Development of U.S. Military

All ten of Alger's threads of continuity are intertwined and affect each other. The external threads affect the daily workings and structure of the military complex. These external threads are defined as political factors, social factors, economic factors, and technology.

The political factors in operation at any point in time determine the goals and use of the military. Military leadership and civil leadership are not joined in the United States. Military leadership often precedes a career in civil government. The military is subservient to the civil authority. Political factors include the need for national security, international relations, the design and strength of the military complex, and the ability of the military complex to influence legislation regarding the above issues (Alger 5).

Social and economic factors are closely interwoven. Both of these factors influence the political factors. Society's belief structure and attitude have a direct impact on who hold political power in a republic. The education system, and mass media play an important role in

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tate governors. During the American Revolution, David Syrett explains in his essay,"Defeat at Sea", that the British government would not authorize enough naval power to defeat the rebellious Americans. The British down-played the American colonies naval strength even though one-fourth of British ships were American built (Syrett 43-44). Britain maintained that it needed it's naval strength in the English Channel. Britain's political objective was to maintain a two party Europe (Syrett 46). As the result of this political objective America was able to aggravate British and French relations and hasten France's entry into the war; this may have cost England control of her colonies (Syrett 49). As the United States military entered the industrial age, the political factors at work in the United States as interpreted by Allan R. Millett in his essay, "Military Professionalism and Officership in America", were changing. Differentiation of the political leadership and military management occurred. The military complex was subordinate to the political organization. There was an increasing sense of national identity and patriotism based on the idea of the nation state. Donald Smythe in his essay "St.-Mihiel: The Birth of
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Approximate Word count = 2407
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)

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