The American Military A Narrative History

by Lookingbill, Brad D.

• ISBN13: 9781444337365
• ISBN10: 144433736X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2014-01-07
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

The American Military: A Narrative History presents a comprehensive introduction to more than four centuries of American military history.

• Presents a chronological account of American military history from clashes between militias and Native Americans to 21st-century operations in Afghanistan and Iraq
• Features personal vignettes to put a human face on armed conflict
• Addresses patterns of national service, the evolution of civil-military relations, and the advent of all-volunteer forces
• Puts events in historical context, and considers cultural, social, political, economic, and technological developments

Author Biography

Brad D. Lookingbill is Professor of History at Columbia College of Missouri. Prior to his academic career, Dr. Lookingbill served in the Army National Guard and Reserve. He is the author of Dust Bowl, USA: Depression America and the Ecological Imagination, 1929-1941 (2001), War Dance at Fort Marion: Plains Indian War Prisoners (2006), and American Military History: A Documentary Reader (Wiley-Blackwell, 2011).

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations xi

Acknowledgments xv

Prologue: Freedom is not Free 1

1 An Uncommon Defense (1607–1775) 6

Introduction 6

The Militia 8

Skulking 11

Wars of Extirpation 12

Imperial March 15

The French and Indian War 18

Martial Law 21

Rebel Forces 24

Conclusion 26

Essential Questions 27

Suggested Readings 28

2 War for Independence (1775–1787) 29

Introduction 29

American Crisis 31

Year of the Hangman 35

The Alliance 38

Outside the Lines 42

Southern Strategy 44

Yorktown 48

A Standing Miracle 49

Conclusion 51

Essential Questions 52

Suggested Readings 53

3 Establishing the Military (1787–1812) 54

Introduction 54

National Forces 56

Legion 58

A Quasi-War 61

The Shores of Tripoli 63

West Point 65

Army of Adventurers 67

Peaceable Coercion 71

Conclusion 73

Essential Questions 74

Suggested Readings 75

4 Mr. Madison’s War (1812–1815) 76

Introduction 76

War Hawks 78

On to Canada 80

Naval Duels 84

Tough as Hickory 86

Border Battles 88

The British Invasion 91

New Orleans 93

Conclusion 95

Essential Questions 97

Suggested Readings 97

5 The Martial Republic (1815–1846) 98

Introduction 98

Postwar Security 100

Into the Borderlands 103

Arc of Expansion 105

Indian Removal 107

Reforming the Militia 109

The Old Navy 111

Profession of Arms 114

Conclusion 117

Essential Questions 118

Suggested Readings 118

6 The Forces of Manifest Destiny (1846–1860) 120

Introduction 120

American Blood 122

On to Mexico 125

Forward March 127

War at Home 130

The Halls of Montezuma 131

Occupation 135

Legacies of Conquest 136

Conclusion 139

Essential Questions 140

Suggested Readings 140

7 The Blue and the Gray (1860–1865) 142

Introduction 142

Secession 144

Battle Cries 146

Union Strategy 148

Lee Takes Command 153

Military Necessity 157

Advance and Retreat 160

Gettysburg 163

Winning the West 164

The Surrender 166

Conclusion 171

Essential Questions 172

Suggested Readings 172

8 Twilight of the Indian Wars (1865–1890) 174

Introduction 174

Road to Reunion 176

Peace Policy 178

Conquering the Sioux 180

The Old Army 184

Fight or Flight 187

Apache Resistance 189

Wounded Knee 192

Conclusion 193

Essential Questions 194

Suggested Readings 194

9 A Rising Power (1890–1914) 196

Introduction 196

Race for Empire 198

Remember the Maine 200

Splendid Little War 203

Philippine Rebellion 206

The Boxers 209

A Progressive Defense 211

Gunboat Diplomacy 213

Conclusion 216

Essential Questions 217

Suggested Readings 217

10 The War to End All Wars (1914–1918) 219

Introduction 219

Preparedness 221

Mobilizing for War 223

American Expeditionary Forces 226

The Atlantic Lifeline 228

No-Man’s-Land 230

Cult of the Offensive 233

The Armistice 237

Conclusion 239

Essential Questions 241

Suggested Readings 241

11 Out of the Trenches (1918–1941) 242

Introduction 242

Soft Power 244

A Winged Defense 246

From Ships to Shores 248

Our Economic Army 251

Neutrality 253

Under the Rainbow 255

Pearl Harbor 258

Conclusion 261

Essential Questions 262

Suggested Readings 262

12 Fighting World War II (1941–1945) 264

Introduction 264

War Machine 266

The GI Way 269

Empire of the Sun 272

A Second Front 277

Great Crusade 279

The Philippine Sea 283

Victory in Europe 286

Japanese Resistance 288

Atomic Warfare 291

Conclusion 293

Essential Questions 294

Suggested Readings 295

13 A Cold War Begins (1945–1964) 296

Introduction 296

Department of Defense 298

Containment Strategy 301

Police Action 302

A New War 305

Stalemate 308

No More Koreas 312

The Arms Race 314

Conclusion 316

Essential Questions 317

Suggested Readings 317

14 The Tragedy of Vietnam (1964–1975) 319

Introduction 319

Into the Quagmire 321

Gradual Escalation 324

Search and Destroy 327

Tet 330

A Better War 332

Ending the Draft 335

The Fall of Saigon 338

Conclusion 340

Essential Questions 341

Suggested Readings 341

15 A New Military (1975–2001) 342

Introduction 342

Revival 344

A Strategic Defense 347

Use of Force 349

Line in the Sand 352

Desert Storm 354

Drawdown 357

Pax Americana 359

Conclusion 362

Essential Questions 363

Suggested Readings 363

16 Global War on Terror (2001–present) 365

Introduction 365

September Morn 367

War in Afghanistan 370

Iraqi Freedom 372

Green Zone 375

The Surge 378

Turn the Page 381

Killing bin Laden 383

Conclusion 385

Essential Questions 386

Suggested Readings 386

Index 388