Coast Guard Act

The Coast Guard Act of 1915 created the U.S. Coast Guard as a new service outwardly modeled on the structure of the U.S. Navy. Its men wore uniforms, and had the responsibility of protecting American coastal cities and waters from hostile attack. It was also authorized to stop, search, and arrest suspected smugglers and other unlawful intruders into American waters.

The Coast Guard was created from the merged United States Revenue Cutter Service and the United States Life-Saving Service. It was initially placed under the U.S. Treasury Department, but was temporarily transferred to the Navy Department during World War I.