Wednesday, July 17, 2019

The Beginning Days Of The US Coast Guard

By Karen Rogers


In 1915, a merger took place between the United States Revenue cutter Service and the United States Lifesaving Service. As a result, the us coast guard was born. Although, not known as the guard until much later in history, the roots of the guard go back to 1790. At which time, Alexander Hamilton ordered vessels back to the East Coast to collect and enforce tariffs.

On August 4, 1790, the United States Coast Guard was officially established and became a military unit. After which, the Tariff Act was also passed by Congress, thus allowing for the construction of ten cutters and 100 recruits. Between 1790 and 1798, due to the disbandment of the Navy, the recruits became the only naval force of the United States. As such, while hired primarily to enforce tariffs, the crews were also on guard against pirate and slave ships in the area.

The cutters were not an aspect of United States Navy or any other organized service. Instead, each cutter operated independently after being assigned a designated area on the Eastern seaboard. At that time, the cutters were most often known as the Revenue-Marine, then later became recognized as Revenue Cutter Services.

Since the cutters were the only established naval force, when the Navy was re-established at the end of the 1700s, the crews of the cutters took on a number of different responsibilities beyond enforcing tariffs. For example, rescuing mariners in distress, combating piracy, ferrying government officials from one location to another and delivering mail.

It was in 1794 when the Revenue Marine was first ordered to prevent and stop the trading of slaves from Africa by holding slave ships at bay. While stopping between four and five hundred ships, the crews were often outnumbered by the captains and crews of the ships. As such, a number of ships still made it to the coast where many slaves were sold to farmers and plantation owners.

In 1822, the United States Coast Guard became known for efforts related to protecting the environment. Whereas, the cutters and crews were also used in the War of 1812 and what became a quasi-war between the United States and France at the end of the 1700s. After which, the organization began life saving rescues while continuing to promote protection of the environment.

The first shots of the Civil War were fired by crews on the USRC Harriet. At which time, the cutters returned to the Atlantic Blocking Squadron. After which, some of the Revenue Marine Service members which had left the original service banded together and began a revenue cutter service which was part and parcel to the Confederacy.

Most noted for the establishment of Alaska in the 1880s and 1890s, the Revenue Cutter Service played a major role in bringing reindeer to the area as a food source. After which, the reindeer and crews of the Revenue Cutter Service were part of a relief expedition to assist trapped whalers who were starving. During the 1900 Snake River Gold Rush, the service also worked to return destitute gold miners to Seattle from Alaska. Since that time, the U. S. Coast Guard has grown into an organization known for life saving rescues and services around the country.




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