Stoddert's War

Stoddert's War PDF Author: Michael A. Palmer
Publisher: US Naval Institute Press
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 360

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Book Description
An award-winning study of the Franco-American undeclared naval war at the turn of the nineteenth century, this history of the nearly forgotten struggle is filled with the dramatic actions of such frigates as the Constellation and her capture of l'Insurgente, as well as the sundry operations that protected American commerce from the depredations of the French corsairs in the Caribbean. First published in 1987, the book avoids the parochialism of earlier studies by placing the American war within a European context. It takes a critical look at the command and operations of the first secretary of the Navy, Benjamin Stoddert, and how under his direction the Navy proved itself ship for ship as--if not more--effective against French privateers than the Royal Navy. The book also examines how the Navy served the nation's commercial and diplomatic interests, a pattern of activity that would become known as gunboat diplomacy, and how the Navy's successes assured it a permanency that had eluded the Continental Navy. Awarded prizes from the American Revolution Round Table of New York and other organizations, the respected work answers penetrating questions about what happened and why, and the author's judicious evaluations of participants and their policies make an important contribution to the literature. This new Classics edition is introduced by the author, chair of the maritime history department at East Carolina University and author of three other books, including Origins of Maritime Strategy.

Stoddert's War

Stoddert's War PDF Author: Michael A. Palmer
Publisher: US Naval Institute Press
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 360

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Book Description
An award-winning study of the Franco-American undeclared naval war at the turn of the nineteenth century, this history of the nearly forgotten struggle is filled with the dramatic actions of such frigates as the Constellation and her capture of l'Insurgente, as well as the sundry operations that protected American commerce from the depredations of the French corsairs in the Caribbean. First published in 1987, the book avoids the parochialism of earlier studies by placing the American war within a European context. It takes a critical look at the command and operations of the first secretary of the Navy, Benjamin Stoddert, and how under his direction the Navy proved itself ship for ship as--if not more--effective against French privateers than the Royal Navy. The book also examines how the Navy served the nation's commercial and diplomatic interests, a pattern of activity that would become known as gunboat diplomacy, and how the Navy's successes assured it a permanency that had eluded the Continental Navy. Awarded prizes from the American Revolution Round Table of New York and other organizations, the respected work answers penetrating questions about what happened and why, and the author's judicious evaluations of participants and their policies make an important contribution to the literature. This new Classics edition is introduced by the author, chair of the maritime history department at East Carolina University and author of three other books, including Origins of Maritime Strategy.

Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy

Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy PDF Author: Ian W. Toll
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
ISBN: 0393066649
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 584

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Book Description
"A fluent, intelligent history...give[s] the reader a feel for the human quirks and harsh demands of life at sea."—New York Times Book Review Before the ink was dry on the U.S. Constitution, the establishment of a permanent military became the most divisive issue facing the new government. The founders—particularly Jefferson, Madison, and Adams—debated fiercely. Would a standing army be the thin end of dictatorship? Would a navy protect from pirates or drain the treasury and provoke hostility? Britain alone had hundreds of powerful warships. From the decision to build six heavy frigates, through the cliff-hanger campaign against Tripoli, to the war that shook the world in 1812, Ian W. Toll tells this grand tale with the political insight of Founding Brothers and the narrative flair of Patrick O'Brian.

The Encyclopedia of the Wars of the Early American Republic, 1783–1812 [3 volumes]

The Encyclopedia of the Wars of the Early American Republic, 1783–1812 [3 volumes] PDF Author: Spencer C. Tucker
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 1598841572
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 1134

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Book Description
Relatively little attention has been paid to American military history between 1783 and 1812—arguably the most formative years of the United States. This encyclopedia fills the void in existing literature and provides greater understanding of how the nation evolved during this era. This encyclopedia offers a comprehensive examination of U.S. military history from the beginning of the republic in 1783 up to the eve of war with Great Britain in 1812. It enables a detailed study of the Early Republic, during which ideological and political divisions occurred over the fledgling U.S. military. The entries cover all the important battles, key individuals, weapons, Indian nations, and treaties, as well as numerous social, political, cultural, and economic developments during this period. The contents of the work will enable readers at the high school, college, university, and even graduate level to comprehend how political parties emerged, and how ideological differences over the organization, size, and use of the military developed. Larger global developments, including Anglo-American and Franco-American interactions, relations between Middle Eastern states and the United States, and relations and warfare between the U.S. government and various Indian nations are also detailed. The extensive and detailed bibliographies will be immensely helpful to learners at all levels.

Commanding Petty Despots

Commanding Petty Despots PDF Author: Thomas Sheppard
Publisher: Naval Institute Press
ISBN: 1682477568
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 167

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Book Description
Commanding Petty Despots: The American Navy in the New Republic tells the story of the creation of the American Navy. Rather than focus on the well-known frigate duels and fleet engagements, Thomas Sheppard emphasizes the overlooked story of the institutional formation of the Navy. Sheppard looks at civilian control of the military, and how this concept evolved in the early American republic. For naval officers obsessed with honor and reputation, being willing to put themselves in harm's way was never a problem, but they were far less enthusiastic about taking orders from a civilian Secretary of the Navy. Accustomed to giving orders and receiving absolute obedience at sea, captains were quick to engage in blatantly insubordinate behavior towards their superiors in Washington. The civilian government did not always discourage such thinking. The new American nation needed leaders who were zealous for their honor and quick to engage in heroic acts on behalf of their nation. The most troublesome officers could also be the most effective during the Revolution and the Quasi and Barbary Wars. First Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert tolerated insubordination from "spirited" officers who secured respect for the American republic from European powers. However, by the end of the War of 1812, the culture of the Navy's officer corps had grown considerably when it came to civil-military strains. A new generation of naval officers, far more attuned to duty and subordination, had risen to prominence, and Stoddert's successors increasingly demanded recognition of civilian supremacy from the officer corps. Although the creation of the Board of Navy Commissioners in 1815 gave the officer corps a greater role in managing the Navy, by that time the authority of the Secretary of the Navy--as an extension of the president--was firmly entrenched.

Index, The Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789: Quack - Zwolle

Index, The Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789: Quack - Zwolle PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : United States
Languages : en
Pages : 1502

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Book Description


Index, The Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789: East Whiteland-Leacraft, G

Index, The Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789: East Whiteland-Leacraft, G PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : United States
Languages : en
Pages : 1488

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Book Description


Index, the Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789: Leacraft, W.-Pyttis

Index, the Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789: Leacraft, W.-Pyttis PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Government publications
Languages : en
Pages : 1494

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Book Description


A Rage for Glory

A Rage for Glory PDF Author: James T. De Kay
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 0743242459
Category : Admirals
Languages : en
Pages : 264

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Book Description
A vivid and intelligent biography of one of America's greatest naval legends.256 pp.

The Captain from Connecticut

The Captain from Connecticut PDF Author: Linda M Maloney
Publisher: Naval Institute Press
ISBN: 1612513239
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 499

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Book Description
The Captain from Connecticut is the definitive biography of the man who became a national hero as the commander of the USS Constitution in her dramatic victory over HMS Guerriere in the War of 1812. While Isaac Hull’s outstanding seamanship was in evidence throughout his career, Maloney makes the case that it is ironic that he is remembered for his tactical prowess in this famous naval battle, because he was actually the most pacific of men.

Millions for Defense

Millions for Defense PDF Author: Frederick Leiner
Publisher: Naval Institute Press
ISBN: 1612513484
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 251

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Book Description
The title of this book comes from a toast popular with Americans in the late 1790s—“millions for defense, not a cent for tribute.” Americans were incensed by demands for bribes from French diplomats and by France’s galling seizures of U.S. merchant ships, and as they teetered towards open war, were disturbed by their country’s lack of warships. Provoked to action, private U.S. citizens decided to help build a navy. Merchants from Newburyport, Massachusetts, took the lead by opening a subscription to fund a 20-gun warship to be built in ninety days, and they persuaded Congress to pass a statute that gave them government “stock” bearing 6 percent interest in exchange for their money. Their example set off a chain reaction down the coast. More than a thousand subscribers in the port towns pledged money and began to build nine warships with little government oversight. Among the subscription ships were the Philadelphia, later lost on the rocks at Tripoli; Essex, the first American warship to round the Cape of Good Hope; and Boston, which captured the French corvette Le Berceau. This book is the first to explore in depth the subject of subscribing for warships. Frederick Leiner explains how the idea materialized, who the people were who subscribed and built the ships, how the ships were built, and what contributions these ships made to the Quasi-War against France. Along the way, he also offers significant insights into the politics of what is arguably the most critical period in American history.