Military after Civil WarMilitary after Civil War

HIS 207HIS 207

Civil War is OverCivil War is Over

Great volunteer army was quickly Great volunteer army was quickly demobilizeddemobilized May 1865—1 million volunteers in armyMay 1865—1 million volunteers in army November—800,900 men released from November—800,900 men released from

serviceservice By 1866—only 11,000 volunteers remainBy 1866—only 11,000 volunteers remain

By 1876-the authorized size was reduced By 1876-the authorized size was reduced down to 27,500down to 27,500

Government Vision in post-war eraGovernment Vision in post-war era

White House and Congress saw no need White House and Congress saw no need for a large regular armyfor a large regular army

Believed that nation was well served by Believed that nation was well served by volunteer force in Civil Warvolunteer force in Civil War

No “real” enemies on the horizonNo “real” enemies on the horizon Prompts question—”Why do we need an Prompts question—”Why do we need an

army?”army?” Military spending channeled in other Military spending channeled in other

directions.directions.

What are roles of the post-war What are roles of the post-war army?army?

Difficult to accomplish any objectives with Difficult to accomplish any objectives with very small force spread out over many very small force spread out over many bases.bases. Reflected political realities—think of todayReflected political realities—think of today

Large unit organization was non-existentLarge unit organization was non-existent Nothing larger than a regimentNothing larger than a regiment

Uses of the Army in the post-war Uses of the Army in the post-war period.period.

Reconstruction/Occupation of the SouthReconstruction/Occupation of the South Indian warsIndian wars Civil Disturbances/StrikebreakingCivil Disturbances/Strikebreaking

Reconstruction (1865-1876)Reconstruction (1865-1876)

Greatly disliked task Greatly disliked task Wanted to avoid politicsWanted to avoid politics

• Voter registration drives, arranging elections, Voter registration drives, arranging elections, installing officialsinstalling officials

Too few troops to truly “occupy” the South.Too few troops to truly “occupy” the South.• Little support in North for occupation Little support in North for occupation

Successful in establishing the Civilian Successful in establishing the Civilian governmentgovernment

Not so successful in protecting freed blacksNot so successful in protecting freed blacks

Indian WarsIndian Wars

From 1865 to 1891, there were 13 From 1865 to 1891, there were 13 different campaigns and at least 1,000 different campaigns and at least 1,000 separate engagements with Native separate engagements with Native American warriors. American warriors.

Another job the army accepted reluctantlyAnother job the army accepted reluctantly Likely to be criticized regardless of the Likely to be criticized regardless of the

outcome. outcome. Generally called in to resolve issues created Generally called in to resolve issues created

by settlers or Indian Bureau.by settlers or Indian Bureau.

Army TacticsArmy Tactics

Developed effective small units tactics to Developed effective small units tactics to deal with highly mobile tribes on the Great deal with highly mobile tribes on the Great Plains.Plains. Vulnerable to attack by larger force—CusterVulnerable to attack by larger force—Custer Frequently outgunned by the IndiansFrequently outgunned by the Indians Eventually able to overcome these limitationsEventually able to overcome these limitations

Frontier Life of armyFrontier Life of army

Very different from the “Hollywood” imageVery different from the “Hollywood” image Life was lonely and remoteLife was lonely and remote

Few men brought their familiesFew men brought their families

Most forts were really villages with a few simple Most forts were really villages with a few simple buildings-some walled, others not.buildings-some walled, others not.

Rarely provided with adequate foodRarely provided with adequate food Frequently not paid for long stretchesFrequently not paid for long stretches Conditions little better than those encountered Conditions little better than those encountered

by Native Americansby Native Americans

George CrookGeorge Crook

Most successful of the Army’s Indian Most successful of the Army’s Indian fighters.fighters. Also most knowledgeable of the ways of the Also most knowledgeable of the ways of the

IndiansIndians Men traveled light-rode hardMen traveled light-rode hard Organized Indians as combatants-one Organized Indians as combatants-one

tribe fighting anothertribe fighting another

End of EraEnd of Era

By late 1870’s, Indian power was broken By late 1870’s, Indian power was broken on the Plainson the Plains

With defeat of the Sioux, last of the major With defeat of the Sioux, last of the major tribes was defeated. tribes was defeated.

Army proved generally effective in Army proved generally effective in establishing peace in the west with a establishing peace in the west with a minimum of bloodshedminimum of bloodshed

Civil DisturbancesCivil Disturbances

Industrial growth prompt labor disputesIndustrial growth prompt labor disputes National Guard was expected to deal with National Guard was expected to deal with

local issueslocal issues Ill-prepared—under trained and sympathetic Ill-prepared—under trained and sympathetic

with with Some army officers see industrial warfare Some army officers see industrial warfare

as new role for armyas new role for army Way of gaining public supportWay of gaining public support

Strike of 1877Strike of 1877

Railroad strikeRailroad strike National Guard fails to quell riotsNational Guard fails to quell riots Federal troops called outFederal troops called out

Confusing command structureConfusing command structure• Civilians giving ordersCivilians giving orders

Able to intimidate strikers & restore orderAble to intimidate strikers & restore order Good for congressional support of armyGood for congressional support of army

National GuardNational Guard Despite failures in labor disputes, a strong push Despite failures in labor disputes, a strong push

for a citizen-soldier military force remains.for a citizen-soldier military force remains. Organized militia under state control saw more Organized militia under state control saw more

strike duty during 19strike duty during 19thth century. century. Fear of revolt-need to improve and better arm Fear of revolt-need to improve and better arm

militiasmilitias 1879-National Guard Association1879-National Guard Association Between 1881 and 1892 every state revised its Between 1881 and 1892 every state revised its

military codemilitary code Presented a challenge to the continued Presented a challenge to the continued

existence of regular forces. existence of regular forces.

Navy DevelopmentsNavy Developments

Physically disintegrates after the warPhysically disintegrates after the war Technological advances of the Civil War are Technological advances of the Civil War are

rejectedrejected Return to wooden sailing shipsReturn to wooden sailing ships

• Gave Navy maximum range with minimum supportGave Navy maximum range with minimum support

Navy that Congress wanted low cost forceNavy that Congress wanted low cost force Anti-expansionisticAnti-expansionistic Simply interested in promoting American tradeSimply interested in promoting American trade

Role of NavyRole of Navy

Commerce ProtectionCommerce Protection Showing the flagShowing the flag Stopping foreigners from attacking Stopping foreigners from attacking

American interestsAmerican interests

Navy was well suited to this role.Navy was well suited to this role. Don’t need steel and steam vesselsDon’t need steel and steam vessels

Changing World Situation in late Changing World Situation in late 1919thth century century

Global competition increases in the late Global competition increases in the late 1919thth century century

European powers become increasingly European powers become increasingly imperialistic.imperialistic.

Risk emerges that markets previously Risk emerges that markets previously open to the U.S. will be closed. open to the U.S. will be closed. ChinaChina AfricaAfrica PacificPacific

Movement for ChangeMovement for Change

Voices begin to call for a change in naval Voices begin to call for a change in naval strategystrategy

For markets to remain open, the navy needs a For markets to remain open, the navy needs a force capable of competing with Major European force capable of competing with Major European powerspowers

1883—ABCD ships1883—ABCD ships Steel ships with sailsSteel ships with sails Ship names selected for maximum political supportShip names selected for maximum political support Small, poorly designed and under-armored—Small, poorly designed and under-armored—

important first stepimportant first step

Leaders for Naval ChangeLeaders for Naval Change

Alfred Thayer MahanAlfred Thayer Mahan Benjamin Tracy—Secretary of NavyBenjamin Tracy—Secretary of Navy

Proposes a radical increase in the size of the Proposes a radical increase in the size of the navy.navy.

Needs to sell to CongressNeeds to sell to Congress• Ships that will protect America’s shoresShips that will protect America’s shores• Coastal defense was politically marketableCoastal defense was politically marketable

CompromiseCompromise• Coastline sea-going battleships-5,000 mile rangeCoastline sea-going battleships-5,000 mile range• No sailsNo sails

Samoa Incident(1889)Samoa Incident(1889)

Dispute with Germany and Britain over Dispute with Germany and Britain over control of Samoa (SW Pacific)control of Samoa (SW Pacific)

Naval forces from all three countries Naval forces from all three countries squared off in Apia harbor-squared off in Apia harbor-

War prevented by massive hurricaneWar prevented by massive hurricane Settlement reached—US gains naval base Settlement reached—US gains naval base

at Pagopago.at Pagopago. US force, 3 wooden ships, ill-prepared to US force, 3 wooden ships, ill-prepared to

fight ships from major European powersfight ships from major European powers

True Blue Saloon Incident(1891)True Blue Saloon Incident(1891)

USS BaltimoreUSS Baltimore in Valparaiso, Chile in Valparaiso, Chile Drunken brawl—2 deathsDrunken brawl—2 deaths Appears that war may break out with ChileAppears that war may break out with Chile Congress and President realize that Congress and President realize that

victory is far from assuredvictory is far from assured Chile has Navy almost equal to US NavyChile has Navy almost equal to US Navy Forces government to serious consider Forces government to serious consider

further expansionfurther expansion

Expansion in 1890’sExpansion in 1890’s

Naval Appropriations Act of 1890Naval Appropriations Act of 1890 Authorized the construction of three battleships—Authorized the construction of three battleships—

IndianaIndiana, , MassachusettsMassachusetts and and OregonOregon• 11stst true capital ships of the American navy true capital ships of the American navy

Heavily armoredHeavily armored Powerfully gunned (13inch main batteries)Powerfully gunned (13inch main batteries)

• World Class vesselsWorld Class vessels

By time of Spanish American War, Navy was By time of Spanish American War, Navy was well on its way to being a world power.well on its way to being a world power.

Navy 1865-1898Navy 1865-1898

Never faced the same challenges as the Never faced the same challenges as the armyarmy

Always had accepted mission.Always had accepted mission. Commerce protectionCommerce protection Showing the flagShowing the flag

With changing world in late 19With changing world in late 19thth century, century, Naval leadership skillfully positioned itself Naval leadership skillfully positioned itself to evolve.to evolve.

Sp-Am war will push Navy to forefrontSp-Am war will push Navy to forefront