Michael S. Sherry

War has played a fundamental role in American history, and Americans themselves have long held mixed views toward it. During the Revolutionary War, for example, Americans celebrated the independence they won but at the same time distrusted the power of the military and deplored the carnage of battle. In the nineteenth century, advances in technology encouraged a more optimistic view of war, as inventors and military strategists promised new weapons and tactics that would enable the nation to enjoy the fruits of war with minimal bloodshed. The Civil War had a profound effect on the nation's view of armed conflict. The devastating effects of the Civil War, coupled with America's geographical isolation from Europe, left Americans much more worried about domestic strife than they were about enemies abroad. World War...