West Point, the United States military academy for the training of regular army officers was established on March 16, 1802 at West Point on the Hudson River about 50 miles north of the city of New York. The place was already famous as the scene, 22 years earlier, of a dramatic incident in the War of Independence, when the traitor Benedict Arnold failed in an attempt to betray the strategically important position to the British.
Three chief reasons for the formation of the academy were: first, the fact that in the War of Independence the United States had been forced to rely on foreign military technicians; second, the belief of army leaders, including George Washington, that military techniques must be studied and not acquired solely through experience; third, the desire of some reformers for a new approach to the education of officers.
In 1812 the academy, which had been training only engineers, was reorganized and given more scope. In 1866 an Act of Congress was passed to allow the selection of an academy superintendent who was not an engineer.
West Point is under the direct control of the army and the four-year course of instruction leads to a science degree and a commission of second lieutenant in the regular army. Studies are balanced between mathematics and engineering sciences (55 per cent) and the humanities and social sciences (45 per cent). The 3,100 cadets must be between 17 and 22 years old and unmarried, with a high school education. Aptitude tests and a medical examination must be passed before admission.
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