Jan 01, 1973 weigley covers american military history from the revolutionary war to the vietnam war, showing that since the civil war the us has preferred the strategy of annihilation over both the napoleonic strategy of the decisive battle followed by lee in the civil war and the strategy of attrition, pursued by washington in the revolutionary war. The most striking fact about the united states of america is not its supposed founding principles more often lauded than observed but how often. A history of united states military strategy and policy by. Be the first to ask a question about the american way of war. Gregory crouch is the author, most recently, of the world war ii flying story chinas wings.
Guided missiles, misguided men, and a republic in peril. The field manual has moved beyond simple army doctrine for countering insurgencies to become the defining characteristic of the armys new way of war. Pershing to wear down the german army in 1918, and by the u. A history of united states military strategy and policy 9780253280299. Echevarria dismantles the various proponents of a unique american way of war by proving that us military practice has always been shaped by.
In russell weigleys book, the american way of war he states that the united states military uses annihilation as their strategy in the way of war. Another approach, very popular with the armed forces, is to define the american way of war as a redemption narrative. We didnt think the experience in lebanon fit at all, because it was supposed to be a peacekeeping force, not a combat force. Took longer than it should have, but as a foundational text for understanding not only american strategy, but basic concepts of national strategy itself, this book is unsurpassed. Weigley, 9780253280299, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Guided missiles, misguided men, and a republic in peril on.
Weigley s thesis was that technological and social developments have robbed war of its power of decision, resulting in wars in which the. See all 7 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Visit our website for other free publication downloads. Mcfeely, the american way of war, by russell weigley, and the face of battle, by john keegan. Brian linn disagrees with weigley in his article, the american way of war revisited.
Weigley in the american way of war, the pioneering work published in 1973, first described an american way of war, arguing it consisted of a unique american methodology. The argument for a focus on maritime dominance and the destruction of japans battle fleet the ukus debate in the european war over an enveloping strategy versus a concentration and mass strategy. Probably weigley s most provocative statement is that the south lost basically because of a failure of will. Echevarrias book represents an important contribution to the debate over the american way of war. Strategic consciousness and the american way of war 3. The american way of war is a powerful analysis of the historical foundation of the american militarys quest for total victory, which was laid during the civil war and reigned supreme during world war ii. His research and teaching interests centered on american and world military history, world war ii, and the american civil war.
Warwith japan 194145 geoffreywawro the american way of war, a thesis coined by russell weigley in 1973, holds that america since the civil war has used industrial production and technology to achieve crushing economic. The american way of war as it emerged had the following main characteristics. Weigley has produced a book that combines a good understanding of the military aspects of the war with a clear grasp of the wider issues at stake. Weigley argued that during the war of independence, the united states lacked military resources and thus pursued a strategy of attrition designed to exhaust its opponents. Jun 30, 2017 the american way of war by sheldon richman. Professor weigley calls his book a political and military history. A history of united states military strategy and policy wars of the united states series by russell f. That phrase popularized by the military historian russell weigley in his 1973 book has come to refer to a grinding strategy of attrition. With this renewed confidence in what military historian russell weigley called the american way of war massive firepower, high technology, total victory washington is now seriously. Weigley explores the ever evolving role of the military in an ever changing world, using history as the guideline to establish his facts. In russell weigleys book the american way of war he states. A history of united states military strategy and policy, by russell f. Strategies change depending on what the united states militarys goal in.
This was a result of adapting to the changes that the first world war had instilled in the soldiers thoughts. A history of united states military strategy and policy. That phrasepopularized by the military historian russell weigley in his 1973 bookhas come to refer to a grinding strategy of. Us military practice from the revolution to afghanistan by antulio j. The gulf war was americas first serious war after vietnam. After a long while of meaning to, ive finished russell weigleys magisterial book the american way of war. One of weigley s most widely received contributions to research is. This is one of the best books about the civil war to be written in a very long time.
The most striking fact about the united states of america is not its supposed founding principles more. It is tempting to think of this conflict largely as a land war. The seminal work on the subject was russell weigleys the american way of war 1973. Northern naval superiority and the economics of the american civil war by david g. Weigley covers american military history from the revolutionary war to the vietnam war, showing that since the civil war the us has preferred the strategy of annihilation over both the napoleonic strategy of the decisive battle followed by lee in the civil war and the strategy of attrition, pursued by washington in the revolutionary war. Reconsidering the american way of war is a thoughtful, rich, and convincing examination of how and why the united states has used military force to accomplish national objectives throughout its history.
One of weigleys most widely received contributions to research is his hypothesis of a specifically american way of war, i. War will always be a sensitive subject in the united states, as it should be. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Why we love the civil war, civil war history, december 2004, 36883 september 20. Apr 02, 2006 the seminal work on the subject was russell weigley s the american way of war 1973. Probably weigleys most provocative statement is that the south lost basically because of a failure of will. The western way of war for the critical element of discipline is the ability of a formation to stand fast in the face of the enemy, whether attacking or being attacked, without giving way to the natural impulses of fear and panic. This book covers the american way of war through the second half of this century, and illustrates how u. A history of united states military strategy and policy indiana university p edition by weigley. Kurt piehler reveals in this book, after every conflict from the re. But it is mainly a military history and a brilliant one. A history of united states military strategy and policy, macmillan publishing, new york 1973 new dimensions in military history. A history of united states military strategy and policy reprint of ed.
Linn explains the united states military uses many different ways of war. The journal of military history is published quarterly by the society for military history, an organization of about 2000 historians and persons with a scholarly interest in military history. Unfortunately, the new american way of war seems headed for the same trap that snared both the weigley and boot versions of the traditional one, that isit appears geared to fight wars as if. Weigley in the american way of war, the pioneering work published in 1973. A history of united states military strategy and policy indiana university p edition by weigley, russell f. Presidio press, 1975 american strategy from its beginnings through the first world war. Jan 12, 2016 the only constant in the american way of war echevarria identifies is the belief that tactical success will create strategic success, which, as he notes, makes it indistinguishable from the european way of war. This book explores the cultural history and future prospects of the socalled new american way of war. After a long while of meaning to, ive finished russell weigley s magisterial book the american way of war.
About victor davis hanson follow victor davis hanson on twitter april 1, 2003 12. Repeated group activities, whether directly related to combat. The organization formerly the american military institute was established in 1937, and has published a quarterly journal under various titles since that date. The wars of the united states wars of the united states. Oct 31, 2016 the american military was able to achieve domination in every field of the war. He contends that from the colonial era to the civil war, while america developed as a new country, its military forces were relatively weak. The principal public hero of the war was a land man, u. The american way of war revisited find articles, news.
As the nations industrial and military might expanded, however, so did its war aims. Even if weigleys thesis is not entirely accepted by the reader, the american way of war still offers a thorough and thoughtprovoking analysis of u. The american way of war paperback january 1, 1973 by russell f. The american military was able to achieve domination in every field of the war. We might well have included the earlier instances of grenada and the tanker war, but we wanted to start clearly upon the end of the cold war. In recent decades, american military culture has become increasingly dominated by a vision of immaculate destruction, which reached its apogee with the fall of baghdad in 2003. The only constant in the american way of war echevarria identifies is the belief that tactical success will create strategic success, which, as he notes, makes it indistinguishable from the european way of war. Weigleys thesis was that technological and social developments have robbed war of its power of decision, resulting in wars in which the. One of weigleys most widely received contributions to research is. Such as the idea of trench warfare, which was used in a limited amount during ww2. The politics of emancipation eric foner, the fiery trial. Reconsidering the american way of war georgetown university. Russell frank weigley wyglee july 2, 1930 march 3, 2004 was the distinguished university professor of history at temple university in philadelphia, pennsylvania and a noted military historian. Weigley traces the emergence of a characteristic american way of warin which the object of military strategy has come to mean total destruction of the enemy, first of his armed forces, often of the whole fabric of his society.
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