In Ian W. Toll’s Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy, Toll avidly depicts the tumultuous circumstances that led to and followed the forming of the United States Navy, particularly through the diverse perspectives of historical figures surrounding the issue. In this way, the strength in adversity of the military leaders and Founding Fathers in support of the military endeavor, despite the divisive political atmosphere of the waking nation, is highlighted using gruesome firsthand encounters of war and the personal struggles of those spearheading the project. Toll does not simply provide a comprehensive retelling of history, but rather a broader lesson on the human perseverance in the face of seemingly impossible odds. …show more content…
The modest band of ships was a response to the continued capture of American merchant ships by Algerian ships of the Barbary States, as well as the product of incredibly heated debate between those in Congress. These ships proved to be the muscle needed for the U.S. to declare itself as a formidable opponent on the sea, during the Tripoli War, as well as later in the Quasi War with France. However, it was in the War of 1812 with Great Britain that the blooming Navy showed its true might, by once again facing the nation it was once ruled by, this time primarily by the sea. The British Royal Navy ruled the sea as a terrifying power to be reckoned with, the largest of its time and one that had easily crushed any sea-bearing force that opposed it. The ability of the comparably dismal U.S. Navy to hold its own against such a military and gain numerous victories out of their encounters propelled the budding young nation into a status respectable to its European counterparts. These events cemented a Naval force as being integral for America’s seafaring defense and assertion of foreign power, both diplomatic and militaristic. They helped to prove to the rest of the world that by successfully challenging the two greatest powerhouses of the time, Great Britain and France, the burgeoning young country was not one to be underestimated or pushed …show more content…
It was not just the endurance and fortune of those manning the warships that brought them triumph at sea. Meticulous planning was put into the construction of the frigates, and those in Congress stewed over all possibilities and thought long ahead on their consequences when planning a course of action. In his conception of the frigates, from the structure to the very material used, Joshua Humphreys planned past the then present issue of the Barbary States into the possibility of future conflicts with the dominant seafaring presence, the British—an additional effort that certainly bore fruit. Granted, this could often lead to overcautiousness and conflicting views on the best policy or procedure, like those that postponed the large-scale building of the Navy for so long, as well as further damning the endeavor if failures are met, such as with the explosion of the Intrepid and the fall of the Chesapeake. However, such debate helps raise valid concerns and provide valuable insight from both sides to form a more holistic consideration of the issue at hand, and, as for the failures, hindsight makes up for what foresight lack through the learning from past loss. Additionally, it was the losses sustained by gunboats that proved the need for a more solid Naval