...Timothy Groves Military History Prof. Timothy Orr 3 March 2015 Attack and Die Civil War Military Tactics and the Southern Heritage This was a intriguing book, the authors offer a different version of the severe loss of life suffered by the Confederacy States of American during the Civil War. The authors pull social and cultural elements together with military history to create their central thesis: the Southern military leadership failed to recognize new tactics and technological advances and willingly threw away men’s lives due to their Celtic heritage. If the South had adopted a more defensive posture, it very well could have weathered the storm of assaults by the Union, but the leadership of Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee prevented this because they desired to wage an aggressive war. The book is broken down into different sections, the book begins by comparing Union and Southern losses in battles which major assaults took place and field works. The numbers are very telling, as Southern forces time and again take heavy losses by waging an aggressive war. Union commanders more easily recognized the change in warfare due to technology and more readily adapted; which leads into the part of the book, which discusses at length the reasons for the belief in aggressive tactics. The Mexican war had a profound effect on the thinking of the soldiers who fought in it, and these lessons were remembered and reinforced in the period leading up to the Civil War. The final chapters...
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...Vietnam War Essay During 1968, the Vietnam War was a defining moment in American History. It was caused by many factors that contributed to the warfare in Vietnam during the years. Most factors were the beliefs held by people who wanted or to prevent Vietnam becoming an independent country. Many people suffered due to these beliefs and policies and that the Vietnam War is now considered as one of the most distressing moments in the 20th century. During this time, fear and suspicion were prevalent due to the decisions of the government, and battle occurring in Vietnam. The Vietnam War had evolved from a civil war to a guerrilla war, and then ultimately became a total war. The Vietnam Conflict started out as a civil war, because after the French left the colony of Vietnam county divided into two rival factions, North and South. The communist nationalist leader Ho Chi Minh, whose ideals were based on communist China, led the north. The south was empathized the ideals of a democracy. Because of this difference, at the Geneva conference, they decided to split Vietnam into two different countries: North and South Vietnam. After the United States became involved on the side of the south, the North Vietnamese or the Vietcong fought guerrilla warfare. Ho Chi Minh and his people did not have the money or the weapons to fight a total war. The Vietcong used their strengths to fight the war against the South Vietnamese and the United States by using their knowledge of hit and run guerrilla...
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...Roman commander, and for good reason. In many ways, they had uncanny similarities in leadership, tactics, and achievements, even though they lived around a century apart (p.172). Despite their apparent similarities, each one had individual characteristics which set him apart from the other, and indeed, from all other generals before or after, hence their exalted status in history. To truly understand why the two men are remembered so well, several factors must be examined: The time period in which they held command, their personality traits, and the tactics that won them success on the battlefield. Scipio and Pompey rose to prominence during two of the most turbulent periods in the history of Rome: The Second Punic War (p.50), and the Civil War (p.173). Both of these times were...
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...conducted two lotteries to draft soldiers for military service in the Vietnam War. Only men were put into the draft lottery, receiving a random number that corresponded with their birthdays. The men with the lower numbers were called to serve in the war first . This meant many of our soldiers were young and not trained well. Many people were not in favor of the war in Vietnam. People believed the United States were fighting for a losing cause....
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...Weaponry Since many of the soldiers who participated in the first battle of Bull Run were state volunteers, they were armed with whatever the state government provided them. Many soldiers were issued smooth bore weapons at the beginning of the war. As it progressed, more and more soldiers were armed with rifled weapons, being more accurate and far superior to smooth bore rifles. For the past 150 years, the soldier’s weapon of choice was the .69 caliber smooth bore musket. These rifles were inaccurate and did not have an effective killing range (100-200 yards). A lot of luck went into the soldier’s marksmanship. In the days prior, Napoleonic tactics were commonplace on the battlefield. In this fashion, soldiers lined up side by side and fired a volley of lead into the enemy’s direction, each rank taking turns to reload while the other fired. This tactic was effective in its own right, causing high casualties to both sides. During the civil war however, good soldiers were hard to find, and advancements in technology allowed them to use tactics and weaponry that helped keep soldiers alive on the battlefield. Advancements in the weaponry used during the First battle of the Bull Run made a significant difference in many aspects of the battle. Rifles used in the battle looked identical to the ones previously used, but with one key change: rifling. Rifled weapons have groves cut inside the barrel that cause the projectile to spin as it leaves the muzzle of the weapon. This barrel groove...
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...McClellan’s Influence and Role During the Civil War Chad Hoskins 4446301 MILH 542 Professor Steven Sledge American Public University March 15, 2015 1 Many men during the Civil War made huge contributions that effected their respective sides cause. Some for the worse and some for the better. Battles can be broke down, strategic moves dissected, and even personnel moves debated. But individual men are examined on how they influenced armies, battles, and even their leaders. With that mentioned, George B. McClellan, a great military mind and strategist, perhaps is looked as one of the great leaders during the Civil War who could have made better decisions, change certain outcomes, and maybe even retained the confidence of President Lincoln. George B. McClellan came from a very prominent family who lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (1) George was born December 3, 1826 to Dr. George McClellan who had founded Jefferson Medical College. George’s mother was Elizabeth Sophia Steinmetz Brinton McClellan who came from a leading family in the Philadelphia area. George was the third of five children and had a passion for law. At the young age of 13 he attended the University of Pennsylvania. After just two years of studying law, McClellan changed his focus to military service. Now young George B. McClellan was only 15 at the time when he entered the United States Military Academy in 1842. It took a letter from his father to President John Tyler...
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...C100 Foundations MAJ LeAngela Jones C112 Stage Setter Essay Thomas Barnett The Pentagon War:” It explains why we’re going to War and why we’ll Keep Going to War” CGSC 1. Critique the Author’s thesis: Thomas Barnett has briefed many people on The Pentagon’s New Map: It explains why we’re going to war and why we’ll keep going to war” as part of the Non-Integrating Gap. The Pentagon's New Map was intended to provide direction for the Pentagon in search of a strategy following the 1927 Post War and how globalization has affected this world. Is Thomas Barnett way of thinking about war the way most Americans think about war? I agree with the majority of Barnett’s article on “The Pentagon New Map”. He talks about how the threat of the disconnectedness of the Gap will reduce the level of disconnectedness and shrink the Gap. Protecting American citizens at home and abroad is one of the toughest tasks the President and Congressional leaders assume after they assume the oath of office. Disconnectedness can be seen among the citizens of the United States. Some of the same reasons identified by Barnett as causal factors are also applicable on a lesser scale. Take a look at the disadvantage people living in the United States; some in projects and others in trailer parks. Many of them are somewhat educated and want success; however, they take the wrong course of action to be successful. When they witness the success of others and the personal property owned by successful people...
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...Lessons from a Successful Counterinsurgency: The Philippines, 1899-1902 TIMOTHY K. DEADY “It should be the earnest and paramount aim of the military administration to win the confidence, respect, and affection of the inhabitants of the Philippines . . . and by proving to them that the mission of the United States is one of benevolent assimilation, substituting the mild sway of justice and right for arbitrary rule.” — President William McKinley 21 December 1898 T he United States topples an unsavory regime in relatively brief military action, suffering a few hundred fatalities. America then finds itself having to administer a country unaccustomed to democratic self-rule. Caught unawares by an unexpectedly robust insurgency, the United States struggles to develop and implement an effective counterinsurgency strategy. The ongoing US presidential campaign serves as a catalyst to polarize public opinion, as the insurrectionists step up their offensive in an unsuccessful attempt to unseat the incumbent Republican President. These events—from a century ago—share a number of striking parallels with the events of 2003 and 2004. The Philippine Insurrection of 18991902 was America’s first major combat operation of the 20th century. The American policy of rewarding support and punishing opposition in the Philippines, called “attraction and chastisement,” was an effective operational strategy. By eliminating insurgent resistance, the campaign successfully set the conditions necessary...
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... * USSR treated China as a junior partner in com alliance * 1 way China could improve standing in relationship was by proving loyalty to cause of world com. In this context it was to take active role in attempting to advance world com * Not easy relationship between S/M * S always cautious in providing help to CCP during civil war. To him Guomindang seemed to offer better bulwark against Jap expansion in China that occurred during 30s and WW2. As a result gave them aid * Only after CCP had taken over in Oct 49 that Stalin was prepared to place relations with M on firmer footing * Alliance with USSR was to be cornerstone of M fp. believed it was only though assistance of USSR that com CH could receive protection it needed against attack from USA and anti-com forces in CH. Also wanted help of Sov experts to ensure socialist society was developed within CH. * USSR agreed to help and Liu Shaoqi (2nd in command) visited Moscow summer 49 to start negotiations * Report to S, sov com party “main headquarters” of com movement. CH is just a “battle-front headquarters” “CCP submits to decisions of Sov com party” even in differences. Enough to bring face-to-face meeting between M/S Dec 49 – only meeting. Result of meeting to confirms terms of SS treaty 2. Outline the terms of the treaty of friendship between Mao and Stalin * Formal alliance between countries * Econ aid...
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...War: An Anatomy of Madness James V. Lewis Jr. COM/172 October 19, 2011 War: An Anatomy of Madness Contrary to past wars, Americans are not asked to conserve on gas, or consume less sugar. No draft to protest as during the Vietnam War, and the air raid drills of cold war years are a thing of the past. Still the consequences of wars, even though at times necessary, are social and political trauma, the impact on society and the morality of war is inconsistent with the ideas of ethical decency and good common sense. Politically; in a democratic society like America the fallout from war makes it hard to govern and impedes the ability to fight and win wars. Body Paragraph 1 The impact of war on society For most American families with loved ones in harm’s way the consequences of war are traumatic. The strains on a spouse waiting for news from a husband or wife immersion in situations in which the possibility of death is ever present, is a familiar yet heartbreaking scenario. To anyone who has had a loved one or friend serve in a combat zone the stress can be detrimental to relationships as well one’s health. According to Huus (2007), “the uncertainty and fear felt by family members in this war are amplified by how few people are being called on, and to what extent”(The guessing makes you crazy section, para. 9). Our current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are being waged by an overworked military. American soldiers are subject to frequent...
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...Evaluating the role of ethnic identity in explaining the occurrence of contemporary civil conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa. High hopes for many newly independent states of Africa became diminished as the 1990s saw over a quarter of the continent's states facing armed insurgencies within their borders (Young, 2002: 534). Commentators often point to pathological, deep-seated hatreds in an African tribal mosaic as the bases of such conflict. The fact is, however, that the continent is awash with political grudges, ethnically-framed and otherwise, but civil wars rarely break out. Thus this essay seeks to take a more nuanced approach to understand the analytical challenge posed by such disorder. Starting out by countering the centrality of ethnic identity, it firstly seeks to demonstrate that ethnic identities do not exist primordially, but that they are constructed on weak foundations. Secondly it endeavours to show that where cleavages do exist along lines of cultural difference, simple heterogeneity is insufficient to account for the outbreak of conflict. Next, it moves to underline the fact that more important in explaining civil conflict is whether such conflict is feasible. This is understood both in terms of the perceived capacity of the state and in terms of the viability of insurgency for would-be rebels. A final conclusion will then be expounded that ethnicity is not a central factor, but that it is simply one of a number of strategies under which conflict may be framed...
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...During the period of 1861-1865 that is commonly known as the Civil War, both the northern and the confederate states exhibited variegated forms of what it means to be civilized. At the bottom of it, the Civil War exhibited the most bloodshed on American soil at a singular point in time. For this reason it must be stated that both The Union and The Confederates both acted out bloodthirsty and carnal impulses. The difference that was displayed was that the liberalism and regard for expanded civil rights that was the basis for The Union’s war stance was countered by a stalwart reactionary ideological platform that The Confederacy clung to. Essentially, civility was at an all-time low during the bloodshed of the Civil war. Over 500,000 lives were claimed, however the etiquette and ideological platforms of both sides proved to be The old world charm of the South was encapsulated by John Mosby and his revenge against a Union trooper killing a young child in front of the child’s mother. Mosby exclaimed that revenge was not a primary, or even a secondary motivation. He honestly believed that he had to kill in order to stop the killing (Civil War Times, 31). This etiquette and honor displayed during the bloodshed was in contradistinction to the crass and needless killing committed by the Union soldier. This shows how oftentimes ideologies can mask the deeper, truer feelings and...
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...War: An Anatomy of Madness James V. Lewis Jr. COM/172 October 19, 2011 War: An Anatomy of Madness Contrary to past wars, Americans are not asked to conserve on gas, or consume less sugar. No draft to protest as during the Vietnam War, and the air raid drills of cold war years are a thing of the past. Still the consequences of wars, even though at times necessary, are social and political trauma, the impact on society and the morality of war is inconsistent with the ideas of ethical decency and good common sense. Politically; in a democratic society like America the fallout from war makes it hard to govern and impedes the ability to fight and win wars. Body Paragraph 1 The impact of war on society For most American families with loved ones in harm’s way the consequences of war are traumatic. The strains on a spouse waiting for news from a husband or wife immersion in situations in which the possibility of death is ever present, is a familiar yet heartbreaking scenario. To anyone who has had a loved one or friend serve in a combat zone the stress can be detrimental to relationships as well one’s health. According to Huus (2007), “the uncertainty and fear felt by family members in this war are amplified by how few people are being called on, and to what extent”(The guessing makes you crazy section, para. 9). Our current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are being waged by an overworked military. American soldiers are subject to frequent deployments...
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...American Civil Rights Background Timeline of events / Personalities 1860: Abraham Lincoln elected US president. * Made the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, a law which would see the release of all slaves in America. * Belief that the slaves should be freed was a key factor in sparking the American civil war. 1861: The American Civil War begins at fort Sumter. * Fought between the United States of America, who opposed slavery, and the Confederate States of America, a new nation established by seven slave states in the south. * Not the only reason for the civil war, slavery was a key issue being fought over. 1865: The 13th amendment is passed, permanently outlawing slavery. * Shortly after the surrender of all confederate forces, ending the civil war. 1866: The civil rights act is passed by Congress. * The first to define US citizenship as well as state that all citizens were protected by the law. * It is expected that the act was passed, despite being vetoed repeatedly by President Andrew Johnson, in order to protect the rights of African-Americans. 1870: The 15th amendment is passed, giving the black man the right to vote. 1875: A bi-racial senate and House of Representatives passes the civil rights act. * Designed to protect all Americans in their access to accommodations and facilities such as restaurants. * Never enforced and was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme court in 1883 1896: The Supreme Court introduces...
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...The United States went through a major transformation between the period starting with World War II and ending in the 1970’s. Two major turning points that changed America as well as the entire world forever were the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the moon landing of Apollo II in 1969. On August 6th, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese industrial city of Hiroshima. The intent of President Harry Truman was simple: He wanted to end the war, end it decisively and end it without a large amount of American casualties. It was determined by the President and his military commanders that a full-blown ground invasion of Japan could risk the loss of up to one million American lives. The atomic bomb, however, could bring the war to a swift end with minimal loss of American life. After the first bomb, nicknamed “Little Boy” was dropped, Japan refused to surrender. Three days later, America dropped the second atomic bomb, “Fat Man” on the city of Nagasaki. The following day, Japan offered its surrender to the Unites States. These bombings had both positive and negative effects within the United States and abroad. On one hand, the American allies saved many lives by avoiding a full blown ground invasion of Japan. They also sent a message to the international community that they had the firepower necessary to defend or destroy. They also had the scientific knowledge to create a weapon of mass destruction. Internationally, the killings...
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