Brad D. Lookingbill is Professor of History at Columbia College of Missouri. Prior to his academic career, Dr. Lookingbill served in the Army National Guard and Reserve. He is the author of Dust Bowl, USA: Depression America and the Ecological Imagination, 1929-1941 (2001), War Dance at Fort Marion: Plains Indian War Prisoners (2006), and American Military History: A Documentary Reader (Wiley-Blackwell, 2011).

List of Illustrations xi
Acknowledgments xv
Prologue: Freedom is not Free 1
1 An Uncommon Defense (1607-1775) 6
Introduction 6
The Militia 8
Skulking 11
Wars of Extirpation 12
Imperial March 15
The French and Indian War 18
Martial Law 21
Rebel Forces 24
Conclusion 26
Essential Questions 27
Suggested Readings 28
2 War for Independence (1775-1787) 29
Introduction 29
American Crisis 31
Year of the Hangman 35
The Alliance 38
Outside the Lines 42
Southern Strategy 44
Yorktown 48
A Standing Miracle 49
Conclusion 51
Essential Questions 52
Suggested Readings 53
3 Establishing the Military (1787-1812) 54
Introduction 54
National Forces 56
Legion 58
A Quasi-War 61
The Shores of Tripoli 63
West Point 65
Army of Adventurers 67
Peaceable Coercion 71
Conclusion 73
Essential Questions 74
Suggested Readings 75
4 Mr. Madison's War (1812-1815) 76
Introduction 76
War Hawks 78
On to Canada 80
Naval Duels 84
Tough as Hickory 86
Border Battles 88
The British Invasion 91
New Orleans 93
Conclusion 95
Essential Questions 97
Suggested Readings 97
5 The Martial Republic (1815-1846) 98
Introduction 98
Postwar Security 100
Into the Borderlands 103
Arc of Expansion 105
Indian Removal 107
Reforming the Militia 109
The Old Navy 111
Profession of Arms 114
Conclusion 117
Essential Questions 118
Suggested Readings 118
6 The Forces of Manifest Destiny (1846-1860) 120
Introduction 120
American Blood 122
On to Mexico 125
Forward March 127
War at Home 130
The Halls of Montezuma 131
Occupation 135
Legacies of Conquest 136
Conclusion 139
Essential Questions 140
Suggested Readings 140
7 The Blue and the Gray (1860-1865) 142
Introduction 142
Secession 144
Battle Cries 146
Union Strategy 148
Lee Takes Command 153
Military Necessity 157
Advance and Retreat 160
Gettysburg 163
Winning the West 164
The Surrender 166
Conclusion 171
Essential Questions 172
Suggested Readings 172
8 Twilight of the Indian Wars (1865-1890) 174
Introduction 174
Road to Reunion 176
Peace Policy 178
Conquering the Sioux 180
The Old Army 184
Fight or Flight 187
Apache Resistance 189
Wounded Knee 192
Conclusion 193
Essential Questions 194
Suggested Readings 194
9 A Rising Power (1890-1914) 196
Introduction 196
Race for Empire 198
Remember the Maine 200
Splendid Little War 203
Philippine Rebellion 206
The Boxers 209
A Progressive Defense 211
Gunboat Diplomacy 213
Conclusion 216
Essential Questions 217
Suggested Readings 217
10 The War to End All Wars (1914-1918) 219
Introduction 219
Preparedness 221
Mobilizing for War 223
American Expeditionary Forces 226
The Atlantic Lifeline 228
No-Man's-Land 230
Cult of the Offensive 233
The Armistice 237
Conclusion 239
Essential Questions 241
Suggested Readings 241
11 Out of the Trenches (1918-1941) 242
Introduction 242
Soft Power 244
A Winged Defense 246
From Ships to Shores 248
Our Economic Army 251
Neutrality 253
Under the Rainbow 255
Pearl Harbor 258
Conclusion 261
Essential Questions 262
Suggested Readings 262
12 Fighting World War II (1941-1945) 264
Introduction 264
War Machine 266
The GI Way 269
Empire of the Sun 272
A Second Front 277
Great Crusade 279
The Philippine Sea 283
Victory in Europe 286
Japanese Resistance 288
Atomic Warfare 291
Conclusion 293
Essential Questions 294
Suggested Readings 295
13 A Cold War Begins (1945-1964) 296
Introduction 296
Department of Defense 298
Containment Strategy 301
Police Action 302
A New War 305
Stalemate 308
No More Koreas 312
The Arms Race 314
Conclusion 316
Essential Questions 317
Suggested Readings 317
14 The Tragedy of Vietnam (1964-1975) 319
Introduction 319
Into the Quagmire 321
Gradual Escalation 324
Search and Destroy 327
Tet 330
A Better War 332
Ending the Draft 335
The Fall of Saigon 338
Conclusion 340
Essential Questions 341
Suggested Readings 341
15 A New Military (1975-2001) 342
Introduction 342
Revival 344
A Strategic Defense 347
Use of Force 349
Line in the Sand 352
Desert Storm 354
Drawdown 357
Pax Americana 359
Conclusion 362
Essential Questions 363
Suggested Readings 363
16 Global War on Terror (2001-present) 365
Introduction 365
September Morn 367
War in Afghanistan 370
Iraqi Freedom 372
Green Zone 375
The Surge 378
Turn the Page 381
Killing bin Laden 383
Conclusion 385
Essential Questions 386
Suggested Readings 386
Index 388

The American Military: A Narrative History presents a comprehensive introduction to more than four centuries of American military history.
* Presents a chronological account of American military history from clashes between militias and Native Americans to 21st-century operations in Afghanistan and Iraq
* Features personal vignettes to put a human face on armed conflict
* Addresses patterns of national service, the evolution of civil-military relations, and the advent of all-volunteer forces
* Puts events in historical context, and considers cultural, social, political, economic, and technological developments