American Revolutionary troops were stationed there so they could control the river. Our leaders did not want the British to split the colonies. George Washington was one of the leaders of our new nation who wanted a national academy to train army officers. Finally, the United States Military Academy was established in 1802 by President Thomas Jefferson. West Point is preparing many special activities for its Bicentennial Anniversary in 2002.
West Point is very much like any community.
It is called an enclosed community. This community of 10,000 people includes not only cadets, but officers, instructors, soldiers, and their families. All these people are needed to make West Point self-sufficient. On this military reservation, there are homes, schools, stores, a fire department, a police department, a hospital, and a post office. The official purpose of the USMA is to provide the nation with leaders of character who will serve and defend our country.