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Shapers of military philosophy: Emory Upton Alfred Thayer Mahan

Shapers of military philosophy: Emory Upton Alfred Thayer Mahan. HIS 207. Emory Upton: Local boy makes good. Batavia, New York native Statue of him is in city square Graduate of West Point Served in Civil War rising to the rank of Brevet Major General

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Shapers of military philosophy: Emory Upton Alfred Thayer Mahan

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  1. Shapers of military philosophy:Emory UptonAlfred Thayer Mahan HIS 207

  2. Emory Upton: Local boy makes good • Batavia, New York native • Statue of him is in city square • Graduate of West Point • Served in Civil War rising to the rank of Brevet Major General • After war served as Superintendent of West Point

  3. Voice in the Wilderness • Upton was a prodigue of Wm. T. Sherman. • In 1875, he was sent on a tour of world armies. • Most impressed by the Prussian Army • Excellent General Staff • Universal Conscription • Large Ready Reserve • Excellent Service Schools

  4. Report • Report on finding, The Armies of Asia and Europe, was ignored by the government. • Thesis—Need for rudiments of a mass army • Not an attractive or economically realistic proposal in the Post-Civil War period.

  5. The Military Policy of the United States • One of the most significant books in US military history, shaped the thinking of officers of over 100 years. • Called for major changes in the civil-military relationship and the nature of American military policy.

  6. Upton’s Ideas • Long history of irresponsibility in congressional authority and a neglect of armed forces. • Believed an anti-military prejudice existed in political system • Military suffered due to routine civilian interference-mismanagement • Civilians can not be trusted to make decisions in the best interest of the military.

  7. Roots of problems • Government unwilling to face challenges appropriately • Resorted to makeshift responses (reacting rather than acting) • Military amateurism too often the result • Politically appointed officers (serious Civil War Problem) • Hopeless ineffective militia (citizen-soldiers) • Poorly trained short-term volunteers • Regular army left under funded, under trained, under equipped.

  8. Results • Military left unprepared in every war in American History • Country left scrabbling, expending life and money to secure victory--Waste • Believed even moderate outlays in peacetime would eliminate risks-this is more economical solution

  9. Solution • Placed heavy emphasis on military education—training an effective officer corps and group of non-commissioned officers. • Creation of expandable army • Corps of Officers and NCOs that could be rapidly expanded in wartime

  10. Problems with Upton’s ideas • Strong tradition of citizen soldier. • Could Expandable Army expand enough? • Why would we need a large army? • Potential enemies? • Congress able to ignore his ideas.

  11. Opponents to Upton • John Logan • Civil War General • Congressmen in post-war • GAR • Comes away from war with very different impression than Upton

  12. Logan’s Voice • The Volunteer Soldier of America • Citizen-Soldiers were the key to Northern success • West Point was dangerous to democratic institutions—confining military knowledge to a small group • War experience demonstrated natural genius of citizen soldier if given the opportunity.

  13. Citizen Soldier • Performance of citizen soldiers had been excellent • Just needed training and experience • Proposed much more open officer training system • Competitive exams • ROTC type programs at public universities • Public school curriculum providing physical training and drill

  14. Navy • Traditional strategy of the Navy consisted of commerce raiding and blockade running • Passive coastal defense • In 1880’s, the European imperialism forces a shift in Washington’s point of view • Fear of losing global markets

  15. New Voice for a new navy • Alfred Thayer Mahan, son of Denis Hart Mahan, would be spokesman for new navy. • Unlikely voice—poor sailor (afraid of the sea) • Appointment to Navy War College in 1886 • Investigates the role of navies in the rise and fall of great nations

  16. Ideas • The Influence of Sea Power upon History. • Long and difficult read • Demonstrates through historical example that an expanded merchant marine and a powerful navy is necessary of a nation to become a great power. • The centerpiece of naval power is the battle fleet, a force of capital ships (battleships and heavy cruisers), capable of seizing command of the seas.

  17. Supports • To support this battlefleet, the U.S. would need to develop overseas possessions. • Need for coaling stations and advanced bases. • Support for a Central American canal linking Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

  18. Difference • Mahan receives a much more enthusiastic response than Upton. • Right words at the right time. • Ideas reflect the much more expansionist, outward looking perspective of the 1890’s.

  19. “Fame was won less for being right, than for filling a need”

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