History
Department of History w.m.foley@sbcglobal.net
Indiana – Purdue,
Spring 2006, T, 5:45-8:45 CA 219 (317) 501-9496
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course
Description:
This course examines American Military History from a number
of perspectives. It does not singularly isolate wars, campaigns or battles from
the world, society or settings that created the need or perceived need to bear
arms, yet associates military actions with the causes and outcomes important to
the broader study of American history. Mixed throughout, political theory is
discussed, because as Karl Von Clausewitz once wrote, “war is a continuation of
diplomacy by other means.” Lastly, the
wars, campaigns and battles that have dominated so much of our past will be
discussed highlighting leaders and followers, plus the average men and women of
all races, who created
Requirements:
Presented as a combination of lecture and discussion, it is important for students to participate in class in order to contribute to the collaborative effort involved in gaining an appreciation of the important concepts, themes and details. For undergraduate students, three “hour exams” are required, each covering a distinctive portion of the course and each counting a little over 30 % of the course grade. Graduate students must take the three “hour exams” plus write a ten page paper on a course subject of their choosing. In both cases, class discussion counts as a small but remaining percentage of the grade.
Allan R. Millett and Peter Malowski, For the Common
Defense: A Military History of the
David McCullough, 1776 (
Michael Shaara, The Killer Angels (New York: Ballantine Books, 1994).
Winston Groom, 1942: The Year That Tried Men’s Souls (
Harold G. Moore and Joseph G. Galloway, We Were Soldiers Once…And Young (New York: Harper Collins, 1993).
1.
Sequence:
January 10: Fundamental Concepts,
Introduction and Terminology
The Theory and Nature of War
Just War Theory
Strategy and the Use of Power
American Military Theory and the Instruments of Power
Application Theory: Center of Gravity vs. Continuous Concentric Pressure
Joint Operations Concepts
Theater of War, Subordinate Theaters of War, Campaigns
Strategy, Operations, and Tactics
January 17: The Wars of Settlement and the “French and
Indian War,”
Great Thinkers of European and Far Eastern Strategy and Internal Lines
First Series of Wars against/with Native Americans
French and Indian War 1754-1763—The Seven Year’s War
January 24: The American Revolution,
Causes and Prelude to War
Campaigns (North, Central, South)
Significant Events (Significant Actions)
January 31: Constitution and Crisis: 1783 through 1815,
Outcomes and Results of the American Revolution
Undeclared French Naval War
The War of 1812
Significant Events (Significant Actions)
February 7: The Era of Good Feelings (some) and Mr.
Polk’s War,
Second Series of Wars against/with Native Americans
Westward
Expansion and the War over
1846-1848 The Mexican War
HOUR EXAM
February 14: The American Civil War (Part I to 29 June,
1863),
Causes, distant and immediate.
Campaigns: East, Mid-South and West
Significant Events (Significant Actions)
February 21: The American Civil War (Part II-Gettysburg
through Reconstruction),
Union Victories
Campaign Completion: East, Mid-South, West
Significant Events and Issues
Outcomes, results, and Impact on Reconstruction
2.
February 28: Manifest Destiny, New Manifest Destiny and
the “New” Military,
Third Series of Wars against/with Native Americans
Technology Changes
The Spanish American War
March 7: World War I, “The War to End all Wars,”
Causes, Outbreak
Stalemate of European Powers
Significant Actions and Events
Interwar Years
March 21: World War II: North Africa Campaign and
European Theater,
Causes, Outbreak, and the “soft underbelly”
Campaigns, Transitions, and Diplomacy
“D” Day and the Breakout
Significant Actions and Issues
Victory
in
March 28: World War II: Pacific Theater and
Causes and Outbreak
Combined and Joint Operations
Atomic Diplomacy
HOUR EXAM
April 4: The Cold War: 1945 to 1991, Issues and Overview,
Causes and the “Rush to Collective Security”
“Clash of the Titans” and changes in Doctrine and Technology
The Arms Race and Nuclear Diplomacy
Significant Actions: Intelligence and Combat Operations
Intervention
of Outside Players: The
April 11:
Dangers of Re-fighting the Last War
Task Force Smith and the Breakout
“Chromite” and the Counteroffensive
Nearly a World War and Diplomatic Success
April 18:
Causes and three chances to avoid the U.S. War
“Street Without Joy” and JFK and the War in the Village
“LBJ and the American Dream” and Air Mobility
Campaigns and Outcomes
Dissent and Changes in Diplomacy and Military Thought
3.
April 25: Globalism, Peacekeeping, the Global War on
Terrorism (GWOT) and Preemptive Security,
Peacekeeping and Peace Enforcement Operations within the Cold War
Combat Operations: Power Pack, Urgent Furry, Just Cause, and Restore Hope
The GWOT and Transformation
May 2: Final Exam and End of Course
Papers due
HOUR EXAM
NOTE: After much
thought, I have decided not to post individual websites within this syllabus,
but rather the important ones will be so noted at the Course website, along
with appropriate maps, as we advance throughout this semester. The reason is there
are so many military history websites with some being quite self-serving, that what
is important gets lost along the way. For example, there are beautiful websites
that depict the regimental uniforms in color, by battle, between the British
and French, during each skirmish of the French and Indian War (Seven Years
War). If you are interested in this kind
of material, I can provide you with it, yet the Course website will develop the
important matters. Should you not have access to a computer, I will provide you
with the material directly.
4.