About

An upper-division survey of the domestic and international experience of the “American way of war” from 1605 to the present, this course introduces students to the manner in which the Armed Forces of the USA, its allies, and enemies evolved and adapted through interaction with one another across four centuries of armed conflict.

Among the broad subjects introduced during the semester, students will investigate the ever-evolving nature, doctrine, and tactics of warfare; intellectual and technological components of conflict; theories (and realities) of battle; and the origin (and evolution) of contemporary “peace-keeping operations” across the globe. Specific topics include the intellectual foundations of American military thought (with emphasis upon British, Prussian, French, German, Italian, Soviet, Chinese, and Asian influences); organizational changes inspired by domestic and foreign developments; and analysis of the interaction between U.S. service branches and the military might of Native American, Latin American, European, and Asian powers. The evolution of NATO, the origins and role of United Nation-supported conflicts and interventions, and the US military’s role in combating global terrorism round out the course.

Students who successfully complete “U.S. Military History” will possess an understanding of the American military experience as the product of domestic and global engagements over the past 400 years.

About this Web Site: U.S. Military History is part of the network of sites comprising Scott Palmer’s On-line Knowledge Emporium™ (SPOKE™). It is the central hub and on-line repository for browsing materials, media resources, instructional policies, the class blog, and other virtual information specifically related to the meat-world course of the same name. If you are among the lucky masses currently enrolled in “U.S. Military History,” this site contains all of the course-related information you will require during the semester. Please be sure to check-in regularly during the semester as the contents of this site will be updated on a frequent basis.