The American military : a concise history / Joseph T. Glatthaar.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Glatthaar, Joseph T., 1956- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States--Armed Forces--History.

United States.

Armed Forces.

History.

United States--History, Military.

History, Military.

Genre:

History.

Military history.

Physical Description:

x, 142 pages ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2018]

Summary:

"Since the first English settlers landed at Jamestown with the legacy of centuries of European warfare in tow, the military has been an omnipresent part of America. In "The American Military: A Concise History", Joseph T. Glatthaar explores this relationship from its origins in the thirteen colonies to today's ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. During the Revolutionary War, tension grew between local militias and a standing army. The Founding Fathers attempted to strike a balance, enshrining an army, navy, and a "well-regulated Militia" in the Constitution. The US soon witnessed the rise of a professional military, a boon to its successes in the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Civil War. However, after the Civil War, the US soon learned that the purpose of a peacetime army is to prepare for war. When war did arrive, it arrived with a vengeance, gutting the trenches of the Great War with effective innovations: tanks, planes, machine guns, and poison gas. The US embraced the technology that would win both world wars and change the nature of battle in the Second World War. The nuclear era brought encounters defined by stalemate--from the Cold War conflicts of Korea and Vietnam to the the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since 9/11, the US has been frustrated by unconventional warfare, including terrorism and cyberwar, largely negating the technological advantage it had held. Glatthaar examines all these challenges, looking to the future of the U.S. military and its often proud and complicated legacy."--Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Citizen soldier and sailor vs. standing armed forces

The struggle for military professionalism

Technology, mechanization, and the world wars

The limits of power

Conclusion.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Glatthaar, Joseph T., 1956- American military.

ISBN:

9780190692810

0190692812

OCLC:

1004265157

Publisher Number:

40028371282