On March 16, 1802, Congress authorized the establishment of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. The academy was created to train officers for the U.S. Army. Before West Point, the United States had no permanent, formal officer training school. The academy placed heavy emphasis on engineering and military science. Many of its graduates later played major roles in American wars and infrastructure projects. West Point remains a central institution in U.S. military education and leadership development.
