Established the U.S. Navy - March 27, 1794

The "Act to establish a Naval Armament" was approved by the Senate and House in March of 1794. It gave the President permission to buy or otherwise obtain six frigates, with two each of 36 and 44 guns. It also outlined the number of crew members required, their pay, and the daily food they would get.

The 3rd United States Congress passed the Act to Provide a Naval Armament (Sess. 1, ch. 12, 1 Stat. 350), usually referred to as the Naval Act of 1794 or simply the Naval Act, on March 27, 1794, and President George Washington had it signed into law. The act approved spending $688,888.82 on the building of six frigates. These vessels served as the founding vessels of the future modern United States Navy.

A peace agreement between the United States and Algiers was proclaimed in March 1796 as work on the frigates was sluggishly progressing. Construction on all six ships was halted in compliance with clause nine of the Naval Act of 1794, which stipulated specifically that the construction of the frigates be stopped if peace was established. The United States, Constellation, and Constitution were the three ships that were closest to completion when Congress finally enacted an act on April 20, 1796, following some discussion and prodding from President Washington.