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- Web Assignment 1:
Introduction to Military History
- 1. How do the Venetians measure state and military power in their memorandum.
How does their ratings and statistics compare to what your text, American
Military History, says about the European powers in the Early Modern Times?
- 2. According to the sources on the web, why were the Wars of Religion,
like the Thirty-Years' War, so devastating? In particular, what do
the excerpts from the adventures of Simplicissimus say about the nature
of the conflicts and the conduct of their combatants?
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- Web Assignment 2:
Colonial Wars
- 1. According to the readings, was the linear tactics of European warfare
suitable against Native American forces? In answering this question, cite
American Military History, and the primary sources.
- 2. According to the sources what were the roles of: A) regular troops;
B) militia and volunteers; and Native Americans in the Colonial Wars of
North America, 1690-1783?
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- Web Assignment 3:
The American Revolution--First Phase
- 1. Based upon the primary sources, compare and contrast the conditions
of service (recruitment, renumeration, supply, morale, etc.) of British
and American forces during the American Revolution.
- 2. According to the primary sources, how did foreigners in British
and American Service (like Chastellux, Lafayette, Pausch, Riedesel and
von Steuben) feel about their allies, adversaries and the American Revolutionary
War in general?
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- Web Assignment 4:
The American Revolution--Second Phase
- 1. Why can one say that the American Revolution, especially in the
Southern Colonies, was in some ways a civil war? In answering this question,
cite American Military History, as well as the Greene and Madison sources.
- 2. Take one of the following engagements and analyze how it was covered
by both the Americanh Military History and the primary sources. 1) Braddock's
Defeat; 2) Quebec; 3) Lexington and Concord; 4) Saratoga; or 5) Yorktown.
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- Web Assignment 5:
The Military in the Early American Republic, 1783-1812.
- 1. Why did it take so long to develop a regular officer corps and army
in the early United States? In answering this question, cite the American
Military History and the primary pources.
- 2. Why was the concept of a militia, instead of a regular standing
army, so important in the early American Republic? In answering this question,
cite the American Military History and the primary Sources.
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- Web Assignment 6:
The United States, the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars.
- 1. According to the primary sources, how did the French Revolution
and the Napoleonic Wars affect United States military, naval and foreign
policy?
- 2. How did the career of Napoleon reinforce an American antipathy towards
a regular army and a professional officer corps? Cite examples from the
sources.
- Web Assignment 7:
The War of 1812
- 1. Comment on the role of militia and volunteers in the U.S. land forces
in the War of 1812. Why were they a liability in the canadian campaigns
but an asset at the battle of New Orleans?
- 2. What were the naval tactics and strategies of the War of 1812? How
did they change beginning in 1814? What importance does the battle of Plattsburgh
have in the outcome of the war?
- Web Assignment 8:
The Legacy of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars in America
- 1. Who was Jomini? What were his main points regarding the conduct
of war? What influence did he have in American military affairs? How do
his view compare to those of Von Clausewitz?
- 2. Can one assert that the Latin American revolutions, 1803-1830's,
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- 2. Briefly analyze the Confederate and Union versions of the naval
engagement between Alabama vs. the Kearsarge? Why does the Alabama stand
somewhere between a privateer and a submarine in modern naval history?
- Web Assignment 13:
The American Civil War and the European Military
- 1. According to Sherman and Sheridan what was European opinion as to
the military significance of the American Civil War?
- 2. According to the sources how do the armed forces of the American
Civil War compare to those of European powers, such as Prussia and France?
- Web Assignment 14:
The Industrial Revolution and Universal Conscription, 1865-1914
- 1. What are George McClelland's views regarding the reform and reorganization
of the U. S. Armed forces. How do these views compare to those of Emory
Upton? What is influencing these views? Jomini or Von Clausewitz? A French
or German model?
- 2. What is meant by the industrialization of war? Why is the machine
gun a symbol of that industrialization?
- Web Assignment 15:
The American Military, 1865-1898.
- 1. According to the sources, how were large numbers of African Americans
incorporated into the U. S. Army during the Civil War? What was their role
in the post-war army? Why were they posted on the frontier and what reputation
did they have as soldiers?
- 2. Were the conflicts of the United States Army with the Native American
tribes from 1865-1890 similar or different from other colonial wars in
causes, conduct and outcome. In answering this question cite the Secondary
and primary sources.
- Web Assignment 16:
American Imperialism and Overseas Conflicts, 1898-1899.
- 1. Compare and contrast the role of the Rough Riders and the 10th Cavalry
at the Battle of San Juan Hill. How has history treated their respective
accomplishments over the years?
- 2. According to the sources, how were the navy and marines deployed
in the Spanish American War? Were they more efficiently ans successfully
used than the Army?
- Web Assignment 17:
The American Military and a Changing World, 1898-1914
- 1. How did the theories of Alfred Thayer Mahan influence U. S. naval
and foreign policy to the First World War In answering this question cite
the Secondary and primary sources.
- 2. Why was their increasing pressure to develop a large regular army
and officer corps in the U. S. between 1898 and 1914? What role did the
Root reforms have moving in that direction? In answering this question
cite the Secondary and primary sources.
- 3. Compare and contrast the overseas use of U. S. forces in China and
the Philippines. According to the sources what were the similiarities and
differences in their deployments?
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- Web Assignment 18:
The Origins and Outbreak of World War I, 1914-1917
- 1. What factors played a role in the stalemate that developed on the
western Front in World War I? What efforts were made to break that stalemate.
Use web documents to substantiate your points.
- 2. How did the United States move from neutral power to active participant
in the Fiorst World War? What was the condition of its armed forces on
the eve of its entry?
- Web Assignment 19:
Stalemate and U.S. Involvement, 1917-1918
- 1. According to the text and web readings, how successful was the United
States in mobilizing and engaging its forces in the First World War compared
to other powers and earlier conflicts?
- 2. Using one or more of your primary web sources, describe the experience
of combat on either land, sea or air in the First World War.
- Web Assignment 20:
The American Military and the Interwar Period, 1918-1939
- 1. Why were the U. S. armed forces radically demobilized following
World War I? What innovations were made in the U. S. armed forces in the
interwar period? In answering this question cite the Secondary and primary
sources.
- 2. Comment briefly on the new technological developments in land, sea
and air warfare in the interwar period. According to the web sources, what
role did the U. S. Armed forces have in these developments?
- Web Assignment 21:
The Trump Card: U.S. Entry into the Second World War.
- 1. How did the United States respond to the crisis of a new World War
in the years 1939-1945. According to the web sources, how did it prepare
militarily?
- 2. According to the web sources, why was the United States Army and
Navy caught off guard at Pearl Harbor? Could the costliness of the Japanese
attack been mitigated?
- Web Assignment 22:
World War II in Europe, 1941-1943
- 1. What was the nature of the naval war in the Atlantic in the years
1941-1943? According to the web sources, what role did the respective service
play in operations at sea?
- 2. How and why were decisions made to conduct operations in North Africa
and Italy in the first phase of offensive operations in Europe? Why was
a cross channel invasion of Europe deferred?
- Web Assignment 23:
World War II in Asia and the Pacific, 1941-1943
- 1. Compare and contrast the fall of Wake and Bataan and the fate of
American prisoners of war after their surrender.
- 2. According to the web sources, why was the battle of Midway the turning
point in the War in the Pacific. What role in naval intelligence and aviation
have in winning that battle?
- 3. According to the web sources, what was the role of special operations
units (raiders and code-talkers) of the Marine Corps in the Pacific Theatre
of Operations?
- Web Assignment 24:
World War II in Europe, 1943-1945
- 1. Comment on the career and character of general George S. Patton
as described in his own words in the web readings of this and previous
assignments. How does it compare to your own perceptions of him?
- 2. According to the web sources, what was the role of special operations
units (rangers, seabees, and paratroops) of the army and navy in the European
Theatre of operations?
- Web Assignment 25:
World War II in Asia and the Pacific, 1943-1945.
- 1. Compare and contrast the role of U. S. naval forces in the European
and Pacific Theatres of Operations during World War II. In answering this
question cite the Secondary and primary sources.
- 2. Compare and contrast the conduct or strategic bombing campaigns
in the European and Pacific Theatres of Operations during World War II.
In answering this question cite the Secondary and primary sources.
- 3. What was "island hopping" as an offensive strategy in
the Pacific? Give specific examples of the application of this strategy
from the web sources.
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- Web Assignment 26:
The Cold War in Europe and Nuclear Standoff, 1945-1950
- 1. How were the armed forces and the national defense system of the
United States reorganized in the years 1945-1950? Comment on how the Cold
War influenced the development of the U. S. military in those years. Cite
evidence given in the text and readings to support your position.
- 2. In what manner did the United States and its allies respond to the
Berlin Crisis of 1948-1949. What was the role of the U.S. military in this
crisis. Give examples from the sources of this role
- Web Assignment 27:
Armed Conflict in Korea, 1950-1953
- 1. According to the web sources, what was the role of auxiliary units
(Medical, Ordnance, Signal and Medical corps) of the U.S. Army in the Korean
Conflict?
- 2. According to the web sources, what were the basic stages of the
Korean Conflict. How did the various services (Army, Navy, Marines, and
Air Force) respond to the vagaries of an undeclared war?
- Web Assignment 28:
The Cold War and Brinkmanship
- 1. In what ways has the development of nuclear weapons affected armed
conflict and the Military since 1945? According to the sources, what has
it done to the defense strategies of the United States?
- 2. How did integration of the armed forces proceed in the years 1948-1960?
Cite its initial promulgation and its application to forces in Korea and
Europe.
- Web Assignment 29:
The U. S. Military and Guerilla War
- 1. Why did the U.S. study failed German counterinsurgency operations
in the Balkan in order to develop its own strategy and tactics?
- 2. How were counterinsurgency methods applied to the U.S. Armed forces
prior to the Vietnam conflict? What were the models for their counterguerrilla
forces (Green Berets, recon teams, etc.)?
- Web Assignment 30:
Vietnam and the U.S. Military, 1956-1975.
- 1. Why did U.S. military efforts eventually fail in Vietnam? Could
the conflict have been won or was their no chance of a successful conclusion?
Read the sources and join the debate. In presenting your views, take into
the problems of strategy, tactics, delegation of command, the officer corps,
discipline, and political considerations in the conduct of the conflict.
- 2. Compare and contrast the purposes and nature of U. S. military actions
in Korea and Viet Nam. In answering this question cite the Secondary and
primary sources and take into account the same factors that were mentioned
in question #1 of this assignment,
- Web Assignment 31:
The U. S. Military and the End of the Cold War, 1975-1990.
- 1. Discuss the organization of the selective service system of the
U. S. Armed Forces from 1945 tothe present. How was the system applied
in war and peace (e.g. Cold War, Korea, Vietnam)? How and why was it deactivated
and replaced with a volunteer system? What, in your opinion, are the pros
and cons of a draftee or volunteer military?
- 2. In the wake of Vietnam, what changes and new approaches in organization,
strategy and tactics were made in the U. S. armed forces. In answering
this question, give specific examples from the web sources.
- Web Assignment 32:
New Challenges, New Problems
- 1. Why are there so many small wars in the world today? What should
the U. S. do about them? In answering this question cite the Secondary
and primary sources.
- 2. How has the use of air power in war evolved from World War I to
the present? What period would you consider as crucial in it growth of
air power in tactical and strategic uses? In answering this question cite
the Secondary and primary sources.
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