In the shadow of war : the United States since the 1930's

Examining how war has defined modern America, this text argues that America's intense preoccupation with war emerged on the eve of World War II, marking a turning point as important as the Revolution, the end of the frontier, and other watersheds in American history. In the 60 years since the war, says Sherry, militarization has reshaped every facet of American life: its politics, economics, culture, social relations and place in the world. In This Magisterial Book, A Prize-winning Historian Shows How War Has Defined Modern America. Michael Sherry Argues That America's Intense Preoccupation With War Emerged On The Eve Of World War Ii, Marking A Turning Point As Important As The Revolution, The End Of The Frontier, And Other Watersheds In American History. In The Fifty Years Since The War, Says Sherry, Militarization Has Reshaped Every Facet Of American Life: Its Politics, Economics, Culture, Social Relations, And Place In The World. I. The Militarization Of America: -- 1. Emergence, 1933-1941 -- 2. Triumph, 1941-1945 -- 3. Consolidation, 1945-1953 -- 4. The Uneasy Balance, 1953-1961 -- 5. The Crisis Of Militarization, 1961-1966 -- Ii. The Reshaping Of American Militarization: -- 6. The War Mentality In Triumph, 1966-1974 -- 7. Back To The Future, 1975-1981 -- 8. The Illusory Remilitarization, 1981-1988 -- 9. A Farewell To Militarization? 1988-1995. Michael S. Sherry. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [556]-567) And Index. Contents 7 Acknowledgments 8 Preface 9 Prologue: War in American History 13 Part One. The Militarization of America 25 1 Emergence, 1933 - 1941 27 2 Triumph, 1941 - 1945 76 3 Consolidation, 1945 - 1953 143 4 The Uneasy Balance, 1953 - 1961 208 5 The Crisis of Militarization, 1961 - 1966 257 Part Two. The Reshaping of American Militarization 301 6 The War Mentality in Triumph, 1966 - 1974 303 7 Back to the Future, 1975 - 1981 357 8 The Illusory Remilitarization, 1981 - 1988 411 9 A Farewell to Militarization? 1988 - 1995 451 Conclusion 526 Endnotes 533 Essays on Sources 571 Bibliography 584 Index 597