual and the State of New York declares Whitehall NY as the Official Birthplace of the US Navy.

Disarmament 1784-1794

At the end of the Revolutionary War, the Continental Navy was totally disbanded. Factors included the loose confederation of the states, lack of money, change of goals from war to peace as well as more domestic and less foreign interests. The country later realized the need for a strong defensive force to protect its merchant fleet from attacks by the Barbary pirates as well as the British.

Federal Navy

In 1794, the Congress authorized the construction of six frigates: USS United States, USS President, USS Constellation, USS Chesapeake, USS Congress, and USS Constitution. USS Constitution, launched in 1797 and the most famous of the six, was nicknamed "Old Ironsides" and, thanks to the efforts of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., is still in existence today, anchored in Boston harbor.

 The "New Navy"

As of 2005, the Navy is the smallest numerically, with less than 300 ships, than it has been at any time since World War I. However, the comparison is misleading since modern ships are larger and carry more firepower than those of 100 years ago.

In 2007, the U.S. Navy joined with the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard to adopt a new maritime strategy called “A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower” that raises the notion of prevention of war to the same philosophical level as the conduct of war. The strategy was presented by the Chief of Naval Operations, the Commandant of the Marine Corps and Commandant of the Coast Guard at the International Seapower Symposium in Newport, R.I. on 17 October 2007. The strategy recognized the economic links of the global system and how any disruption due to regional crises – manmade or natural – can adversely impact the U.S. economy and quality of life. This new strategy charts a course for the Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps to work collectively with each other and international partners to prevent these crises from occurring or reacting quickly should one occur to avoid negative impacts to the United States.