Who authorized the Marine Corps to form?

The formation of the Marine Corps was authorized by the Continental Congress, which is a key historical detail reflecting the early establishment of military organizations in the United States. On November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress passed a resolution to raise two battalions of Marines, marking the official birth of the Marine Corps. This decision was made during the American Revolutionary War, as there was a pressing need for naval infantry to support the newly forming navy in combat operations.

Since this authorization came from the Continental Congress, it signifies the role of this legislative body in creating military forces prior to the establishment of the United States federal government and its various departments, such as the Department of Defense, which developed much later. This context is essential in understanding the origins and historical significance of the Marine Corps within the framework of U.S. military history.