AMST 30345 - 20th Century American Military Experience

Institution:

University of Notre Dame

Subject:

American Studies

Description:

Is America, as historian Geoffrey Perret contends, a "country made by war"? Regardless of one's opinion, a systematic study of America's wars is essential to either confirm or refute the above statement and obtain a more complete understanding of the nation. There have certainly been ample historical occurrences to support Perret's assertion over the last century, and this course will investigate the validity of the question by examining the modern American military experience from after the Franco-Prussian War of 1871 to the present. We will explore the causes, conduct, and consequences of the major military conflicts of the 20th century in which the U.S. was involved or that had a significant impact on the U.S., using traditional historical materials. We will also read several battlefield memoirs to further examine the conflicts at the tactical level and also explore the human dimension of war. Using a fundamental thesis to address war at the political, strategic, operational, and tactical levels, the goal of the course will be to gain a better understanding of the relationship among the different levels as well as the importance of each. As a part of their discovery process, students will take three essay exams and write a research paper assessing the combat effectiveness of a particular unit that existed during this period to assist them in determining, developing, and delivering a response to Perret's statement.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.nd.edu

Phone Number:

(574) 631-5000

Regional Accreditation:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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