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U.S. Military History For Dummies
Want to know more about American military history? U.S. Military History For Dummies presents concise and revealing accounts of all of the nation's armed conflicts from the French and Indian War to Iraq. It explains how the U.S. military is organized and how its branches operate, both independently and together.
This straightforward guide examines the causes for each of America's wars and reveals how these conflicts have shaped the nation's borders, society, politics, culture, and future. You'll meet heroes, cowards, patriots, and traitors; relive great battles; and get a taste of what combat is really like, as you
How the French/Indian war sowed the seeds of the Revolutionary War Why America's battle for independence didn't end at Yorktown Early U.S. wars against Indians, tax cheats, and pirates The War of 1812: guaranteeing U.S. sovereignty "Manifest Destiny" wars that stretched America from sea to shining sea Why the American Civil War could not be avoided The Spanish American War and the U.S. as an emerging global power Why World War I failed to "make the world safe for democracy" How World War II changed America's role in the world Korea and hot wars during the Cold War Featuring important insights on technological, political, and social changes that transformed the way America fights its wars U.S. Military History For Dummies is your key to understanding the evolution of the most powerful military force in history.
This straightforward guide examines the causes for each of America's wars and reveals how these conflicts have shaped the nation's borders, society, politics, culture, and future. You'll meet heroes, cowards, patriots, and traitors; relive great battles; and get a taste of what combat is really like, as you
How the French/Indian war sowed the seeds of the Revolutionary War Why America's battle for independence didn't end at Yorktown Early U.S. wars against Indians, tax cheats, and pirates The War of 1812: guaranteeing U.S. sovereignty "Manifest Destiny" wars that stretched America from sea to shining sea Why the American Civil War could not be avoided The Spanish American War and the U.S. as an emerging global power Why World War I failed to "make the world safe for democracy" How World War II changed America's role in the world Korea and hot wars during the Cold War Featuring important insights on technological, political, and social changes that transformed the way America fights its wars U.S. Military History For Dummies is your key to understanding the evolution of the most powerful military force in history.
384 pages, Paperback
First published November 5, 2007
About the author
John C. McManus
26 books207 followersJohn C. McManus is an author, military historian and award-winning professor of military history at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. He is one of America’s leading experts on the history of modern American soldiers in combat.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 14, 2026
Like any typical American young boy growing up in the 1950s and 1960s I loved to play war. I’d grab a stick, a baseball and a pot and viola! I had a makeshift rifle, grenade and helmet.
Most of my friends cobbled together common household items and made their own fantasy weapons. Some were fortunate enough to actually have realistic looking military toy guns, helmets, grenades and other ‘war’ accessories.
Little did we realize that our make believe battles echoed the far too familiar real tragedy of war.
Throughout its history the United States has engaged in war. The Revolutionary, Civil War, WWI and WWII, Korea, Vietnam and so on and so on and so on.
It’s not like we enjoy war. We prefer peace. Killing people and blowing up things are things rationale people do not like to do. Sometimes it’s necessary-unfortunately. We value our freedom of not only ourselves but of other nations.
We fight to protect people and right wrongs. Sure, we’ve been side-tracked sometimes-but our intentions were honorable.
In Wiley Brands’ and author John C. McManus, PhD’s new book: U.S. Military History For Dummies, the long list of wars and skirmishes the United States Military has taken part in are examined.
Readers learn what caused the skirmishes, who the bad guys were, how the military conflicts shaped America’s society and how the Armed Forces operate and are organized.
Learn all about key battles, strategies, weapons and leadership. It’s a complete compendium of the United States military and its action both during peace and at war.
Nothing is candy-coated. It contains cold, hard facts and delves into the politics, conflicts and personalities that escalated military action.
Military history buffs are sure to love this book.
John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Most of my friends cobbled together common household items and made their own fantasy weapons. Some were fortunate enough to actually have realistic looking military toy guns, helmets, grenades and other ‘war’ accessories.
Little did we realize that our make believe battles echoed the far too familiar real tragedy of war.
Throughout its history the United States has engaged in war. The Revolutionary, Civil War, WWI and WWII, Korea, Vietnam and so on and so on and so on.
It’s not like we enjoy war. We prefer peace. Killing people and blowing up things are things rationale people do not like to do. Sometimes it’s necessary-unfortunately. We value our freedom of not only ourselves but of other nations.
We fight to protect people and right wrongs. Sure, we’ve been side-tracked sometimes-but our intentions were honorable.
In Wiley Brands’ and author John C. McManus, PhD’s new book: U.S. Military History For Dummies, the long list of wars and skirmishes the United States Military has taken part in are examined.
Readers learn what caused the skirmishes, who the bad guys were, how the military conflicts shaped America’s society and how the Armed Forces operate and are organized.
Learn all about key battles, strategies, weapons and leadership. It’s a complete compendium of the United States military and its action both during peace and at war.
Nothing is candy-coated. It contains cold, hard facts and delves into the politics, conflicts and personalities that escalated military action.
Military history buffs are sure to love this book.
John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
May 11, 2021
This book is a must read for anyone interested in US Military History. If you are a novice or an expert you can glean excellent information from this book. I have been studying Military History since Junior HS and learned a few things i has not studied before.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews