...The Last Days of Innocence: America at War, 1917-1918. Harries, Meirion and Susie Harries. (New York: Random House, 1997. Pp.xi? 573. Illustrated. ) Merion and Susie Harries in The Last Days of Innocence are husband and wife historians from England who used their overseas perspective to fashion a detailed account of America’s efforts in World War I. The Harries provide a refreshing look at the country’s role in the war. America’s effort in World War I illustrates how ill-prepared the United States was in the early twentieth-century as the country entered and directed itself in a large-scale war. The Harries link account, anecdote, and examination providing a well-written account of the U. S. experience in the Great War. Although, the United States contributed to the victory, the country suffered humiliation at home and abroad resulting in the loss of the peace in spite of all America’s industrial capacity despite President Wilson’s grand design to export democracy. In America a few groups longed to enter the war, most of the country dragged their heals to the fight. The Harries effectively used French reports to illuminate the operational strengths and weaknesses of an American military fighting...
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...us out of the War” to “Make the World Safe for Democracy” As it is well-known the World War I was primarily of a war fought due to imperialist aims, stemming from the need to satisfy the demand for raw material in the Europe. With the industrial revolution urge for raw material became of crucial importance for the European states. This was followed by the aggressive colonization projects that eventually led to a harsh competition between different parties around Europe, who want to hold control over the economic resources. The United States was not a super-power, as it is now, at the time of the War. Being aware of this Wilson opted to remain as a neutral observer during the initial phase of the war. It was the third year of the war, when the British intelligence intercepted the coded telegram dispatched by the Foreign Secretary of the German Empire, Arthur Zimmermann, on 16 January 1917. While the two blocs, The Entente Powers (France, The British Empire and Russia) vs. The Central Powers, (Austria-Hungary, Germany and the Ottoman Empire), were fairly evenly balanced between 1914 and 1917, with the year 1917 the Central Powers started to be weakened due to several reasons. The Americans were convinced that the Central Powers were doomed to lose the war, when the Zimmermann telegram was revealed. Therefore, Wilson aspired to take advantage of these circumstances and use the telegram as a pretext for convincing the American public opinion to join to the War and side with the...
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...The fact is that it was a significant contributor to the World War I especially when it comes to the great powers. Before the war, Europeans always believed that their nation was supreme economically, culturally and in its military. Through the use of propaganda, many citizens were led to believe that their nation reigned supreme because of a great government and military power. Furthermore, nationalism led citizens to believe that their nations were being threatened by its rivals being pictured as aggressive, deceitful and most of all uncivilized. This group of thinking is contributed to the fact that England, France and Germany have been used to peace since the nineteenth century is marked with only two wars, Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) and the Crimean War (1853-1856). This analysis depicts the fact that nationalism created a pertinent notion that encouraged competition amongst nations. For this reason, the creation of new states that was evident during the unification of Germany and Italy further propelled competition amongst states. In a nutshell, creation of new states offered comprehensive platforms that enhanced competition that was greatly attributed to nationalism...
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...From the many inventions that emerged from the American Civil War, the Ironclad, designed by Captain John Ericsson and Robert L. Stevens, has impacted the world by advancing naval warfare technology. It gave America more influence in Europe and put America ahead of Europe in naval matters. The impact and influence changed naval warfare’s forever by forcing wooden ships to become obsolete. The Ironclad was among the first technological and modern tools of war. Its impact on technology in navies can still be seen today in the designs and the construction of naval ships.(Mac Bride,1) It has impacted technology in the way ships are built. Because of the ironclads the ships that are used in wars today are much safer. They are stronger and easier to maneuver. The first ironclad to ironclad battle between the Merrimac and the Monitor was long and drawn out. Although neither one emerged victorious, the world began to see what a major improvement in warfare these ironclads were. A reporter from the Norfolk Day wrote: “This work will create a revolution in naval warfare. America’s improvement has impacted naval history in a way that no other invention ever has!” Many times in United States history the major nations of the world, such as England, France and Germany, have ignored the United States in political matters but this invention and the ironclad to ironclad battle changed a large percentage of their attitudes toward the United States. It made America become feared and respected by...
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...The Undeclared War Known as Vietnam Akilah K. Berry History 105 Professor Joseph Krulder American Intercontinental University The Vietnam War is considered the longest war. It can also be known as the unnecessary war, the war we lost, and an unofficial war. This war demonstrated to the world that the United States of America will defend its beliefs by any means necessary. It unified yet divided it’s own nation while focusing on the conflict at hand. Despite the fact the US Congress never officially declare war, the most decisive (excluding the Civil War) and America’s longest war is known as The Vietnam War. Around 1950, in efforts to protect the Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia known as the French Empire in Indochina the US initiated their involvement. In addition to protecting the French Empire the prevention of Ho Chi Minh’s Nationalist-Communist Viet Minh forces gaining control of the French Empire was also a key objective. At the battle of Dien Bien Phu, the Viet Minh seemed to achieve independence and national sovereignty in addition to their victory, regardless of great assistance from the US. At the 1954 Geneva international conference, the United States (for whom a Nationalist-Communist Vietnamese government was unacceptable) divided the country in two. The southern half was the birthplace of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN). Americans spent the next twenty years defending the RVN which was an artificial country (Buzzanco, 2010). By 1960 the National Liberation...
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...factors that started World War I such as nationalism, imperialism, and militarism. These factors also contributed to the rise of Pan-Slavism in Eastern Europe. All of the thing lead to the Great War and began the process of the United States to enter the war.America and the Great WarPan-Slavism“Pan-Slavism theory and movement intended to promote the political or cultural unity of all Slavs. Advocated by various individuals from the 17th cent., it developed as an intellectual and cultural movement in the 19th cent. It was stimulated by the rise of romanticism and nationalism, and it grew with the awakening of the Slavs within the Austrian and Ottoman empires. Slavic historians, philologists, and anthropologists, influenced by Johann Gottfried von Herder, helped spread a national consciousness among the Slavs, and some dreamed of a unified Slavic culture to replace an allegedly declining Latin-German culture. The first Pan-Slav Congress, held at Prague in 1848 and presided over by František Palacký, was confined to the Slavs under Austrian rule and was anti-Russian. The humiliating defeat suffered by Russia in the Crimean War (1853-56) helped transform a vague, romantic Russian Slavophilism into a militant and nationalistic Russian Pan-Slavism. Prominent among the Russian Pan-Slav publicists were Rotislav Andreyevich Fadeyev and Nikolai Yakovlevich Danilevsky. Fadeyev claimed that it was Russia's mission to liberate the Slavs from Austrian and Ottoman domination by war and to form a Russian-dominated...
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...Camilo Perez University of Phoenix University Academic Writing ENG/220 Pamela Pruett March 08, 2015 Two Leaders: One Goal World War II is considered, by many, the most significant event of the 20th century. It was a turning point in history; one that united the world, saved democracy and changed international affairs. The defeat of Hitler and his allies would not have been possible without the leadership and collaboration of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Sir Winston Churchill. Both of them, viewed by their constituents as their only hope, came into power at a time of crisis. America was going through the Great Depression, and Britain was in Hitler's line of sight for invasion. These very different characters came together at the height of Hitler's plan to destroy all democracies. Roosevelt's calculative personality, Churchill’s strategic impulsiveness and their clear focus on the mission, slowly but surely led the allies to victory and the ultimate elimination of Hitler and his army. America’s leader during World War II was a result driven individual, capable of making difficult decisions and taking necessary measures to protect his country even if meant losing the support of his constituents. Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) was elected as a 32nd President of the United States in 1932.("FDR Biography," n.d.) He came into office in the aftermath of World War I and the middle of the Great Depression. Using his experience as New York State Senator, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and...
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...Course Syllabus |[pic] | American Experience I (HSS 255) Instructor: Yakita Burns Office Hours: (Wed) 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Office: 228 HHS Phone: 201-8488 Course: AMH 1041 Credits: 3hrs Reference # 155106 Class Time: 1:25 - 2:15 p.m. (MWF) E-mail: burnsy@tcc.fl.edu Session: Fall 2015 Course Description: American Experience I (3) FA SP SU Prerequisites: Documented exemption, appropriate placement scores or completion of developmental education reading and writing. AMH 1041 examines the historical experiences and events that have shaped America's social and economic development in order to foster a better understanding of America's culturally diverse society. Prerequisite(s): satisfactory completion of Developmental Writing II (ENC0025 ) and Developmental Reading II (REA0017 ), or appropriate placement scores. Examines the historical experiences and events that shaped America’s social and economic development, in order to foster a better understanding of America’s culturally diverse society. Lecture: 3 hours. Close Close Prerequisite(s): satisfactory completion of Developmental Writing II (ENC0025 ) and Developmental Reading II (REA0017 ), or appropriate placement scores. Examines the historical experiences and events that shaped America’s social and economic development, in order to foster a better understanding of America’s culturally diverse society. Lecture: 3 hours. Close Close Prerequisite(s):...
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...Although Nevada alone was not directly involved with any sort of battle during World War II, Nevadans still played a huge part in the war itself. The mining of copper and silver that Nevada could provide made a huge impact on the creation of weaponry and ammo. The population during this time also grew due to military personnel being stationed at some of the new military bases. Nevada's involvement with World War II made a big impact when considering the amount of metal the state was able to provide. The World War II era also had an impact on Nevada's gaming as well as fear of attack on the Hoover Dam. . During the time of World War II, Nevada's population grew. Nevada's main industry during this time was mining, just as it was...
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...BORDER Border Patrol focus has been detection, apprehension and/or deterrence of terrorists and terrorist weapons (Securing America’s Borders). 2011). The duties and responsibilities of the Border Patrol is one of the most important jobs and it is to detect and prevent the entry of illegal immigrants, terrorists, and smugglers into the United States. The amount of travellers that come through the United States, the trade that the United States engage in, and the number of immigrants entering the United States makes us a target for terrorist attacks from different angles. The Department of Homeland Security was created to deal with and address the threat of international terrorism (Securing America’s Borders). The priority mission of this department is homeland security. The Hart-Rudman Commission had three innovations they were trying to accomplish. The first of which the commission thought the United States needed to push its borders outward, developing what it called a “layered defense” (Alden, 2009, p. 39). The senators thought that the U.S. needs to work more with foreign countries to try to identify threats and/or terrorists before they arrive in the U.S. Secondly, the commission recommended the government need to work with companies, mainly private shipping companies, who ships goods or products to other countries or around the world (Alden, p. 39). This would help not only the government but the companies involved in order to try to prohibit them (the companies)...
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...The Cold War is a span of almost a half century of tension between, primarily the United States and its allied powers and the Soviet Union and its supporting allies or the Warsaw Pact, from the tension started during World War II and America’s late entry, to the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the economic, cultural, social, and political battles that ensued. Hesitant and cautious of Stalin’s thirst for power and dominance through his fanatical Communist control and the chance of Communist expansion, American’s enmity and distrust launched a policy to halt the possibility of the Soviet’s attempts at world dominancy. With American’s refusal to acknowledge the Soviet as a legitimate power only fueled the tension that arose. Although it was termed “The Cold War” only three wars arose during this time, The Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Afghanistan War, and never shaped an actual armed conflict. The succession of the advancement of technology lent its part to shape the cold war and the possession of nuclear warheads led to espionage and constant threats. Although many events led to the tension that constant escaladed between the two powerhouses two major events climaxed the tension. One being the launching of Sputnik Crisis in 1957, in which the US mounted themselves as the successor in space technology and therefore the leader in the forefront of missile construction, suddenly realized that the Soviet Union had surpassed them, which begun the space race, the Apollo mission, and eventually...
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...total war where all of a country’s resources should be utilized in waging war since the enemy would surely do the same. Following WWII Americans were used to the idea of large armies, clear objectives, and decisive victories; however these ideas would be reconsidered in the years following WWII leading up to the Korean War. During the Korean War the idea of total war became less popular and ideas which were more in line with Sun Tzu’s idea of a limited war became the policy of the Truman administration. There are many possible reasons why Truman chose to conduct a limited war in Korea. One possible reason for Truman’s policy might have been “China’s entry into the Korean War in November put an abrupt end to any immediate hopes of trying to separate Moscow and Peking.” (Strategies of Containment, P-116) In 1950 American forces were not prepared to engage in a total war with China and the Soviet Union and Truman and MacArthur both realized these deficiencies within the U.S. military. The scope of my argument in this essay will not be about what type of war, limited or total, is best because there are certain instances where a limited war is desired and there are times when total war is required. I will however address the period between December 1950 and March 1951 where I feel that Truman’s choice to wage a limited war was better than MacArthur’s belief that the U.S. either engage in a total war with the communists or withdraw from Korea and prepare for total war with...
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...I & I L Capstone: War and Culture Abstract Statement Although culture is a key topic in the purview of theoretical discussions, the concept of war and culture is a new notion that has not been engaged by many analysts. Indeed Adrian Lewis underscores the importance of war and culture in "The American Culture of War in the Age of Artificial Limited War" when he posits that culture decisively influences the way nation-states conduct war (Lewis 226). This work aims to shift focus from the traditional focus on culture as a method of analysis and instead examine various commentary on the military and its application as a form of cultural activity. America's Self-Imposed Cultural Attitude Towards War There have been widespread calls to consider the normative cultural interpretations of war. Most notably, the works of Adrian Lewis as demonstrated in his treatise The American Culture of War, are a classic pointer of the dynamic and contested nature that culture assumes in the interpretation of war. Lewis poignantly articulates the need to apply such cultural interpretations in a deterministic fashion (Lewis 225). In writing The American Culture of War, Lewis depicts war as a systematic orchestrated phenomenon, which in essence is a prolongation of culture through other techniques (Lewis 227). To prove this argument Lewis presents two cardinal subjects. First he provides an explicit analysis of the transformations that America has undergone since...
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...World War I took place between 1914 and 1918. Although the conflict began in Europe, it ultimately involved countries as far away as the United States and Japan. At the time, the English-speaking world knew it as the “Great War”—the term “World War I” was applied decades later. Historians still actively disagree over the fundamental causes of the war. The period leading up to the war was a complex tangle of diplomacy and political maneuvering—many countries debated over strategies and alliances until nearly the last minute—and the first few weeks of the conflict were similarly chaotic and confusing. We will be taking a look at the U.S.A. and how they were involved with, effected and helped pave the war front heir standpoint. Some early accounts of World War I treat its start as a chain of almost coincidental events: a mix of unfortunate lapses in judgment on the part of political and military leaders, combined with a tangled web of alliances and defense treaties that triggered declarations of war between countries that really had little reason to be at war with each other. Although these factors were crucial, a number of other important factors were involved. The United States entered World War I due to economic, political, and social contributes. Economically, the United States “entered” the war by the increase of exports to Great Britain and France. Trade quadrupled from 1914 to 1917. According to statistics, from 1914 to 1917, exports to Great Britain rose by about $1.5...
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...Syllabus College of Humanities HIS/125 U.S. History 1865 to 1945 Professor Jewell gjjewell@email.phoenix.edu 843-863-0102 Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2007 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Course Description This course provides an overview of the social, political, economic, and global events affecting U.S. history from the Civil War through World War II. Policies Faculty and students will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Schultz, K. M. (2012). HIST2, volume 2 (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. All electronic materials are available on the student website. Week One: Reconstruction and the New South Details Objectives 1.1 Evaluate the outcomes of Reconstruction. 1.2 Summarize the economic, political, and social characteristics of the New South. 1.3 Explain the populist response to late 19th-century developments. Read the course description and objectives. Read the instructor’s biography and post your own. Read Ch. 16 of HIST2, Volume 2. Read pp. 318–325 in Ch. 19 of HIST2...
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