American Military History, first published in 1956 as a one-volume textbook for ROTC courses and updated by countless historians through the years, intends to provide the United States Army with a fully comprehensive but brief account of its past in support of the military history education of young officers, NCOs, and cadets.
Just as the history of an active organization inevitably expands, so too has this new edition under the oversight of general editor Richard W. Stewart. Revised to reflect the challenging period of expanding roles and missions and of fundamental organizational change in the Army during the post-Vietnam years through the Global War on Terrorism, the resulting two volumes are highly readable and graphically handsome with many colorful maps and illustrations of period artwork and military artifacts that enhance the narrative. Those with an interest in learning about the Army and its campaigns will enjoy having and reading these visually pleasing and instructive volumes.
The first volume traces the evolution of the Army from its birth in 1775 to the eve of World War I, covering the concept of military history, the theory and practice of war, and the American military system with European roots.
