Afred Thayer Mahana was a great realist, a U.S naval officer and a historian. Mahan was also a professor in the Naval War College and lectured on naval history and naval strategy. Out of his lectures grew his two major works on historical naval power, “The Influence of Sea Power Upon History,1660-1783” and “The Influence Of Sea Power Upon the French Revolution and Empire ,1793-1812”.In these works he argued that Naval power was the key for a successful international politics. To Mahan, the nation that controlled the sea held the decisive factor in modern warfare. By arguing that a strong sea power makes a strong country, Mahan was the key to a strong American foreign policy and started a worldwide naval race in the late 19th and early 20th …show more content…
centuries. Mahan’s theories found receptive audience and acceptance by both President William McKinley and President Theodore Roosevelt who used them for oversea expansion. Mahan’s work led to rapid expansion and reconfiguration of the U.S Navy, and the construction of the Panama Canal, which facilitated the movement of U.S army to the world.
Mahan’s work appeared at a time when the nations of Europe and Japan were engaged in a fiercely competitive arms race. His books were widely popular. They where quickly translated into several languages and read by political leaders and Naval professionals all around the world including Kaiser Wilhelm the second. Europe started applying Mahan`s theories to build their naval power. So much so that, Mahan`s theories were taught in war colleges in Germany and used as a justifications for naval buildup. Mahan said to the American people, “Wither they will or not, the Americans must now begin to look outwards” (Afred Thayer Mahana). To Mahan the US has to expand across the oceans in order to build its naval power. He Played a role in the U.S occupation of the Hawaiian Island applying to the theory that in order to build a strong navy, Hey have to acquire strategic island bases. To Mahan the ward is a cruel place and war is an essential element of our life that we can’t …show more content…
avoid. Unlike Mahan, president Wilson, in his first term in the white house, was working on a world peace and wanted nothing to do with war. Woodrow Wilson was the 28th president of U.S from 1913-1921. He was an example of a successful Victorian idealist leader, historian, and policy maker. His work on peacemaking, prosperity, and democracy are of great value to our human race. Wilson saw that war was a failure in human life and that we have to avoid it in any way possible. Woodrow Wilson was an idealist who had great concern for world peace.
His effort for peace was best revealed in his working to keep America out of World War 1. In his message urging congress to declare war on Germany, president Woodrow Wilson presented the progressive understanding of foreign policy that Americans have a duty to spread across the world when he said, ”The world must be made safe for democracy, its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty” (Wilson's War Message to Congress). Throughout his address in front of the congress, Wilson appeals variously to humanity, mankind, and a “league of honor.” He would have America conform to the highest aspirations of mankind as expressed by the wishes of the people of other nations-hence the need for a league of nations and, later, a United Nations. Prior to Wilson, the shapers of American foreign policy kept “independence“ as the main principle. Wilson justified the U.S entry into war “for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free”(Wilson’s War Message to Congress). Wilson’s passion to make ”the world…safe for democracy“ assumed that his progressive democracy could be safe and salutary for any world but not only the one nation that is based on individual natural
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Whitman, Edward C.. “Rising to Victory: The Pacific Submarine Strategy in World War II.” Accessed November 25, 2013. http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html.
...n and defeated, Wilson believed firmly that his vision of America leading a world community of nations would eventually be embraced by the American people. Twenty-five years later, the United Nations built its headquarters in New York, a tangible symbol of the bipartisan support that Wilsonian ideals had gained after a second world war. But Wilson's legacy was not confined to foreign policy. His progressive domestic programs helped stabilize and humanize a huge industrial system, and his success in making the presidency the intellectual and political leader of the American government enabled the United States to deal effectively with the challenges and threats of the modern world. But don't forget the credit of Roosevelt's "New Imperialism", it became the hallmark of American foreign policy in the new century, positioning America as the leader of the western alliance.
When World War I broke out in Europe, Woodrow Wilson announced that the United States would stay out of European affairs and remain neutral. Wilson was aware that the United States had no interest in the matters that did not directly affect the interests of American citizens. He hoped that the United States would remain neutral and continue to trade with warring nations. The American view of neutrality meant we were entitled to safely and freely trade with either side at war as long as it was out in the open seas. The United States hoped to stay out of the way because war was viewed as wasteful, irrational, and immoral.
Shortly after America entered World War II, Rossiter joined the United States Naval Reserves. He served mainly as a gunnery officer but worked his way up to lieutenant. This emergence in American nationalism during his time fighting for the U.S. influenced his fascination in the history of American politics, especially of that pertaining to revolution and war. Rossiter is an American who is interested in American history and whole-heartedly believes in this country’s core foundation, thus influencing him to write books about just that. However, the claims made by Rossiter in The Political Thought of the American Revolution have validity due to his extensive qualifications.
In his book, “Woodrow Wilson Revolution, War, and Peace” by Arthur Link, Link walks step by step through President Woodrow Wilson’s career beginning from the time he was born and focuses on his role during and after World War I. Through his entire book, Link acts as an apologist for the actions of Wilson as well as argues against the opinions of other historians. Link speaks about Wilson almost as if he idolizes him; as if despite what other historians and public opinion might say that he can do no wrong.
BOOKS – Reviews; IMPERIALISM,NONFICTION; United States/Japan; American Warship in Japanese Harbor; Commodore Perry, Lord Abe, and American Imperialism in 1853.
Blair Jr., Clay, (1975). Silent Victory: The U.S. Submarine War Against Japan. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, p. 78. p. 1072. Buell, Thomas B. -. (1987)
...d liberties of small nations, and an international peace organization that aimed to end war forever. Although Wilson became involved with the war, he still identified and found greater interest in remaining uninvolved with foreign affairs.
This statement begins to expose the fear felt by Britain of the imposing German fleet. Due to the militaristic views of Europe, many countries desired to have more power and control, by any means possible. This hunger initiated the Naval Arms Race, in which nations believed as one country increased its naval powers, they too were obliged to increase their armed forces, to maintain a balance of power. The British had dominated the seas and many far off colonies because of their naval fleet, granting them immense power. As the Germans began to propose a new and vast naval fleet, and France and Russia formed a new alliance sparking suspicion in Britain, Germany quickly became a threat to British supremacy. This created a chain reaction of stressed importance upon naval arme...
Woodrow Wilson, our 23rd president, became involved in a war that he did not want any part of. Wilson wanted to remain neutral and have peace as in his first term of office. During World War I Wilson’s roles in the war became well known in all countries. Wilson wanted peace more than anything else. In seeking for peace Wilson asked Congress for the U.S. to enter World War I. which may not sound like a peace strategy but Wilson felt it was the only way to stop Germany and gain peace. Wilson wrote his speech for world peace, Fourteen Points, that he was probably most famous for. He attended and played an integral part in The Treaty of Versailles. He was the founder of the League of Nations, which he talked about in his Fourteen Points speech. .
The war reached an end on Nov. 11, 1918. The German proposition for peace came amidst the Congressional races. Against the guidance of those near him, the president chose to go to the peace gathering in Paris and battle for his beliefs face to face. Wilson not being present during congressional races shows how determined he was to keep peace in the World and finish what he started. “On December 13 he arrived in Europe. Probably no man has ever been given such an ovation. Wherever he went enormous crowds gathered, sobbing, cheering, shouting his name. (World War One Woodrow Wilson)” When the treaty of Versailles was created in 1919 many of his ideas were implemented in the treaty. However getting the Senate to agree with the Treaty was a whole nother can of worms. In search for support to overwhelm the senate WIlson started campaigning around the United States. Wilson was working extremely hard until late september in Colorado where Wilson suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed. Wilsons hard work and dedication is an example for everybody, his will to make the world a better place is unmatched and will be remembered in
The “Gentleman of Western Learning” presents arguments centered around the political ideology of pacifism and can be seen as the “idealist” of the book, advocating ideas out of his time, seemingly to be a man of vision in today’s context. He proposes the abolishment of the Japanese military and believes that a moral defense built through the virtues of liberty, freedom, equality and fraternity would be more than sufficient to safeguard the nation’s shores and interests (Pg. 51). His cause for unilateral disarmament is indeed noble, though sadly, a pipe dream in his era.
David Reynolds has written and enlightening book named “From Munich to Pearl Harbor” discussing three main objectives dealing with World War II. The first of the three objectives is to provide a detailed and clear narrative story from the years between Munich to Pearl Harbor. The second of the three purposes or objectives of the book is to analyze and show how President Franklin Delano Roosevelt led the American people into a new perspective on international relations that were different from anything Americans had known. The last of the three objectives of the book is to show the developments between the years of 1938 through 1941. Many of these developments were very important later for the foreign policy of the United States not only during the Second World War but also during the Cold War complications with Russia and today with President Bush’s war on terror currently taking place in Iraq.
Amongst military theorists and practitioners who studied war, its origin and implications, Carl von Clausewitz assumes a place among the most prominent figures. With his book On War, he demonstrated his capability to provide thorough historical analysis and conclusions of the conflicts in which he was engaged, and as a philosopher he reflected about all encompassing aspects of war. Today, Western armies conduct modern warfare in a dynamic environment composed of flexible and multiple threats in which civilians form a substantial part. Studying Clausewitz provides current military and political leadership useful insights to understand twenty-first century warfare. He explains the nature of war, provides an analytical tool to understand the chaos of warfare, and he argues for well educated and adaptable leadership capable of creative thinking. Although he died before his work was complete, his writing style was ambiguous and unclear at some moments, and current technology reduced some of his tactics obsolete, his work still arouses and inspires military and political strategists and analysts.
To begin with, Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States is one of the most influential and known idealist in history. He is recognized as an idealist because of his admirable ambitions and his strive for excellence. He had a major role after World War One, when he presented his Fourteen Points. The Fourteen Points were meant to bring peace to the world and make it so that another tragic war like the Great War would not occur again. His Fourteen Points Speech is a perfect example of idealism because in the speech Wilson talked about free trade, self-determination, disarmament, freedom of the seas, and the most important part of the speech was the League of Nat...