War Department, United States, federal executive department organized (1789) to administer the military establishment. It was reconstituted (1947) as the Dept. of the Army when the military administration was reorganized (see Defense, United States Department of ). During the American Revolution, military affairs were largely supervised by the Continental Congress, and under the Articles of Confederation a secretary of war was put in charge of defense matters.

In Aug., 1789, the U.S. War Dept., headed by the Secretary of War with cabinet rank, was created to organize and maintain the U.S. army—under the command of the President in time of peace and war. Subsequent legislation expanded the department’s organization, and until 1903 the commanding general of the army and various staff departments aided the Secretary in guiding the military establishment. Its supervision of naval affairs was soon transferred (Apr., 1798) to the U.S. Dept. of the Navy.

At times the War Dept. supervised quasimilitary matters—e.g., the distribution of bounty lands, pensions (see Interior, United States Department of the ), Indian affairs (see Indian Affairs, Bureau of ), and the Reconstruction of the South after the Civil War, but by the 20th cent. the only such responsibilities that remained were the construction of public works in connection with rivers and harbors and the maintenance and operation of the Panama Canal.

Meanwhile, the purely military functions of the department were vastly expanded in war periods, and after the Spanish-American War the War Dept. was thoroughly reorganized (1903). The office of the commanding general of the army was abolished, and the general staff corps was established to coordinate the army under the direction of the chief of staff, who was charged with supervising the planning of national defense and with the mobilization of the military forces. Thereafter the War Dept. absorbed several new functions; it was given supervision over the newly created National Guard , and under the National Defense Act of 1916 the officers’ reserve corps was created within the department’s organization.

This act also established the office of Assistant Secretary of War to coordinate the procurement of munitions. After World War I the War Dept. was again revamped (1922). Its scope of military activities, however, remained wide, stretching from the supervision of the U.S. Military Academy (West Point) to the guidance of insular affairs and occupied territories and to the intricate organization of defense. In World War II plans were laid to coordinate the activities of the armed services, and with the creation (1947) of the National Military Establishment—which later became (1949) the U.S. Dept. of Defense—the War Dept. was reconstituted as the Dept. of the Army, which became a division of the Dept. of Defense. The Secretary of War, holding a post with high cabinet rank, became the Secretary of the Army, an office without cabinet rank, and several of the department’s functions, notably those connected with the air arm, were transferred.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. Government

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Heat advisory Until: Fri 7, 10:00 PM

What:‎ Hot conditions with high temperatures up to 85 to 90 degrees expected. This will pose a moderate risk of heat-related illness.

Where:‎ Portions of northwest and west central Washington.

When:‎ Until 10 PM PDT this evening.

Impacts:‎ Heat will significantly increase the risk of heat-related illnesses for those who are sensitive to heat, especially those without effective cooling or adequate hydration.

Additional Details:‎ Warm temperatures overnight will bring limited relief for the interior.

Summary:‎ Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. For sheltering information and other human services in your area, dial 2 1 1 during business hours or visit wa211.org anytime. To stay safe when heat and smoke are present, go to spaces with indoor cooling and air filtration. To cool spaces with no air conditioning, pull shades to block daytime heat. Use portable air cleaners or DIY box fan filters to help cool and clean air. Stay hydrated and limit activity until heat and smoke improve.

Issued By:‎ NWS Seattle WA

Thu, Aug 6, 10:59 PM PDT to Fri, Aug 7, 11:00 PM PDT

Air Quality Alert issued August 6 at 10:59PM PDT by NWS Seattle, WA

An Update: Alert until Fri, Aug 7, 11:00 PM PDT ~ Air Quality Alert for Smoke has been issued by the following agencies until 8 AM PDT Friday: Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and Olympic Region Clean Air Agency.

An Air Quality Alert continues for King, Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, Snohomish, and Thurston counties through 8 AM Friday, August 7 due to wildfire smoke from regional fires. update: Fri, Aug 7, 11:00 PM PDT

Air quality is MODERATE to UNHEALTHY for most of the area and is expected to gradually improve Thursday and overnight. Improvement in the Cascades will lag behind, and parts may remain UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS through Friday mid-day.

When the air quality is UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS, individuals with health concerns and pre-existing conditions should reduce exposure and take precautions.

At UNHEALTHY air quality, all individuals should take precautions to reduce exposure. This means limiting time outside, avoiding strenuous outdoor activity, and following tips for cleaner indoor air.

Visit pscleanair.gov and orcaa.org/news-notices for current conditions, updates, and more information.

© 2026 National Weather Service

The National Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. § 1973–1973aa-6) outlawed discriminatory voting practices that had been responsible for the widespread disenfranchisement of African Americans in the United States.

Echoing the language of the 15th Amendment, the Act prohibited states from imposing any “voting qualification or prerequisite to voting, or standard, practice, or procedure … to deny or abridge the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color.” Specifically, Congress intended the Act to outlaw the practice of requiring otherwise qualified voters to pass literacy tests in order to register to vote, a principal means by which Southern states had prevented African-Americans from exercising the franchise. The Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, a Democrat, who had earlier signed the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law.