Apr 17, 2012 the first and most obvious light in which the sea presents itself from the political and social point of view is that of a great highway. Kaiser wilhelm is said to have devoured this book, and it was avidly read by presidents including both roosevelts, kings, prime ministers, admirals, and chancellors. Alfred thayer mahan september 27, 1840 december 1, 1914 was a united states navy flag officer, geostrategist, and educator. In 1890, captain alfred thayer mahan, a lecturer in naval history and the president of the united states naval war college, published the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, a revolutionary analysis of the importance of naval power as a factor in the rise of the british empire. Roosevelt and his persuasive image as a leader push us into the modern age of. Two years later, he completed a supplementary volume, the influence of sea power upon the french revolution and empire, 17931812. Alfred thayer mahan, the influence of sea power upon history alfred thayer mahan was a naval admiral who was a very effective advocate of imperialism. Identify the contributions of frederick jackson turner and alfred thayer mahan to the conscious creation of an american empire.
A naval officer and strategist whose 1890 book, the influence of sea. Navy captain alfred thayer mahan wrote an important book, the influence of sea power upon history 1890, in which he argued that a strong navy was crucial to a countrys ambitions of securing foreign markets and becoming a world power. Several ships were named uss mahan, including the lead vessel of a class of destroyers. Mahan subsequently published twentyodd additional volumes that extended and elaborated the views presented in this book. His concept of sea power had an enormous influence in shaping the strategic thought of naval officials across the world, especially in the united states, germany, japan and britain.
Mahan, corbett, and the foundations of naval strategic. The true end is what alfred thayer mahan called the derangement of an adversarys trade and, thereby, economy. In 1890, a book was published that would forever change the way naval strategy was orchestrated. Mahan book the influence of sea power upon history helped push the. But mahan never stated this corollary in any of his massive tomes. The political thought of admiral alfred thayer mahan was a response to two. Alfred thayer mahan is a towering figure in seapower theory. I forget what its called but it argued great nations could only achieve hegemony through a large, powerful, modern navy. Mahan argued in his book that the control of colonies to provide raw materials and markets was the key to world history. In 1890, captain alfred thayer mahan, a lecturer in naval history and the. In the book, the influence of sea power upon history, mahan claimed that countries with sea power were the great nations of history.
Alfred thayer mahan believed that sea power is essential if a nation wants to be rich in peacetime and unbeatable in wartime. Herwig, professor emeritus and the author of luxury fleet, university of calgary. In this book he argued for the paramount importance of sea power in national. The ideas of us naval officer alfred thayer mahan and british geographer halford mackinder are just as discernible in chinese strategic. The naval officer in question is alfred thayer mahan 18401914 who, in 1890, published the results of his extensive study of history, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. He wrote a great book about the use of sea power for militaryeconomic domination. The book, which came at a time of great technological improvement in warships, won immediate recognition abroad. By the 1880s, many american leaders believed the us should join european imperial. Alfred thayer mahan project gutenberg selfpublishing. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most. This littleknown book by the president of the naval war college influenced the worldwide buildup of naval forces prior to world war i. Its possible future and its present crisis, summoned americans to spread their religion and values. Mar 27, 2021 mahan derails americas antiimperial identity. Also known as big stick diplomacy, this official american policy stated that.
Navy captain alfred thayer mahan wrote an important book. Military academy at west point and a professor of civil and military engineering. Alfred thayer mahan 1840 1914 american naval officer and historian who was a highly influential exponent of sea power in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 classic. Oct 06, 2020 in a remarkable moment early in his remarks, esper made reference to the 19th century naval thinker and u. Alfred thayer mahan was a naval admiral who was a very effective advocate of imperialism. Jul 12, 2012 alfred thayer mahan was born on september 27, 1840 at west point, new york, where his father was a professor of civil and military engineering at the u. Mahan argued that british control of the seas, combined with a correspo.
Captain alfred thayer mahan wrote the influence of sea power upon history, which argued that control of the sea was the key to world dominance. In his writings mahan argued that expansion was a military necessity for the united states. The author, alfred thayer mahan, was a united states naval officer and the son of the esteemed west point professor dennis hart mahan. Alfred thayer mahan, born september 27, 1840, west point, new york, u. How did the book the influence of power upon history affect. Alfred thayer mahan author of the book, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, argued that every successful world power once held a great navy. Dec 04, 2008 admiral alfred thayer mahan was an admiral like his father before him. Us naval strategists persuaded congress to finance steel ships and ecouraged getting overseas islands like samoa, for coaling and supply stations so the new fleet can. Published in 1890 and 1892, the book was an instant classic that proved highly influential in both american and foreign circles. In 1890, alfred thayer mahan published his magnum opus, the influence of seapower upon history. Alfred thayer mahan, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 1890. With dods fleet of 2045, the us militarys chief signals.
Several japanese theorists, such as akiyama saneyuki and sato tetsutaro, read mahan religiously. This book helped start a naval race among the great powers and moved the u. Indeed it can be argued that his influence continues to be exerted even today. The geopolitical vision of alfred thayer mahan the diplomat. For mahan is still a name to conjure with, both that of dennis hart, teacher of strategy to the generals, north and south, of the american civil war, and his son alfred thayer, prophet of the creed of seapower to the anglosaxon world. Kaiser wilhelm owned two copies of the book, one in english and the other in. Alfred thayer mahan the influence of sea power, persuaded us of the harms of not taking strategic land abroad.
Wrote the influence of sea power upon history, which argued that control of the sea was the key to world dominance. This is one of those unknown enormously influential books in history. In 1890 alfred thayer mahan published a book that transformed naval theoryand unleashed the worlds great fleets. Mahan argued in his book that the control of the sea was the key to world history. Mahan s scholarly effort, in preparation for a teaching assignment at the. His ideas on the importance of sea power influenced navies around the world, and helped prompt naval buildups before world war i. Mckinleys second term, roosevelt publicly argued in favor of the annexation. National interest and moral responsibility in the political thought of. It also needs strategically located bases where its fleet can refuel.
Dennis, protege of sylvanus thayer, the father of west point, taught there throughout his adult life. Mahan also believed that america should at least acquire defensive bases in the caribbean and the pacific and take. Their writings, mccranie wisely and critically reminds us today, transcend time. Many of mahan s books were translated into japanese.
Open door policy stated that all countries should be. Alfred thayer s mahan s the influence of sea power upon history was a twovolume work that argued that sea power was the key to military and economic expansion. America, mahan wrote, should build up its fleet and seize islands that could function as naval coaling stations around the world. Its policies were quickly adopted by most major navies, ultimately leading to. Scholars considered it the single most influential book in naval strategy. Germany uboat attacks that would push the americans over the edge. Democracies are good at war for many of the same reasons they are good at capitalism and at the enhancement of the human spirit.
Jun 22, 2001 alfred thayer mahan s the influence of sea power upon history, 1 6601783, which appeared in 1890, is widely regarded as the first important study of the relationship between naval affairs and international politics. Josiah strong, alfred mahan, richard olney, british guiana, great rapprochement 1. National interest and moral responsibility in the political. Captain alfred thayer mahan s book of 1890, the influence of sea power upon history.
It was largely on the basis of mahans ideas, for instance, that president theodore roosevelt took steps to acquire the panama canal for the united states. Whoever rules the waves rules the world, mahan wrote. He graduated from the naval academy in 1859 and embarked on a nearly 40year naval career seeing duty in the south atlantic and gulf of mexico against the confederacy. In 1912 mahan accepted a position at the carnegie institution in washington, d. Alfred thayer mahan stands out as one of the foremost thinkers on naval warfare and maritime strategy. Alfred thayer mahan, american naval officer and historian who was a highly.
Alfred thayer mahan s at the time of original publication mahan was a captain the influence of sea power upon history was and perhaps remains, the single most influential book ever written by an american. The books introductory chapters describe sea power and sea control in terms directly. Mahan argued that british control of the seas, combined with a corresponding. Turner, mahan, and the roots of empire us history ii os. Mahan formulated his concept of sea power while reading a history book in lima, peru.
It details the role of sea power during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and discussed the various factors needed to support and achieve sea power, with emphasis on having the largest and most powerful fleet. Indeed, he might be considered the thinker on sea power, the essential starting point for studying the course and conduct of war at sea and for understanding the strategic importance of the maritime commons in determining the rise and fall of great powers. American naval officer who wrote influential books emphasizing sea power and advocating. September 27, 1840 december 1, 1914 was a united states naval officer and historian, whom john keegan called the most important american strategist of the nineteenth century. Turner and naval strategist alfred thayer mahan were instrumental in the countrys move toward foreign expansion, and writer brooks adams further dramatized the consequences of the nations loss of its frontier in his the law of civilization and decay in 1895.
Congress to finance the construction of modern steel ships and encouraged the acquisition of overseas islands, such as samoa, that were desired as coaling and. Leave a comment in 1890, a book was published that would forever change the way naval strategy was orchestrated. It was written for the purpose of changing american attitudes towards modernizing its navy. Western expansion and the goal of manifest destiny still held the countrys attention. Why india must push back against chinas claims of being a natural. In 1890, mahan published one of the most important books of the age, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. Many,if not most,readers believed that this historical survey was the basis of related major arguments that. Unit 5 class notes imperialism and wwi american expansionism. Captain alfred thayer mahan s book of 1890, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, argued that control of the sea was the key to world dominance. Mahan s thesis that for an nation to be great it had to be a sea power was immensely influential in the growth of the german navy prior to world war 1 and the expansion of the us into overseas areas in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Turner, mahan, and the roots of empire us history ii os collection. The influence of sea power upon history 1660 to 1783. A naval officer and strategist whose 1890 book, the influence of sea power upon history.
Naval officer alfred thayer mahan encapsulated the rationale for this in. A nation needs a navy to defend its shipping lanes. What argument did captain alfred thayer mahan make in the influence of sea power upon history. Western expansion and the goal of manifest destiny still held t. With dods fleet of 2045, the us militarys chief signals he. The united states becomes a world power 18901920 american imperialism enduring understanding.
Anti imperialists include harvard and stanford and argued for freedom and self determination, it was argued that the philippines needed to. How did the book the influence of power upon history. Captain alfred thayer mahans book of 1890, the influence of sea power upon. Supported by captain alfred thayer mahans the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. The library of congress advertisement december 1, 2014, was the 100th anniversary of the death of alfred thayer mahan, the renowned naval historian, strategist, and. In this book he argued for the paramount importance of sea power in national historical supremacy. Alfred thayer mahans the influence of sea power upon history was a huge success in both america and overseas. Alfred thayer mahan encyclopedia article citizendium. President cleveland refused to annex hawaii because he believed that the white planters. In 1890 mahan published his college lectures as the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. Mahan argued control of seas key to world dominance. In turn, amnesia about the past may have claimed mahan as its victim.
Mahan argued that mighty nations have mighty navies and far. Mahan argued for a universal principle of concentration of powerful ships in home waters and minimized. This work is still considered definitive today, but as chester starr, eminent historian of antiquity, points out in this thoughtprovoking volume, mahan s theories have led to serious distortions in the way historians interpret the role. Alfred thayer mahan 18401914 represented an opposing paradigm which true american statesmen like lincoln, secretary of state james blaine, william seward, president grant, william garfield, and mckinley detested. The white mans burdenwriter rudyard kiplings book in. President cleveland refused to annex hawaii because he believed that the white planters there had unjustly deposed queen liliuokalani. Mahan s campaign began with the 1890 publication of the influence of sea power upon history. Alfred thayer mahan stands out as one of the foremost thinkers on. Alfred thayer mahan, a naval strategist and the author of the influence of sea power upon history, argued that national prosperity and power depended on control of the worlds sealanes.
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