In March, 1802, Congress passed an act establishing the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. The academy opened on 4th July, 1802, and for the first ten years was mainly an apprentice school for military engineers.

Another act of Congress in April, 1812, reorganized the academy to become the main place in the United States to train and educate students to be officers in the United States Army. Extra staff were taken on and a new four year curriculum was introduced.

Women were first admitted to West Point in 1976. It now has around 4000 students and the four year program includes engineering, military service, the social and natural sciences and humanities.