...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 of the book discuss the cultural...
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...The Evolution of the U.S. Healthcare System Between the years the beginning of 19th century and today, healthcare in the United States evolved from a simple system of home remedies and itinerant doctors with little training to a complex, scientific, technological, and highly bureaucratic system. The system is built on medical science and technology and the authority of medical professionals. Its evolution includes the acceptance of the "germ theory" as the cause of disease, professionalization of doctors, technological advancements in treating disease, the rise of great institutions of medical training and healing, and the advent of medical insurance. Governmental institutions, controls, health care programs, drug regulations, and medical insurance also evolved during this period. Most recently, the healthcare system has seen the growth of corporations whose business is making a profit from healthcare. Prior to 1800, medicine in the United States was a "family affair." Women were expected to take care of illnesses within the family and only on those occasions of very serious, life threatening illnesses were doctors summoned. Called "domestic medicine," early American medical practice was a combination of home remedies and a few scientifically practiced procedures carried out by doctors who, without the kind of credentials they must now have, traveled extensively as they practiced medicine. Until the mid-eighteenth century Western medicine was based on the ancient Greek...
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...According to most modern statistics, the first world war resulted in the combined deaths of almost 10 million soldiers out of about 65 million died, most of which died during battle, unlike most previous wars during which most died of disease, and 1/3rd of those deaths were caused by an outbreak of Spanish flu, killing more people in one year than did the black plague in four. Contrastingly, the American civil war caused almost a million deaths or more than 2 percent of the entire population of the entire north American continent at the time as opposed to little more than 1 percent of all of the armies put together, not counting civilians. The number of casualties from world war 1 and many others afterwards could have been much larger, but...
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...and methods are used for engaging and defeating the enemy in direct combat. However the soldiers and armies have come a long way from the spear, or the bow and arrow. The innovations along with changes in tactics and strategies were crucial to the evolution of warfare. In the middle ages the army, air force, marines, national guards, and navy did not exist. Medieval knights were the middle ages military. Knighthood was awarded to members of nobility. Normally a man must have been born the son of a knight in order to become one. At the age of seven or eight, a young knight would be sent away from home to begin formal knight training, in preparation to dominate the medieval battlefield. In this training, the most commonly used weapons for war were swords and the lance; by horseback riding knights wearing body-covering armor. In addition, the knights were taught to use a wide range of weaponry, from simple tools and farm implements to sophisticated acts of surrounding and attacking the enemy, for capture. Wounds inflicted on the battlefield were usually cuts to arms, legs and scalp; penetrating wounds to the limbs and trunk caused by arrows; fractures caused by impact from swords or concussions from missiles from slings. These types of wounds most often were treated by simple medical care, which consisted of cleaning the wound, controlling the bleeding and preventing contamination. Warriors with serious injuries such as severed arteries and crushed skulls died on the...
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...Describe the different approaches to waging war of Grant and McClellan, utilizing Grant's campaign in the West and McClellan's maneuvers in Virginia. During the American Civil War, leadership within the Union’s army was constantly an issue. Within the Union, various generals were found at times to be at odds with the political leaders in Washington. This was especially evident in the relationship between General George McClellan and President Lincoln. This tension was the result of McClellan’s approach to waging war. By examining the differing approaches to waging war of U.S. Grant and George B. McClellan one can gain a better appreciation for the decision making that was necessary by leaders like Lincoln, in selecting military generals who could effectively wage war to defeat the Confederacy. By all accounts, George B. McClellan had the makings of a great general. Graduating second in his class at West Point in 1842, he served under General Winfield Scott in the Mexican War. (McPherson, 1988, p. 4) He also served with distinction early in the war by assuring that Kentucky and the region that would become West Virginia, remained out of Confederate control. (McPherson, 1988, pp. 299-301) After the Union loss at the First Battle of Bull Run, McClellan was named commander of the Army of the Potomac, and by November 1861, he was the General-in-Chief of all Federal forces. (McPherson, 1988, pp. 348-350) McClellan’s approach to waging war was one of the cautious tactician. He...
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...Men In War Name University 1. Introduction All recruited rookie conscripts can be generally divided into two categories. Neither religious, nor political affiliations are the criterions. The future soldiers are automatically divided into two groups. The first group, are those who want to go to the war, and the second, are those conscripts who detest the idea of landing on the enemy’s territory, taking a rifle, and joining the combat zone, eliminating the enemy soldiers. The reasons for this diverging demeanor are evident. The first batch regards the upcoming combats as the opportunity to reach masculinity and the way to become real men. An ingrained prejudice among many Americans is that the true man is the one who served in the military and took part in the combat operations. However, the revelations of those United States and their Allies soldiers who were summoned to protect the welfare of the USA during the Civil War, the First World War, and the World War II have indicated that sometimes the notion that a boy becomes a man during the war is nothing but a myth. This paper outlines the expectations and the results obtained by the soldiers of different nationalities, religions and cultures, who experienced the Civil War, Word War I, and the World War II respectively and explains the reasons of their ultimate opinions. 2. The Civil War The Civil War in the United States of America is known to be one of the most bloody and atrocious wars, which the mankind...
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...history of health care is essential for understanding the main characteristics of the system as it exists today. For example, the system’s historical foundations explain why health care delivery in the United States has been resistant to national health insurance, which has been adopted by Canada and most European nations. Traditionally held American cultural beliefs and values, technological advances, social changes, economic constraints, and political opportunism are the main historical factors that have shaped health care delivery Because of these factors, health care in the United States is mainly a private industry, but it also receives a fairly substantial amount of financing from the government. However, government financing is used mainly ▪ Cultural beliefs and values • Self-reliance ▪ • Welfare assistance only for the most needy ▪ Social factors • Demographic shifts • Immigration • Health status• Urbanization ▪ Advances in science and technology • New treatments • Training of health professionals • Facilities and equipment Major changes driven by social, cultural, technological, economic, and political forces will be instrumental in shaping the future of medical services in the United States. These forces interact in a complex manner. Therefore, it is not always easy to attribute a change in health policy or the creation of a new program to any single factor. The beliefs and values espoused by the majority of Americans, however, have been primarily responsible...
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...the entry of the USA to the outcome of the First World War? In 1918 over 1,600,000 American troops crossed the Atlantic over to Europe to help the Allies beat the Germans at the western front. The new fresh troops were well-fed and made a big difference at some of the last battles in the First World War. Many people would argue that the entry of the US was the most important factor to the end of the war. The Allies ‘outfought’ the Germans on the western front with help of the new soldiers to end the war of attrition. However, this traditional view might not have taken many other factors into account. Other factors such as Allied tactics and technology, Germany’s internal collapse or the success of the Allied blockade could be a more important factor to the end of the war. Some people argue that Germany lost it and the allies were just the last to be there. Germany’s internal collapse was very important for the allies. The lack of food, political and economical issues produced riots on the streets. The German public had had enough of the war and the control and discipline failed. On top of this the German Keizer, Wilhelm abdicated and fled to the Netherlands. Germany was drained from all its resources because of the two front war. Germany’s allies had failed her and were relying on Germany’s money, weapons etc. Austria-Hungry was useless and the Turkish empire collapsed. Italy, Germany’s other ally at the start of the war had changed sides. This meant Germany was on her own....
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...Medicine is another field where technological advancements have had an enormous impact. With many wonderful inventions, such as the microscope and the x-ray, medical professionals are able to better detect, and cure illnesses and diseases. They are also able to discover and treat internal injuries and use preventative methods to better help their...
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...the shift happened and the consequences the US has faced because of its status as the “policemen of the world.” Policemen of the World In the last five years, the US has been engaged in various activities that can be traced back to the post-civil war foreign policy. These activities include protectionism when it comes to its interest as evidenced in its engagements in the Middle East, limited involvement in international conflict as evidenced in its activities in the Libyan crisis, and lastly, the promotion of free trade. In the recent past, the US has been engaged in the campaign to push China to liberalize its market (Beisner & Hanson, n.d). The post-1865 period saw the US make a number of significant progresses, which contributed to its rise as a world superpower and policeman. The three major aspects of the US history that have impacted heavily on its journey to global supremacy include, but are not limited to the following. Firstly, the economic development of the US since 1865 played a vital role in elevating the country to a new global status, the country then became a dominant economic powerhouse gradually (Norton, Kamensky, Sheriff, & Blight, 2014). Secondly, the development of atomic weapons during the World War II helped propel the US to higher...
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...Kitty Hawk to World War II The Wright brothers near Kitty Hawk, NC. Although there is some debate about who was the first to fly an airplane, credit for this feat is usually given to Wilbur (1867–1912) and Orville Wright (1871–1948), who made four controlled, sustained flights in a powered heavier-than-air vehicle on Dec. 17, 1903, near Kitty Hawk, N.C. Interestingly, the Wrights never claimed to be the first to fly. The main claim of the Wright brothers, and their supporters, was that they were first to design and build a flying craft that gave the pilot adequate control while in the air. The unique feature of the Wright brothers' aircraft, beginning with their 1902 glider, was the ability to roll the wings right or left, to pitch the nose up or down, and to yaw the nose from side to side. A pilot must have control of all three dimensions—roll, pitch, and yaw—to navigate a plane. This development was perhaps the Wrights' greatest contribution to aviation. Over and on the Sea One of the next major advancements in human flight came in response to a contest sponsored by The Daily Mail of London, which offered a prize to the first aviator to fly across the English Channel. Louis Blériot (1872–1936) won the contest, flying from Calais, France, to Dover, England, on July 25, 1909, in a monoplane of his own design with a 25-horsepower engine. His flight caused concern among the British that the airplane could eventually be used for military aggression, and the world came...
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...WESTERN WAY OF WAR (Name) (Institutional Affiliation) (Date) Warfare plays different roles. It is at times used as a way through which large empires are built. Civil war as another form of warfare is, on the other hand, what leads to the downfall of the empires. All societies and all historical periods have experienced war at one point in time. Different nations or militaries use diverse war approaches and tactics depending on their experiences and goals. Over time, different war approaches have been utilized by various regions across the globe. The Western Way of War has been instrumental in ensuring the long-standing dominance of the western nations all over the globe. In the last two centuries, it has turned out to be the prevailed and used by majority of the globes militaries. The ‘Western Way’ is defined by five main facets, namely: dependence on technological advancement, advanced training and discipline, capability to implement new technological innovations (innovativeness) and strategic vision. These aspects have been attributed to the supremacy of the western culture. A pioneer of war is Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden.1 He is highly regarded as an exceptional commander. Under his tenure, Sweden became very powerful, and his battles were won through innovativeness, superb and effective weaponry, impeccable training and government support.2 Gustavus Adolphus is arguably one of the highly respected generals owing to his outstanding military expeditions during his era. His...
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...Since 1945 During his second inaugural speech Franklin D. Roosevelt stated, “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much it is whether we provide enough for those who have little.” (Roosevelt, 1937). This statement would become the mantra of a new era in American history, as a young and powerful country began a long and arduous journey of progress. Progress that has had high cost, followed by great changes, and the inevitable growth of a new American society determined to improve their destiny. However, the great debate is “has America truly changed for the better?” A closer look at the positive changes developed through social movements, societal policy expansion, and technological advancements paints a picture of an improved American society. Social Movements After World War II ended in 1945, America experienced a brief moment of contented peacefulness and growth. However, this quickly changed as the country moved toward a decade of cold war in an effort to prevent the spread of Russian communism, which denied those under its rule the right to basic human freedoms. This cold war was founded on the principle of protecting global human rights, which would sparked an era of social unrest among American minority groups who desired to have their own basic human freedoms recognized. Martin Luther King & The Civil Rights Act of 1964 By the late 1950’s, American was experiencing the first in a long line of civil rights movements...
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...Introduction There have been numerous assessments of the events which occurred during the Civil War from 1861-1865, but none seem to justly satisfy the absolute, complete, and thorough accounts of James McPherson’s extremely detailed book, Battle Cry of Freedom. McPherson recounts the entire story of the Civil War, stresses on themes such as slavery and writes with a style of contingency to help create a deep study of all of the events- what did and did not happen. Battle Cry of Freedom is a masterful, fast paced retelling and remembrance that comes in the shape of a detailed resource. Published in 1988, it is critically acclaimed for its ability to provide in-depth factual storytelling. The amount of thought put into this expansive book by McPherson is researched meticulously as it calls for the skills of cogitation and contemplating. McPherson is a political...
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...Riveter: Class, Gender and Propaganda during World War II, Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 1984 2) “World War II and the American Home Front” National Parks Service. Ed. Marilyn Harper. National Parks Service. 15 March 2012. Changing America during World War II America had gone through a vast amount of changes during its short time as a nation. We had seen civil war, global war, industrial advancements, and economic depression. But by the mid 20th century, the United States was emerging as a multi-cultural powerhouse. The US saw an influx of immigrants from Italy, Ireland and Eastern Europe, all coming with hopes of opportunities and a better life. Those that toughed it out saw their chances come to life when World War II began. Although the war began in 1939, the US remained neutral on account of not wanting to participate in another war that could push our nation into debt and despair. FDR revised the Neutrality Acts that Congress passed in 1935 so that we could aid our allies for a profit. Our labor forces began working to supply our overseas comrades in Britain and France. Once the U.S was forced to join the war in 1941 because of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the demand for industrial labor greatly increased so that we could now arm and support our own troops. Production increased on all fronts, from shipbuilding and aircrafts to textiles and medicine. Because of our involvement in the war and deployment of our troops, the United...
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