The Oxford Handbook of American Military History

The Oxford Handbook of American Military History examines the chronological and thematic range of American military history, from the colonial era to the present, exploring a variety of connections between war, military institutions, and American society, politics, economics, and culture, in chronological, topical, and thematic essays. The essays feature holistic analytic narratives, with a strong emphasis on connections, interpretation, and insights by leading scholars with extensive experience teaching American and military history. Many of the authors are rising experts, with new perspectives and insights; many have served in the military or taught in institutions of professional military education.

The Oxford Handbook of American Military History explains the contexts, causes, conduct, and consequences of armed conflict, and their contingency and complexity. It evaluates the significance of American conflicts to military history and the history of warfare (for example, in innovations); links, parallels, or distinctions from European military history; the influence of American society on warfare and military institutions; and the impact of warfare and armed conflict on American society. The handbook explores cultural sources, dimensions, and effects of armed conflict and military institutions; the links between state, society and war; and structures as well as contingencies-patterns and dynamics, trends and trajectories over extended periods, identifying some surprising connections. The Oxford Handbook of American Military History will encourage students and scholars to see military history more broadly, in many contexts, while remaining grounded in the study of military policy and institutions, strategy and operations, and tactics and combat.

Samuel J. Watson is Professor of History at the United States Military Academy at West Point.