On November 3, 1783, the Continental Army was formally disbanded after the end of the American Revolutionary War. The army had carried the colonies through the long conflict with Britain, but peacetime leaders wanted to reduce standing forces. Many soldiers had gone home earlier, and the remaining troops were gradually released from service. The disbandment showed the new nation’s preference for small peacetime forces and reliance on militia. It also left some veterans frustrated because they faced delays in pay and land grants. The end of the army marked a transition from revolutionary struggle to the political challenges of running an independent republic.
