This paper explores the influence of American colonial social norms regarding crime and punishment in the development of discipline standards in the newly formed American Army, and its evolution during the course of the War for Independence. The intersection of civilian class expectations, boundaries and privileges with the martial perspective of military discipline borrowed from the standards of European armies, resulted in a uniquely American military code. Through the analysis of primary sources including military orderly books, military and personal correspondence, and personal memoirs, a picture of this code begins to emerge, one that at first glance seems erratic and inconsistent. When taken with the context of the American Army's condition and situation, however, the analysis yields a portrayal of a discipline code that evolved and adapted over time, ensuring the formation of a discipline, victorious Army.

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