Arguments
The topic of my research concerns how the American military trained and mobilized troops in preparation for the fighting that will take place in the Spanish American War as well as the European trenches of World War One. My topic examines how the Punitive Expedition in Mexico, shortly before World War One, served as a preliminary measure in helping prepare American forces for the rigors of the contemporary battlefield. The topic will focus on the military, government, and society in its approach and ultimate declaration of war in both 1898 and 1917. Additionally, the topic will incorporate some of the challenges America faced when expanding a relatively small military force when war was declared. The topic looks at the development of the American soldier. For example, during World War One, from a large base of newly recruited individuals to a professionally organized group of Doughboys. The project and topic are historically significant because it illustrates how the United States could respond to an unstable and violent world in the West and Europe, especially in considering the magnitude of both wars. It helps in the understanding of how and why the American military developed the way it did and how its successes in the Spanish American War and the Great War ultimately plunged the United States center stage in affairs as a world power. My hypothesis for the project is that the United States was not altogether a ready nation to take on the effects of such great conflicts, especially with the influence of isolationist activists on the home front. Nevertheless, military leadership, mobilization efforts, proper training, and experience in the Punitive Expedition provided the momentum for the United States in tackling the hurdles of early 20th century wars.
Many of the primary sources that are referenced throughout the website are historical newspaper articles that articulate the issues and facts of the Spanish American War, the Punitive Expedition, and World War One. An article in the New Georgia Encyclopedia is one of my secondary sources that I will be referencing. The article specifically details the Spanish American War as it pertains to the state of Georgia and its influence in the conflict. The author, Todd Womack, provides great insight into the conflict and provides information on how it started. He also includes viewpoints from Georgia and the consequences of the state joining the war effort. His article powerfully illustrates how Georgia was an example of a state in the union that provided manpower and resources to aid the American cause. He also argues that Georgia was the most instrumental state for military training during the conflict because of the number of camps in the state, “Georgia had perhaps the most training camps of any state, more than twenty-five in all, during the Spanish-American War. Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Griffin, and Macon each had one or more camps.” (Womack) It is also noted that these camps were also potential points of embarkation to the action in Cuba. Another resource I am going to use is a three-stage slideshow preview of United States training for World War One. This resource has no mention of an author, but is from the Digital Public Library of America and has some useful images detailing locations of training camps and bases. The resource has specific information on educational institutions opening military training units, camp training, and cavalry training.
My research does appear to agree with my initial interpretations on this subject. It is quite evident that the United States had a lot of work to do to mobilize and prepare for the stress of both the Spanish American War, the Punitive Expedition, and World War One. For example, my research and sources has indicated that the United States needed to build up the infrastructure during World War One to support the massive mobilization and war effort. This supports my hypothesis that military leadership, action, and mobilization were cornerstone effects that helped propel the American military into the Great War. Another example is that African Americans also played a major role in the mobilization of the American military during the Great War. Black officer schools were created to commission blacks into the military. This shows how the war effort involved all spheres of society and supports the notion and argument that this was a collective effort in expanding the United States military and its applicable objectives. On a grand scale, the evidence obtained does not point to the United States being perfectly prepared for these conflict, especially when considering the magnitude of military engagements. There were great challenges the United States had to bear in each circumstance whether logistically with the military or socially with garnering support from the American public. Mobilization and military leadership were crucial in the United States being successful in the military operations. Careful observation was also used by the United States. For example, the United States understood that the Punitive Expedition was a serious matter even though they were chasing a 'bandit' throughout the Mexican landscape. They understood that their military involvement and movements should be viewed at least somewhat favorably or the Mexican population would have been a unit of resistance. Another example is the awareness of the United States not to make the same mistake as Great Britain during the Great War as far as drafting is concerned. The British did not predict the challenges behind distributing high priority individuals into the military when their skills and importance is better suited in their current standing. The United States understood this and carefully exercised a selective draft as to not hurt their investments and growth. Overall, it can be historically observed that the United States faced issues during the period but were able to effectively respond to them and achieve the missions. The Spanish American War served as a baseline for the American military to work off of as the country would become a world power and transition into modern warfare. Even if the competition during the conflict was not as difficult as what would lay ahead during the Great War, the conflict served as experience for the United States. Still too, the Punitive Expedition provided another means of exercising military operation just before World War One. And although the United States was unsuccessful in capturing Pancho Villa it could be inferred that the true benefit rest in the general satisfaction of the military operations in Mexico. The broad experiences and applications of the Punitive Expedition helped the United States during the Great War similar to that kick-start effect of the Spanish American War. Had the Spanish American War, Punitive Expedition, and collective training thereof not be so profound, the United States would likely have been worse off for the actions in Europe. The United States trained its troops well and prioritizes the creation of a powerful Army and Navy. They were able to mobilize forces from diverse populations and succeed in battle. The continuation of training from the Spanish American War up until World War One was paramount to military prowess. Did the United States take perfect action? By no means, but the United States grew and expanded onto the world stage and the military followed suit, proving itself in combat during conflict and war, conducting regimented training of its troops, and helping to strengthen and stabilize a nation that would quickly fill into its large potential.
Many of the primary sources that are referenced throughout the website are historical newspaper articles that articulate the issues and facts of the Spanish American War, the Punitive Expedition, and World War One. An article in the New Georgia Encyclopedia is one of my secondary sources that I will be referencing. The article specifically details the Spanish American War as it pertains to the state of Georgia and its influence in the conflict. The author, Todd Womack, provides great insight into the conflict and provides information on how it started. He also includes viewpoints from Georgia and the consequences of the state joining the war effort. His article powerfully illustrates how Georgia was an example of a state in the union that provided manpower and resources to aid the American cause. He also argues that Georgia was the most instrumental state for military training during the conflict because of the number of camps in the state, “Georgia had perhaps the most training camps of any state, more than twenty-five in all, during the Spanish-American War. Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Griffin, and Macon each had one or more camps.” (Womack) It is also noted that these camps were also potential points of embarkation to the action in Cuba. Another resource I am going to use is a three-stage slideshow preview of United States training for World War One. This resource has no mention of an author, but is from the Digital Public Library of America and has some useful images detailing locations of training camps and bases. The resource has specific information on educational institutions opening military training units, camp training, and cavalry training.
My research does appear to agree with my initial interpretations on this subject. It is quite evident that the United States had a lot of work to do to mobilize and prepare for the stress of both the Spanish American War, the Punitive Expedition, and World War One. For example, my research and sources has indicated that the United States needed to build up the infrastructure during World War One to support the massive mobilization and war effort. This supports my hypothesis that military leadership, action, and mobilization were cornerstone effects that helped propel the American military into the Great War. Another example is that African Americans also played a major role in the mobilization of the American military during the Great War. Black officer schools were created to commission blacks into the military. This shows how the war effort involved all spheres of society and supports the notion and argument that this was a collective effort in expanding the United States military and its applicable objectives. On a grand scale, the evidence obtained does not point to the United States being perfectly prepared for these conflict, especially when considering the magnitude of military engagements. There were great challenges the United States had to bear in each circumstance whether logistically with the military or socially with garnering support from the American public. Mobilization and military leadership were crucial in the United States being successful in the military operations. Careful observation was also used by the United States. For example, the United States understood that the Punitive Expedition was a serious matter even though they were chasing a 'bandit' throughout the Mexican landscape. They understood that their military involvement and movements should be viewed at least somewhat favorably or the Mexican population would have been a unit of resistance. Another example is the awareness of the United States not to make the same mistake as Great Britain during the Great War as far as drafting is concerned. The British did not predict the challenges behind distributing high priority individuals into the military when their skills and importance is better suited in their current standing. The United States understood this and carefully exercised a selective draft as to not hurt their investments and growth. Overall, it can be historically observed that the United States faced issues during the period but were able to effectively respond to them and achieve the missions. The Spanish American War served as a baseline for the American military to work off of as the country would become a world power and transition into modern warfare. Even if the competition during the conflict was not as difficult as what would lay ahead during the Great War, the conflict served as experience for the United States. Still too, the Punitive Expedition provided another means of exercising military operation just before World War One. And although the United States was unsuccessful in capturing Pancho Villa it could be inferred that the true benefit rest in the general satisfaction of the military operations in Mexico. The broad experiences and applications of the Punitive Expedition helped the United States during the Great War similar to that kick-start effect of the Spanish American War. Had the Spanish American War, Punitive Expedition, and collective training thereof not be so profound, the United States would likely have been worse off for the actions in Europe. The United States trained its troops well and prioritizes the creation of a powerful Army and Navy. They were able to mobilize forces from diverse populations and succeed in battle. The continuation of training from the Spanish American War up until World War One was paramount to military prowess. Did the United States take perfect action? By no means, but the United States grew and expanded onto the world stage and the military followed suit, proving itself in combat during conflict and war, conducting regimented training of its troops, and helping to strengthen and stabilize a nation that would quickly fill into its large potential.