America, War and Power: Defining the State, 1775-2005 (War, History and Politics)

Written by leading historians and political scientists, this collection of essays offers a broad and comprehensive coverage of the role of war in American history. Addressing the role of the armed force, and attitudes towards it, in shaping and defining the United States, the first four chapters reflect the perspectives of historians on this central question, from the time of the American Revolution to the US wars in Vietnam and Iraq. Chapters five and six offer the views of political scientists on the topic, one in light of the global systems theory, the other from the perspective of domestic opinion and governance. The concluding essay is written by historians Fred Anderson and Andrew Cayton, whose co-authored book The Dominion of War: Empire and Liberty in North America, 1500-2000 provided the common reading for the symposium which produced these essays. America, War and Power will be of much interest to students and scholars of US military history, US politics and military history and strategy in general. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Contributors......Page 8 Foreword......Page 11 Acknowledgments......Page 14 Introduction: Perspectives on American power and empire......Page 16 1 Defining a new empire: The new power takes shape, 1775–1815......Page 26 2 The United States as rogue state: Gunboat persuasion, citizen marauders, and the limits of antebellum American imperialism......Page 44 3 Billy Yank and Johnny Reb take on the world: Civil War veterans’ views of war, liberty, and empire......Page 79 4 Defining Eisenhower’s America: War, power, and race relations, 1941–1961......Page 103 5 Cold War perceptions and the American experience of war......Page 121 6 From Vietnam to Iraq: The first television war and its legacies......Page 140 7 Global war and the foundations of US systemic leadership......Page 161 8 Domestic challenges to American hegemony......Page 184 9 Soft power, hard power, and the Pax Americana......Page 216 Index......Page 233 Introduction : Perspectives On American Power And Empire / A. James Fuller -- Defining A New Empire : The New Power Takes Shape, 1775-1815 / Jeremy Black -- The United States As Rogue State : Gunboat Persuasion, Citizen Marauders, And The Limits Of Antebellum American Imperialism / Robert E. May -- Billy Yank And Johnny Reb Take On The World : Civil War Veterans' Views Of War, Liberty, And Empire / Carol Reardon -- Defining Eisenhower's America : War, Power, And Race Relations, 1941-1961 / Edward O. Frantz -- Cold War Perceptions And The American Experience Of War / R. William Ayres -- From Vietnam To Iraq : The First Television War And Its Legacies / Chester Pach -- Global War And The Foundations Of Us Systemic Leadership / William R. Thompson -- Domestic Challenges To American Hegemony / Steven W. Hook -- Soft Power, Hard Power, And The Pax Americana / Lawrence Sondhaus. Edited By Lawrence Sondhaus And A. James Fuller. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.