Survey of American Military History

This class will be a survey class in which we will not be studying the major wars in US history, but the small ones. These small, savage wars of peace helped to define US history and policy in ways that many Americans do not realize or understand. These little wars have also defined the limits of American influence and power. They also defined what we stood for as a people and a nation.

Many of these small wars were parts of larger conflicts. American involvement in these conflicts either prevented our involvement in a larger war, or helped to stop foreign influence in the Northern Hemisphere. Some of these conflicts were fought to protect US interests and lives abroad. Regardless of the reasons for these small wars that the US participated in, they are a crucial part of our collective history. It is my hope that you will leave this class with a better understanding of the causes of these small wars, their outcomes, and the impact that they had on history.

We do not have the time to study every little US military engagement that occurred over our almost three centuries of existence as a nation. This class will cover the small wars that America fought in after the formation of the Federal government. These are the conflicts that the US fought overseas. None of the numerous conflicts that were fought between the US government and the Native tribes will be covered. That is a separate class. Therefore, we will focus on the following engagements that had the biggest impact on US history and foreign policy during the following three periods of our history.

1st 6 Weeks: Commercial Power (late 1700’s to the 1890’s)-Quasi War with France-Wars with the Barbary States-“Butcher and Bolt” forays-Opening of Japan

2nd 6 Weeks: Great Power (1898- 1941)-Filipino Insurrection-Boxer Uprising-Caribbean Constabulary-Pancho Villa’s raid and the US response-Russian Revolution-Peacekeeping in China

3rd 6 Weeks: Superpower (1941- present)Lebanon GrenadaSomaliaWar on Terror

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Survey of American Military History

1st 6 Weeks:Commercial Power (late 1700’s to the 1890’s)-Quasi War with France-Wars with the Barbary States-“Butcher and Bolt” forays-Opening of Japan

Robert Kipling refers to these small wars that we will be studying as “the savage wars of peace”. These are the wars that have challenged the US military hierarchy due to the fact that they are not the standard wars of the day with clear enemies and clear goals. These are wars with no clear friends, unknown enemies, and no front lines or “safe” rear areas. These wars do not have the traditional declaration of war, nor a “neat” ending to the conflict with a treaty and a parade. These are wars fought for pride, to avenge a death and/or to protect and promote economic ideals. These are the wars that have made America.

We will use multiple articles from academic journals and popular trade magazines. I will also refer you to numerous websites too. Finally, we will use two main texts for this class. They are as follows:

-Max Boot, The Savage Wars of Peace- Small Wars and the Rise of American Power. Basic Books, New York, NY, 2002.

-Robert Kaplan, Imperial Grunts- The American Military on the Ground. Random House, New York, NY, 2005.

We will begin the class by reading Max Boot’s book, starting with the preface. Reading the preface/ introduction to a book is important. In there, the author(s) discuss what the book will be about, outline how the book will unfold and define the main concepts that will be discussed in the book. As you read the Preface, please answer the following questions:

**Assignment 1** (55 points)1. How did a British officer define “small wars”? (5)2. What are the four distinct types of small wars that the author will cover? Briefly

define each type. (20)3. The author also divides US history into three periods of time. What are these

three periods? Briefly describe what was occurring during these periods of time in American history. (30)

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Quasi War with France (1798-1800)Not all of the small wars in our history have been fought by ground troops. Many were fought by the US Navy and the US Marines. The first of the small wars that we will explore will be a naval conflict between France and the United States. For a brief overview of this conflict, I suggest that you refer to the following website:

-Quasi War http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quasi-War

This conflict occurred after the American Revolution, and following the successful ratification of the Constitution. The United States was an independent nation, but a heavily indebted and weak nation. Not a good combination.

Ironically in this war, America fought against the nation that was most responsible for helping her achieve her independence from Great Britain- France. This naval conflict also occurred during the time of extreme upheaval in Europe due to the French Revolution. This only added to the tension. The United States tried to stay neutral in this conflict. That was not easy to do.

The United States attempted to use this time of war as a business opportunity. Since the United States was a neutral nation, they felt that they could trade with all sides in this conflict. Unfortunately, the US did not have the naval power to back up this trade policy. All sides, especially the British and the French began to seize American ships and their cargo on the grounds that they were “trading with the enemy”. This caused huge economic losses for American shippers and businessmen. Furthermore, it angered a nation. Some in America wanted to side with Great Britain, other with France. Into this very dangerous situation, America decided to default on its debt to France on the grounds that the debt was due to the old government, not the current one. France responded and the Quasi War commenced.

**Assignment 2** (85 points)For this assignment, please use the website above for background information, but the following article will provide you with most of the information you need to complete the assignment:

“The Quasi-War: America’s First Limited War, 1798-1801” by Donald R. Hickey http://www.cnrs-scrn.org/northern_mariner/vol18/tnm_18_3-4_67-77.pdf

As you read this article, please answer the questions below.1. What did France do that provoked the US into attacking French ships? (5)2. Why did France attack US shipping in the first place? (5)3. What was the Neutrality Proclamation of 1793? (5)4. How did Jay’s treaty move the US closer to Great Britain? (5)5. How and why did France respond to Jay’s Treaty in the manner that they did?

(10)6. How did President Adams respond to France’s actions? (10)7. How did Congress respond to both Adams and France’s actions? (10)

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8. Provide 2-3 examples of the successes that the US Navy and the armed US merchant vessels had against the French. (15)

9. How did the Quasi War end, and how did the US fair in its first official limited (small) war? (20)

Wars with the Barbary States (1801-1805, 1815)Following the end of the Quasi war with France, the young republic of the United States found its ability to freely trade in the Mediterranean Sea being challenged by a group of city states located on the Mediterranean coast in North Africa. They were collectively known as the Barbary States. For a brief overview of this conflict, I suggest that you refer to the following websites:

-First Barbary War http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War-Second Barbary War http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Barbary_War

**Assignment 3** (155 points)The wars with the Barbary States were a series of naval and land engagements that ended with the US military triumphant and provided the young republic with a much needed morale boast. It also demonstrated to other nations that the US would rise to the challenge and defend itself, its citizens and its business interests abroad. To learn more about this small war, we will read the following:

-Chapter 1 “To Conquer Upon the Sea- Barbary Wars, 1801-1805, 1815”, from The Savage Wars of Peace- Small Wars and the Rise of American Power by Max Boot.

As you read this section, please answer the following questions:1. What were the four nations that made up the Barbary States? (5)2. How did the leaders of these nations routinely finance their governments? (5)3. Did the US ever resort to this practice? How was it different from the

Barbary States? (10)4. The Barbary States began to take American hostages right after our merchant

vessels lost their Royal Navy protection. What were the two courses of action that the US government debated in order to solve this problem? (5)

5. What was the state of the US Navy at this time? (5)6. What happened to the USS George Washington? If you were its Captain, how

would you have responded? (10)7. Why, and how, did the Pasha of Tripoli declare war on the United States? (5)8. How did President Jefferson respond to this declaration of war? (5)9. Describe the naval leadership of the US commodores sent to deal with the

Barbary pirates before Captain Preble. (10)10. How was Captain Preble’s handling of the situation different than his

predecessors? (10)11. What happened to the USS Philadelphia? How was that embarrassing

situation resolved? (20)

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12. How did Captain Preble’s assault on the city of Tripoli end? Was he successful? Why/ why not? (20)

13. How did William Eaton try and take Tripoli? Was he successful? Why/ Why not? (20)

14. How did the United States make peace with the ruler of Tripoli in 1805 and gain the release of the US hostages there? Do you approve of this method of negotiation? (15)

15. The US was not done dealing with the Barbary States. In 1814, the leader of Algiers declared war on the United States. How did the US handle this situation? (10)

At the conclusion of the wars with the Barbary States, the US military operations established a very important principle- freedom of the seas. These allowed the United States to trade freely with other nations and grow in power. The US was taking the first uneasy steps towards becoming the global policeman that we are today. America was still a very young and militarily weak nation, but she was growing into an international power that would one day be powerful enough to be the protector of commercial shipping and the upholder of international laws. This would allow for the growth in global trade that we all enjoy, and many take for granted today.

“Butcher and Bolt” ForaysFollowing our successes against the Barbary Pirates, and the end of the Napoleonic Wars, US global trade began to pick back up. The US no longer had to fear having its merchant vessels harassed by warring European nations. Plus with the war over, US businesses needed to find other outlets for their goods. The various nations and island countries in the Pacific Ocean were ideal outlets for US trade and foreign relations. Not all these trade missions went well. Many times, the US needed to “show the flag” and her military might in order to be able to trade with a certain nation or island tribe. As you will read, where US trade went- the US armed forces were not too far behind.

To learn more about these small wars in the Pacific Ocean, we will read the following:-Chapter 2 “Butcher and Bolt- From the Marquesas, 1813, to China 1859”, and Chapter 3 “Empire Emerging- From Korea, 1871, to Samoa, 1899” from The Savage Wars of Peace- Small Wars and the Rise of American Power by Max Boot.

**Assignment 4** (15 points)Before we dive into the American exploits in the Pacific Ocean, we need to define what “Butcher and Bolt” means. To learn about this, please read pp. 38-39 in Chapter 2, and then answer the questions below.

1. What was the template for many of America’s encounters with the world in the 19th century? (5)

2. What does the term “butcher and bolt” mean? (5)3. US foreign policy in the 19th century was described as “unilateralist”. What

does that mean? (5)

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The first of these “butcher and bolt” forays by the Americans happened in the Marquesas Islands between October 1813 and May 1814. Remember, this was occurring during the War of 1812, in which the US was fighting against the British, and the British were fighting against the French. This also was America’s first attempt to establish a naval base in the Pacific Ocean. It started off well, but then the US took sides in a local conflict and in the end the US was forced from the islands. Boot discusses this campaign in detail in Chapter 2, pp. 30-38. Furthermore, a summary of this operation can be read using the following website:

-Nuku Hiva Campaign http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuku_Hiva_Campaign

**Assignment 5** (25 points)In a 2-3 page essay (typed and double spaced), discuss the reasons why Captain Porter came to the Marquesas Islands, why he attempted to annex them, the results of his actions, and finally talk about what you would do if you were in Captain Porter’s shoes.

The next small war in the Pacific happened on the island of Sumatra. Sumatra was known for its pepper trade. In the 1800’s, the spice trade was a very lucrative one, and whoever controlled it could make a fortune. The US attempted to trade with the local Sumatran chiefs for pepper. Most times, both sides came to an agreement, and traded peacefully. Sometimes the local natives would assault a passing merchant vessel and attempt to capture and/or kill its crew. That happened to an American merchant vessel in 1831. In 1832, the US Navy was sent to avenge the murder of that crew. The Sumatran Expedition, as it would become known as, was another of the many small wars that the US engaged in in the Pacific in order to preserve their ability to trade with whomever they pleased and when they wanted.

Boot discusses this expedition in Chapter 2, pp. 46-49. Furthermore, a summary of this operation can be read using the following website:

-First Sumatran Expedition http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Sumatran_expedition-Second Sumatran Expedition http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Sumatran_expedition

**Assignment 6** (25 points)I would like you to write an editorial to your local newspaper in which you describe this incident, and then provide your readers with an opinion that is against this type of forceful business practice. Explain to your readers why waging a small war in this manner would be bad for US business interests in the Pacific. Please provide some good, forceful points that will drive your point home. 1-2 pages, typed.

The US Navy worked with the British Navy from time to time in the Pacific Ocean enforcing each other’s rights to trade opening with other nations. The British Navy was a global navy able to take on all challengers, much like the US Navy today. The US Navy was not designed for that task. This is discussed in greater detail at the end of Chapter 2 in Boot’s book. I suggest that you read that section.

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The US Navy expanded during the Civil War, and then declined after the war was over in 1865. Despite the Navy’s lower manpower, it was still the main force present in the Pacific. The US needed to maintain its business interests in the area and to protect its citizens abroad. Due to this, small wars still occurred in the Pacific in the latter half of the 19th century.

The next US small war in the Pacific was an expedition against the Koreans in 1871. At this time, Korea was a united, isolationist nation under the Joseon Dynasty. Like Japan, Korea wanted nothing to do with the outside world. They refused to trade with the Western nations. They expelled Christian missionaries and executed their native converts. But, the disappearance of an American ship and her crew led the US to send the in the Navy to figure out what went wrong, and to “avenge” this action. Boot discusses this expedition in Chapter 3, pp. 57-59. Furthermore, a summary of this operation can be read using the following website:

-United States Expedition to Korea http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_expedition_to_Korea

**Assignment 7** (50 points)Read the two summaries above of the US expedition to Korea. Briefly summarize why we attacked Korea, and what was the result of this military action. Now, read the article below by Ian Murray. Now, was Korea’s reaction to the “mission” by the USS General Sherman justified? Why/ why not? Finally, what do you think of our actions in Korea at this time? Were they justified as President Grant explained, or a “woeful miscalculation” as the author states in his article? Please provide 2-3 reasons why you feel the way you do.

-“Steward’s True Folly: American Diplomacy and Strategy During ‘Our Little War with the Heathens’, Korea, 1871”, by Ian Murray, Penn History Review, Volume 18 (2), Spring 2011.

Opening of Japan Not all of our small wars involved the use of force. Many times, the best way to get what you want is to make your “enemy” think that you will use the force you have to get what you want. Commodore Perry did just that when he used the US Navy to open the doors of Japan to trade with the West, especially the United States.

Japan is one of the most homogeneous cultures of all the world’s major nations. Prior to 1945, the nation was never conquered and occupied by a foreign power. The Mongol Empire was the closest in the 13th century, but was defeated by a timely typhoon referred to as a “divine wind”, or Kamikaze. The homogeneous nature of Japan can be attributed to its isolationist foreign policy and its desire to be left alone.

Japan did have prior contact with Europeans for 90 years during the 16th and 17th centuries. During that time, the Japanese people were introduced to muskets, the Jesuit religion (a Catholic offshoot), and Western trade goods. These new technologies and ways of thinking scared and challenged the government of Japan (Tokugawa Shogunate).

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The Shogunate feared that the Westerners would arm the common Japanese people with muskets and Catholicism and use them to overthrow the traditional Japanese government.

To prevent that, the Japanese government closed off the nation from any trade with the West for 250 years. Japanese citizens were forbidden to leave the country under pain of death, Japanese shipbuilders were forbidden to build any ocean-going ships, and the musket was forbidden as a weapon (the Samurai did not like the fact that they could be killed by any commoner with a firearm).

The Tokugawa Shogunate was able to achieve this 250 years of self-imposed isolation and national peace through a series of ruthless controls over the Japanese society. This ruthless suppression of most creative tendencies of the Japanese people resulted in a nation and a people that were vulnerable to invasion and subjection by outside powers when the Western world forcefully knocked on the Japanese doors in July 1853.

**Assignment 8** (50 points)In order to better understand how a closed and isolated Japan was opened up to the west in the 19th century, please read the following article and do the worksheet:

“After centuries of Japanese isolation, a fateful meeting of East and West”

When the American’s opened the Japanese nation up to trade, the Japanese people were not totally ignorant of the outside world. They knew that the once proud and mighty Chinese Empire had been subdued and humiliated by outside powers. The Japanese government knew that they were helpless to cope with the superior armaments and technologies of the Western nations. Therefore they embraced and sought out Western technology and methods not out of admiration, but out of fear. Fear for their nation, their culture, and their survival as a nation. The opening of Japan to the West by the United States would lead to a more modern and powerful Japan in the early 20th century. Political changes and a cultural shift towards personal sacrifice and xenophobia would eventually lead to World War II.

We have reached the point in US history in which the US was moving out of its commercial stage, in which it just wanted to trade with the world, to one of a great power. When the US wanted to just trade with other nations, a large military was not needed. As we have just read. As the US was becoming this great power, on par with Great Britain and other European nations, they began to realize that with great power comes greater responsibilities. These responsibilities required that the US have the military force to back up it claims abroad so that other nations did not take away our colonies and trading opportunities. This caused a change in how we waged our small wars. No longer would the US just “butcher and bolt”. The US would have to enter a county with sufficient forces to occupy it and make the necessary changes so that the country would be more receptive to US demands, for better or worse. The US was becoming a colonial power, whether she liked it or not. This change in US foreign policy happened after the Spanish-American War when the US came to find out that it has just inherited parts of the Spanish Empire, and all the responsibilities that went along with it.

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Survey of American Military History

2nd 6 Weeks: Great Power (1898- 1941)-Filipino Insurrection-Boxer Uprising-Caribbean Constabulary-Pancho Villa’s raid and the US response-Russian Revolution-Peacekeeping in China

The small wars that we will study in these 6 weeks are different from those of the previous 6 weeks. We are moving away from the small wars of that we had to wage to either preserve our freedoms and/ or economic survival to ones of a growing power. This led to some internal and political conflict within America. America never wanted to be an empire. We fought our wars of independence to break away from the British Empire. We were loath to fight wars to take colonies and to rule other peoples. Regardless, we did take land, and we did rule over people. If we did not, we would lose out in the race to compete on a global economic scale with the empires of Europe. American industries needed to export goods to grow and to survive too. If we could not do these, then our nation never would have grown to be as dominate as it is now.

Filipino InsurrectionThe US began to wage more global small wars after we finished our expansion and conquest of the western United States. After that point, our national energies were focused on spreading US goods and ideals overseas. One of the first opportunities that the US had to show the world that we were a power to be reckoned with was the Spanish American War of 1898.

Due to the nature of this class, we are not going to study the Spanish-American War in detail, just the insurgence in the Philippines. If you wanted to learn more about the war, I suggest that you refer to the following website:

-Spanish American War http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish%E2%80%93American_War

In addition, the following video and movie are good sources on the Spanish-American War. If we have time, we will watch the video. Feel free to do a week’s worth of work at home in order to watch the video in class. We can always watch the movie later, if you have finished this 6 week grading period’s work early.

-Video (if time): Crucible of Empire- The Spanish American War- 2hrs (96)-Movie (if time): Rough Riders- 3hrs

During the Spanish-American War, the United States defeated the Spanish naval force in Manila Bay. This allowed the Philippine people to rise up against the Spanish. The US

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and the Filipinos collaborated to liberate most of the Philippine Islands from Spanish control. This “good will” between the two liberators ended abruptly when the US began to take political control of the country side and entered and occupied Manila without their Filipino allies. This action (and disrespect in the eyes of the Filipino people) would lead to an armed insurrection against the Americans. Who, ironically, just “liberated” the Filipinos from Spain. This “small war” lasted from 1899-1902 and will be studied next. The following website offers a good summary of the Filipino Insurrection:

-Philippine- American War http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine%E2%80%93American_War

Before we go on to learn more about the Filipino Insurrection, I would like you to get some perspective about this conflict from the “other side” of history. Too often history is written by the victors with no regard for the vanquished and their story. This is one small attempt to rectify this situation. The following selections will be used for the next assignments:

-Chapter II “The Spanish-American War” and Chapter III “The Invasion of the Philippines” (pp. 31-74) from Howard Zinn, A People’s History of American Empire, Constable & Robinson Ltd, 2008.- Chapter 5 “Attraction and Chastisement- The Philippine War, 1899-1902” from The Savage Wars of Peace- Small Wars and the Rise of American Power by Max Boot.

**Assignment 1** (25 points)Please read Chapter II first and then do the following assignment. Briefly describe why the Cubans rose up against the Spanish. Then describe their treatment by the Americans during the Spanish-America War and after. Was Cuba liberated, or did they trade one occupier for another?

We are now going to move on to reading more about the Filipino Insurrection. Before I have you read Chapter III, I would like you to read the following by Boot first.

- Chapter 5 “Attraction and Chastisement- The Philippine War, 1899-1902” from The Savage Wars of Peace- Small Wars and the Rise of American Power by Max Boot.

**Assignment 2** (245 points)As you are reading Chapter 5, please answer the following questions:

1. If you were a villager in Balangiga, how would you defend the actions of your fellow Filipinos towards the Americans? (10)

2. Who was the leader of the Filipino resistance to Spanish rule? (5)3. How did Spain “defeat” him? (5)4. How did the US “use” him? (5)5. What were 2-3 arguments for and against annexing the Philippine Islands?

(20)6. What were 2-3 problems that the US soldiers faced as the Filipino insurrection

began? (15)7. What was the “Filipino Thermopylae”? Who won and why? (15)

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8. After Aguinaldo’s defeat in November of 1899, how and why did he change his tactics? (10)

9. How did General MacArthur respond to this change in tactics? (10)10. What are some of the positive actions that the US undertook in the Philippines

in order to improve conditions there? (10)11. What are some of the harsher tactics that the US Army employed to deal with

the insurrectos? Do you agree with these tactics? Why/ Why not? (25)12. How did Fredrick Funston capture Aguinaldo? (10)13. What were the orders that General Smith gave to Major Waller? Why were

the orders given? (15)14. Why did Waller kill the Filipino porters? In your opinion, was it a war crime,

or a justified act? Why? (20)15. What were the “concentration camps/ protected zones”? Why were they

used? (10)16. What were some of the institutions that the Americans set up and left for the

Filipinos? (10)17. From pages 125-128 Boot defends the actions of the US military and civilian

leaders during the Filipino Insurrection and states that it was one of the more successful counterinsurgencies in recent history. As a contrast, I would like you to read Chapter III of A People’s History of American Empire by Zinn. Now, I would like you to write a 2-3 page position paper in which you choose either Boot or Zinn’s view of the United States actions during the Filipino Insurrection as the one that you feel is the most accurate and should be taught to others. Provide examples from either reading, or even better from other sources, that back up your position. Typed, double spaced and cited. (50)

Boxer UprisingAmerica’s next small war occurred in China. Fresh off of their victory against the Spanish, the US was feeling like a global power. Her reserve over obtaining land and bases overseas had lessened. The US public was being feed tales of US martial exploits abroad, and there was general public support for these foreign interventions, especially ones that pitted Western “white Christians” against the “hoards” from the East. Unfortunately, the United States was very ignorant and quite racist towards the numerous Asian cultures. This would cloud our views, decisions and judgments of these peoples (still does today, unfortunately). The actions by the Western nations, and Japan, in China would be felt long after World War I and II were over.

China, as a nation, was very weak and fragmented at this time. Her central government could not govern the nation, much less prevent Western missionaries and nations from staking claims to Chinese land and souls. This led to much anger and resentment by native Chinese towards foreigners. This anger was channeled into violence towards foreigners in China. A secret society called the “Boxers” by the West was one of the main groups of Chinese who fought against the Western nations in China. This violence was called the “Boxer Rebellion” and lasted from 1898-1901.

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The following article is one for reference only. It is a good overall summary of the causes and effects of the rebellion. Please refer to it if you need additional background and information on the Boxer Rebellion in order to complete the assignment below.

-Boxer Rebellion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxer_Rebellion

**Assignment 3** (50 points)For this assignment, I would like you to watch the following video on the Boxer Rebellion on You Tube. You can use the class computer, or your phone to watch it.

Video: History- In Search of History- The Boxer Rebellion (Video- 41 minutes)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRK7Cu_w0b8

Imagine that you are an American in China at this time and witness to these events. Place yourself in one of the foreign Legations that were assaulted by the Chinese. It is your voice that others will hear when you are able to get your story out. As you watch the video, take notes so that you can write a 1-2 page news article in which you explain why America is in China at this time and being attacked by the Chinese Boxers. Discuss why the Chinese are so made at West. Explain why it was necessary for foreign troops to land and fight their way to your rescue. Finally, discuss the aftermath of the violence and the occupation, looting and atrocities committed by the Western troops. Were they justified, or not. (Feel free to use the reference article from Wikipedia, if necessary). Please let me know if you need any help.

Caribbean ConstabularyFor a country that did not want to have either an empire, or its trappings, the US spent a lot of time in the beginning quarter of the 20th century invading, occupying and re-invading many of the nations in the Caribbean and Central America. These invasions were called the “Banana Wars”. These invasions happened due to political instability in the region/ country in question; economic interests of major US companies being threatened, or a need to establish US military dominance so that other European nations would not. These invasions of these sovereign nations were conducted mostly by the US Marines with US Navy transport and support. These actions did not exactly endear us to the peoples of Latin America, and our willingness to invade these countries in the past is still a very sore point in the diplomatic, economic and military relations between these countries and the United States today.

**Assignment 4** (variable points)For this assignment, you will have two options to choose from. They are below. The other option can be done for extra credit, if you wish.Option 1 (60 points)The following two chapters discuss six of the interventions/ invasions that the US conducted in the Caribbean and Central America in the early 20th century. Chose three to read and do the following with: Summarize the reasons why the US invaded, how the nation that we intervened in reacted (supported the US, fought the US, or acted in an indifferent manner), how long we stayed, when/ why we left, and did our intervention

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make a difference in that country? Finally, would you have supported the decision of the US to intervene in these nations if you were alive at that time? Why/ Why not? (Each nation is worth 20 points, 60 points total)

- Chapter 6 “Caribbean Constabulary- Cuba, Panama, Nicaragua and Mexico, 1898-1914” from The Savage Wars of Peace- Small Wars and the Rise of American Power by Max Boot. - Chapter 7 “Lords of Hispaniola- Haiti, 1915-1934 and Dominican Republic, 1916-1924” from The Savage Wars of Peace- Small Wars and the Rise of American Power by Max Boot.

Option 2 (60 points)In college you will have to listen to lectures and take notes. This is a good opportunity to practice this skill. The video below is a lecture on the actions taken by the US Marines in the Banana Wars. A summary of the lecture follows:

-“U.S. Marines in the Banana Wars”, a lecture by Aaron O’Connell at the US Naval Academy on Mar 26, 2013.

-http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/Banan-U.S. Naval Academy professor Aaron O’Connell talked about the history of U.S. Marine Corps military engagements in the Caribbean, from the period following the Spanish-American War in the late 1890s into the 1930s. These military actions are known as “The Banana Wars.” Professor O’Connell spoke about the strategic and economic reasons for American military involvement in that region, and compared the leadership styles of three presidents during this era.

The video is 1 hour and 15 minutes. You will have classes of this length, or longer, in college. Please watch the video and take notes from the lecture. Try to take notes without stopping the video, just like alive lecture in college. (If you need to pause the video, it is OK.) Idea- a smart college student will record their lectures so that they can play them back later and listen to them at their leisure.

Pancho Villa’s raid and the US responseDuring the time that the US Marines were landing in various counties in Latin American, Mexico underwent a painful and bloody revolution whose effects are still being felt today for both countries. During the Mexican Revolution, various warlords, bandits with rural/ peasant support and rich landowners attempted to take over the Mexican nation with their own personal armies. The leader(s) that promised to protect and expand US business interests in Mexico were the ones that the US tended to support with political, economic and/or military support.

Pancho Villa was once supported by the US. Despite this US support, Pancho Villa turned on the US and invaded New Mexico. He would not be the last “freedom fighter” that the US would support and then later regret as they attacked our national interests and citizens.

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The reasons behind Pancho Villa’s raid on the US city of Columbus, New Mexico are still steeped in mystery almost 100 years after they occurred. The theories/ reasons for his attack are hatred of the US, to punish a US merchant who took his money for guns but did not supply them, he wanted to steal guns and supplies from the town, and/or he was a pawn (willing/ unwilling?) of Germany who wanted to cause a US-Mexican war so that the US would be too distracted by that to get involved (i.e. save Western Europe) in World War I. No one knows that real reason to this day. His attack did spark a US response that involved a large mobilization of US forces and an invasion of Mexico with the stated goal to capture Pancho Villa “dead or alive”.

**Assignment 5** (various points)You are a news reporter who is riding with General Pershing as he leads the US forces in pursuit of Pancho Villa and his rebel forces. Using the sources below, create a series of “dispatches from the saddle” in which you describe your journey to capture and bring to justice the rebels who invaded US soil and killed some of our citizens. Each dispatch is to be no longer than a page (typed, double spaced, 12 size, normal font). Be creative and engaging in your dispatches. Remember that you are the one telling your readers at home what is going on in this pre TV, radio, phone era. Please use pictures to tell your story since you have a photographer with you. Each dispatch is worth 10 points. Please do a minimum of 5 dispatches. Any extra will be treated as extra credit.

- Chapter 8 “The Dusty Trail- The Pancho Villa Expedition, 1916-1917” from The Savage Wars of Peace- Small Wars and the Rise of American Power by Max Boot. -Battle of Columbus (1916)

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Columbus_%281916%29-Pancho Villa Expedition

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancho_Villa_ExpeditionPancho Villa (Video- 43 minutes)

-http://www.biography.com/people/pancho-villa-9518733/videos/pancho-villa-full-episode-2074725502

Russian RevolutionThe roots of the Cold War go all the way back to the Russian Revolution (1917) and the Russian Civil War (1917-1921). The Russian Revolution occurred for a variety of complex reasons. Basically, the Russian people were sick of being treated poorly by the ruling class and tired of being used as cannon fodder by the government in wars that did not affect them. The slaughter and humiliation that the Russian nation faced in World War I was the final straw for many in Russia. Political and social chaos ensued when the Russian nation and people were engulfed by multitude of revolutions that erupted in 1917. For more information, please start by reading the following website:

-Russian Revolution http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Revolution

If you want further information, please consult the numerous books that are written on this topic.

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The Russian Civil War (1917-1921) broke out following the Russian Revolution. This civil war was between multiple parties in both Russia and Europe. The main “sides” of this conflict was the Bolshevik Red Army (future communist government of Russia) verse the White Army. The White Army consisted of forces that were anti-Bolshevik and wanted to establish a government in Russia than ran the gambit between a monarchy and a democracy, with anarchy and dictatorships being offered as viable forms of government. For more information, please start by reading the following website:

-Russian Civil War http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Civil_War

Again, if you want further information, please consult the numerous books that are written on this topic.

**I heavily recommend that you read these two websites.**

**Assignment 6** (90 points)In order to gain an understanding of this pivotal time in World History, please watch the following video:

-People’s Century: Red Flag- 1 hour (tape #28)-Please do the attached worksheet as you watch the video.

The Allied nations of Europe and America tended to support the White Army in their struggle against the Bolshevik forces. These same nations also decided that it was in their national interest to intervene militarily in Russia during the Russian Civil War. The United States was one of the nations that sent military forces to Russia at this time.

**Assignment 7**The United States joined the Allies in intervening in the Russian Civil War. The Americans sent forces to 2 regions of Russian, near Archangelsk (Northwest Russia) and near Vladivostok (Northeast Russia, in Siberia). To learn more about these American military actions on Russian soil, please choose one of the two readings and do the attached assignment:

Reading 1 (110 points)Please obtain and read the following selection from Max Boot. Then answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper.

- Chapter 9 “Blood on the Snow- Russia, 1918-1920” from The Savage Wars of Peace- Small Wars and the Rise of American Power by Max Boot.

1. Why did the Allies decide to intervene in the Russian Civil War? (5)

2. What were the 2 fronts that the Allies fought on in Russia (location in Russia, cities, and comment on the distance between these 2 areas on Allied action)? (10).

3. How was the experiences of the US soldiers on each of these fronts different from one and other? (20)

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4. What were the results of the Allied intervention in Russia? (10)

5. What opportunities did the Allies lose out on by not being more assertive in there intervention in Russia? Could the Allies have prevented the rise of the Communist Party and the Soviet Union in Russia? (20)

6. How do you think the Russian people and government felt about this intervention/ invasion of their homeland? Do you think that this would/ could have affected Russian views of the West in World War II? (20)

7. Should the United States continue to intervene/ interfere in other nation’s business in order to help maintain global peace and stability? Why/ why not? 3-5 paragraphs of a well thought out answer. (25)

Reading 2 (30 points)and

Please read the following article by Karl H. Lowe, “American Polar Bear’s Defense of Vladivostok”, and complete the attached worksheet.

While these military actions are largely forgotten in America today, the Russians never forgave, or forgot the time when American troops “invaded” sovereign Soviet/ Russian soil. These actions by the United States, and the Allied nations, influenced Soviet actions during the Cold War that following World War II.

Peacekeeping in ChinaChina is a nation with a long and proud heritage and history. It is one of the few nations of the world that can trace its history back several thousands of years. China was also a nation that experienced a rather brutal, humiliating and deadly last 100 years. China went from being a respected nation to one under foreign (Western) influence and rule at the end of the 19th century. At the turn of the 20th century, China was a fragmented and weak nation in which much of its Eastern shore was divided and occupied by foreign nations. This led to numerous wars, famines, revolutions and counter revolutions that cost millions of lives over the 20th century. The China that the world sees and has to deal with today is one that is increasingly more powerful and determined to not be humiliated like it was previously. The Chinese have a long memory, and they remember the past insults that they experienced at the hands of other nations. The United States was one of these nations.

The US did not treat China as badly as the Japanese and other European nations at this time. Still, the US Navy patrolled Chinese rivers and landed Marines and Sailors on Chinese soil to protect American citizens and business interests in China at this time. Since China was a vast nation, the US military could not relay on overwhelming force to do its job. It had to bluff, and then be prepared to back this bluff with force, if necessary. To learn more about how the US accomplished this, please read the following selection:

- Chapter 11 “By Bluff Alone- China, 1901-1941” from The Savage Wars of Peace- Small Wars and the Rise of American Power by Max Boot.

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**Assignment 8** (50 points)After reading the chapter, discuss with me why the US was in China, what was our official function there, how our experiences were different from other foreign nations and militaries in China, and how “by bluff alone” we were able to have a relatively disaster free peace keeping mission in China for almost a century.

We are now at a period of US history in which the nature of how the United States interacted with the world changed. Prior to World War II, we were a rising power that could control its backyard, but only project power overseas in a limited manner. World War II changed that. We ended that war as the world’s leading superpower. We eclipsed Great Britain, surpassed France, crushed Germany and Japan, and had only the USSR to worry about. The era of small wars was mostly over. The time of covert actions and proxy wars was at hand.

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Survey of American Military History

3rd 6 Weeks: Superpower (1941- present)LebanonGrenadaSomaliaWar on Terror

The “small wars” of this time are similar, yet different than the ones that the US has waged in the past. The reason for this was that the US was now a superpower. Prior to World War II, the US was merely one of the many great powers. After the war, the US was the global power. No longer did we have to fight the small wars of the past. We had to not fight them since they could lead to a larger conflict. The main goal of the US was to contain the “communist threat” that emanated from the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics, aka the USSR.

The US joined forces with many other nations of the world in order to contain the spread of communism and to prevent the USSR from conquering other nations. This period was called the Cold War and lasted from 1945-1991. These actions will not be cover in this class. If you are interested in the Cold War, see me. I have set up a class that discusses the history of the Cold War.

Yes, the US was engaged in fights across the globe during this time, but we either fought covertly (CIA and Special Forces) or through proxies (mainly 3rd world allies). When we did engage in larger conflicts (Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War I and II and Afghanistan), both the US and the USSR strived not to directly engage the other since the threat of the fight escalating into a global nuclear fight was high. This is not to say that both sides did not fight each other in these conflicts (and others), but that is another topic, and class.

In addition, the US no longer had a small military that had to pick and choose its fights. We had a large military that was armed with nuclear weapons, had global commitments, and was designed to fight the large battles- aka WWII style campaigns. We no longer needed the lessons, or the military that was designed to fight the small wars. This would come back to haunt us, and defeat us, in Vietnam.

This is not to say that the US did not engage in any “small wars” after WWII. We did so, but with trepidation. This can be seen in the “peacekeeping conflicts” that the US got itself involved in below. Our goals may have been “ideal”- to stop the spread of communism and/or to keep the peace between warring factors. Unfortunately, the results were not too great in many of these instances. One of these “small wars” was the US peacekeeping mission in Beirut, Lebanon.

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LebanonInstead of the small wars of the past, the US found itself being “dragged” into peacekeeping missions that may or may not have been in its national self-interests. The US peacekeeping mission in Beirut from 1982-1984 is an example of how the best of intentions (separating combatants in order to help stop a civil war) led to the peacekeepers being forced to become active combatants in a brutal civil war. By taking an active combat role, the peacekeepers were perceived as “taking sides” by some of the factions fighting in the civil war. This lead to a terrorist attack that was the deadliest one to strike US forces since the Vietnam War.

The Middle East is a toxic mix of religion, politics and ideology that all revolves around whose religion is better and who was there first. This has led to numerous wars and civil wars throughout the ages. There is not enough time to go into this complex history.

The Middle East Conflict that is relevant to us right now is the Lebanese Civil War from 1975-1990. If you would like to read a brief summary of this action, the following web site is useful:

-Lebanese Civil War http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanese_Civil_War

Basically, the Lebanese government was led by a minority group, the Maronite Christians. The majority of the county was Muslim. The government was pro-Western in its leanings. The Muslim population was not. Following the creation of the Israeli state, many Palestinian’s (Muslims) fled Israel and found refuge in Lebanon. That created a large and restless group of unemployed Muslims with no jobs, no political representation, and little promise of a better future. This led to conflict with the central government. Israel backed the central government. Syria backed and armed the Palestinians, and other Islamic groups came to Lebanon to “aid” their fellow Muslims in their struggle against the Western backed “infidels”. Into this mess arrived the United Nations (UN). They sent in a peacekeeping force to the Lebanese capital, Beirut, to separate the warring groups. The United States joined the UN forces. The website below can give you more details about the UN forces, their mission, and how “successful” they were.

-Multinational Force in Lebanon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multinational_Force_in_Lebanon

**Assignment 1** (25 points)As the UN and the US got involved in this civil war, they ended up taking sides. They may not have intended to do so, but they did. That would lead to the 1983 Beirut Barracks bombings. The website below goes into sufficient detail of these two bombings.

-1983 Beirut Barracks Bombing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_Beirut_barracks_bombing

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Using that website, and the one above it, describe the original UN mission in Lebanon. Then, describe how the UN and the US got dragged deeper into this conflict. Next, discuss how this “mission creep” was perceived by the Palestinians and her allies. Finally, describe the results of the two bombings on the UN mission in Beirut and the response of the UN and the US to this attack.

**If you would like to see and hear more about this event, the following is a CBS news video about the bombing**

-http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50157659n

**Assignment 2** (45 points)Finally, the Beirut bombings led to changes in the United States’ intelligence agencies and how they gathered information. The effects of these changes are still being felt today. Please read the following article and then answer the questions below:

-“How the Beirut Bombing Spawned the Modern Surveillance State” by Shane Harris. Foreign Policy, October 23, 2013.

1. How were the Marines deployed in Beirut, in relation to their own security and ability to defend themselves? (5)

2. What did the US know before the attack? (5)3. Why did that information not get to the Marines? (5)4. The attack caught the US by “surprise”. Who were the two government

officials who vowed to change this and started to reorganize how the US obtained and disseminated intelligence? (5)

5. Describe two of the many changes that these two individuals made. (10)6. How do you feel about the government being able to monitor so much

information about its citizens and other people? Please put some thought into your answer. (15)

GrenadaAnother of these small wars that the US undertook was the assault of the island nation of Grenada. So, why did the US attack a tropical island in the Caribbean? Because we could so with little fear of failure. President Reagan campaigned on the weakness of the United States and what he would do to change that. He wanted to erase the memories of our defeat in Vietnam (and recent terrorist attack in Beirut) with a decisive and popular military victory over another nation (the weaker the better). Especially over a nation that would not put up too big of a fight. To do this, he needed a military that was not defeated, drug addled and weak. The US military was all of that following Vietnam. He needed a modern US military with up to date weapons and motivated troops. When he was elected, he began a large buildup of US military forces and took a more confrontation approach with the USSR on the world stage. He called the Soviet Union an “evil empire” and worked tirelessly to end communism. He used patriotism and the “fear of communism” to change the US from a defeated and weakened nation, to one filled with martial pride.

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One way he did that was to provide either covert or overt military aid to nations that were under threat of communist takeover. One of those nations was the Caribbean island of Grenada. This island nation was not a major Cold War battleground, not even a minor one, but was pivotal for the US and her self-esteem at this time.

Grenada is a small island that no one had heard of until the US invaded it in 1983. The rather large US invasion force made short work of the “enemy” troops on the island. Please read the following articles about the US invasion of Grenada.

-Invasion of Grenada http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Grenada-US Invasion of Grenada http://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/155/25966.html-How Grenada reshaped the US Militaryhttp://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2013/09/08/how-grenada-reshaped-

military/IZDvWwlt9Ed1chAJufkrvJ/story.html

**Assignment 3** (40 points)As you read the above articles about the invasion of Grenada, answer the following questions:

1. Why did the US decide to invade this island? (5)2. What was the reaction to the invasion both at home and abroad? (10)3. This was not an “easy” assault for the US. What problems did the military

and the government have to face and overcome as a result of this action (10)4. Did the US leave Grenada a better place after the invasion? Why/ why not?

(5)5. In your opinion, what are the lessons learned and the legacy of this invasion?

(10)If you want to watch a You Tube video clip about the invasion, access the link below:

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13qJw71S390

SomaliaThe East African nation of Somalia was the next country that the US intervened in. The US was coming off of an impressive and stunning defeat of Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi army in the First Gulf War. We felt that our nation was on the cusp of greatness and no one could defeat our military. So, when the opportunity presented itself to aid the United Nations in famine relief and peacekeeping in Somalia, the US agreed. What could possibly go wrong??

Somalia was (and still is) a failed state. That means that the central government is either nonexistent, in the midst of a civil war, or does not control vast portions of the county. In the case of Somalia, various militias controlled parts of the country and these militias were run by warlords. The warlords fought what remained of the government. These warlords were quite brutal and fought each other for dominance too. This resulted in the Somalia Civil War. The following web site provides more information on this topic.

- Somalia Civil War

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_Civil_War

The warlords did not care about the Somalia people, or their welfare. This led to shortages of food, water and basic medical care. The warlords also forced people off their land and into refugee camps. With many people not farming or herding on their land, food shortages occurred. In addition, Eastern Africa was in a period when the seasonal monsoon rains did not occur. This led to a drought. This violence and drought led to one of the largest famines in African history in this region. Into this natural and man-made misery, the United Nations intervened to help restore order help feed the starving masses.

The US joined this intervention force and sent in the US Marines to help restore order and get food out to the starving people. The Marines patrolled aggressively and helped restore order to their area of the county (mostly in the capital of Mogadishu). After their mission was done, they were pulled out and other nations took over. These nations were not as aggressive as the Marines and were harassed and attacked by the warlords in the capital. This prompted the UN to ask for help from the US in hunting down and capturing these warlords. The US sent in the Rangers, Delta Force and other Special Forces to help. This now sets the stage for the Battle of Mogadishu (as seen in the “Blackhawk Down” movie).

At this point, the US has changed from a humanitarian mod to an aggressive mode in which they were actively going after militia leaders in order to help restore order in a chaotic city. These actions brought them in direct conflict of the militias and warlords in Mogadishu. While this does not fit the definition of a “small war” like we read about in the past, it can be considered one since limited military forces were used for a limited goal. Despite the US having a limited goal (capture the leaders of the militia in Mogadishu), their actions did spark a nasty response from the militia in the capital. This fighting would become known as the Battle of Mogadishu.

**Assignment 4** (50 points)For this assignment you will do a commentary on Hollywood verse History. I would like you read the information on the Battle of Mogadishu from the following website:

-Battle of Mogadishu http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mogadishu_%281993%29

And, I would like you to watch the following documentary too (feel free to take notes):-Video (127): “The True Story of Blackhawk Down” (1 hr)

After you have done the above, you now have a better understanding of the actual events behind this battle. At this point, you can watch Hollywood’s take on it. To do that, please watch the following movie:

-Movie (DVD): “Blackhawk Down” (2 ½ hrs)

Now, you need to write an essay describing what the movie got right, and wrong, about this event in US history. Basically, how accurate was the movie? Support your opinion with examples from the reading and the documentary. (1-2 pages, typed)

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**It is important to approach any historical movie that Hollywood does with a critical eye. They are in the entertainment and money making business, not the historical accuracy business. Do not ever turn to Hollywood for a history lesson. Read a book instead. **

**Assignment 5** (50 points)Following battles, the military likes to do an “after action report” that talks about what went right and what went wrong so that they can learn and improve for the next time. The following article is an example of that line of thinking, but written with the benefit of 20 years of hindsight. Please read it and answer the questions below.

-“Somalia 20 Years Later- Lessons Learned, Re-learned and Forgotten.” By Michael A . Marra and William G. Pierce. Small Wars Journal, September 11, 2013.

1. How did the media influence the decisions that the Government made during the battle in Mogadishu? (2)

2. How did the world view the outcome of the Battle of Mogadishu? Why so? (4)

3. Are there any parallels in American society that mirror the Somalia cultural ideal of “me and my clan against all outsiders”? Please explain your thoughts on this. (4)

4. Briefly summarize what went right doing the UN and US time in Somalia from 1992-1995. (10)

5. Now, briefly discus what went wrong. (10)6. What were the lessons that our enemies learned from our experience in

Somalia? (10)7. What are the lessons that the US has forgotten from this experience? 8. What are your views on the US aided the UN in peacekeeping missions such

as this in the future? Should we help those in need, or not? Please explain your position. (10)

War on TerrorAfter Somalia, the US retreated from actively using its military to either aid in peacekeeping or enact some sort of regime change. The main reason was that it was not politically palpable to absorb causalities in actions that did not directly affect our national interests. To some, the US looked weak, to others the US retreating back into an isolationist foreign policy not seen since the 1920’s. Regardless, our actions emboldened our enemies. And the US had enemies a plenty.

Our enemies struck us on 9-11-2001. To better understand how this event occurred, please read the following graphic novel:

-The 9-11 Report- A Graphic Adaption, by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon.

**Assignment 6** (30 points)

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As you read this short novel, please describe the Who, What, Where, When, Why and How the 9-11 attacks happened. Be brief, but be detailed. It is important to know and understand why these attacks occurred. They still affect how the US interacts with our allies, enemies and citizens today.

After 9-11 attacks, the US was forced to return to its small wars roots in order to effectively address and combat the new/ old terrorist threat from al Qaida. Remember, small wars are ones undertaken by the President without Congressional authority. That describes all the placed that the US is fighting in our ongoing, and undeclared, “War of Terror”. After 9-11, there was significant support for our War on Terror, but that support has waned as the years passed. Now, some are asking if this is a war that should/ needs to be fought. That leads us into our next assignment.

**Assignment 7** (25 points)In the Savage Wars of Peace text, the author summarizes Americas’ successes and failures in the small wars of the past, and lays out his reasons for why we need to continue waging these wars in the future. Please read the chapter below. Briefly summarize why Max Boot feels we need to wage more small wars in this century. Then, I would like your opinion on that topic. Should we continue to wage these small, savage wars of peace, or should we stop doing so? Be detailed in your answer.

- Chapter 15 “In Defense of the Pax Americana- Small Wars in the Twenty First Century” from The Savage Wars of Peace- Small Wars and the Rise of American Power by Max Boot.

Finally, we are at the point in the class where we may, or may not have time to go into detail and read more on the small wars the US is waging in the War on Terror. If we do not, that is fine. We can end the class here.

If that is the case, I hope that you enjoyed the class and learned a bit more about our military history. I would appreciate any feedback on the class, if you are willing. Thank you for letting me share my interest in American History with you!

**If we do have time, let us continue with reading the following text:-Imperial Grunts- On the Ground with the American Military, from Mongolia to the Philippines to Iraq and Beyond. By Robert D. Kaplan, 2005.

We will read this book chapter by chapter and discuss orally the reasons why the US is engaged in the area(s) being discussed in each chapter, our successes and failures, your opinion on whether we should be there- or not, and any current events/ news on said areas that occurred after the book was written. We will get through as much as we can in the time remaining. (50 points each chapter)

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