In Peace and War: Interpretations of American Naval History, 1775-1984, 2nd Edition (Contributions in Military History, No. 41)

This new edition of a scholarly classic covers the entire span of the American naval experience from the Revolution to the present. It emphasizes naval politics, policies, and technology over battles. Attention is paid to the use of the navy as a diplomatic instrument in peace- and war-time. When dealing with war the authors sketch in the political background and explain the grand strategy before dealing with individual battles and leaders. Each essay about the navy in war concludes with an assessment of the importance of naval operations to the outcome of the war and the significance of the war to America's role in world affairs. The book also traces changes in administrative premises and style, the evolution of technology, and the strategic revolutions characteristic of American naval history. This second edition brings the history of the United States Navy to the present restoration of American naval preeminence under President Ronald Reagan and Secretary of the Navy John F. Lehman, Jr.