The history of the United States is on of constant military conflict. Our beginning is from a military revolution, and most of our expansion is from military conflict or the result of another nations need to finance a military conflict. We rarely set out with the intention of war but our inability to see it coming or our failed attempts to try and avoid it often left us on a unavoidable course with it.
In our history i feel there are three events that speak loudest as our pivotal moments as a Nation.
1.The Battle of Saratoga - our first Major Victory and a paradox of our gratitude. In it we are forever in dept to our most infamous traitor who without we may not have found our selfs a nation.
The shooting of general Burgoyne and pivotal American attack led by Benedict Arnold gave us the international intervention that was needed achieve victory over the British empire (realistically there was no way we could have won without the preoccupation of English forces all over the world and Europe with French and Spanish forces.). It also for the most part weekend the British army in Canada taking away another avenue of approach for a thinly stretched continental army to deal with. Arnold and Morgan were not alone the reasons we won our Independence put without them it becomes far less likely. Arnold may not have been a man of great character but he was a man of great skill.
2.Little Round Top - This may or may not be the pivotal moment of the civil war, that part can be argued. but with the folding of the union left flank the battle more then likely would have been lost, with the battle goes the first time the union has a clear victory in the east, more than likely swaying a already close election in 1864. One thing that cant be questioned is the bravery and luck of then Col. Chamberlain of ordering a charge while outnumbered and out of ammunition at the perfect time to push the southern attackers beyond there limits. Without this move how different would our history books read of the war that set our nation on a more unified and clearer path for a stronger Federal government that would not again be looked at as separate states but as one unified nation.
3.Midway - In no other battle in my opinion is it more apparent that god is on our side. We had the enemy's location, perfectly placed our forces to best deal with the incoming threat and still managed to screw up our initial attack. To me to many factors lead up to the perfect Carrier attack ( the opposite of what American Carrier doctrine is at the time.) to be interpreted as anything less then divine intervention. one a failed submarine attack makes a Japanese destroyer lag behind the main task force. Two our own failed coordination brings our torpedo bombers in for one of the most heroic and wastefully attacks in history.( the courage of those men to go in knowing that more then likely they would be shot down and that there efforts would more then likely be fruitless was amazing we as a nation are forever gratefully to them for there sacrifice.) Three the perfect timing at which the American dive bombers appear with the refueling of the zeroes and refitting of the attack planes on the Japanese decks not to mention the number of hits scored in the attack. This just being the tactical examination of the battle.
Strategically midway changes the aspect of the war in the pacific. we no longer are outnumbered fighting a defensive action. the Japanese navy's offensive capabilities would never be the same and all they could do from that point on is defend what they have. with the fall of midway pearl harbor and the pacific fleet is just a few thousand miles away. without the loss of thoughts carriers they could have more than likely pressed the naval advantage leaving us without the ability to resupply or relieve a force at pearl harbor. with pearl goes the pacific supply line and we are forced to the peace table with our tail between our legs. If you think this is unlikely just look at when our new capital ships and carriers start coming on line not until 44 is the us Navy unstoppable and i point out again thats because its not facing 5 veteran Japanese carriers. world war two looks much different without US victory in the pacific and i think we ow that to the pilots and crew of those two torpedo squadrons.
please comment or point out faults in my logic i would love the exchange.
In our history i feel there are three events that speak loudest as our pivotal moments as a Nation.
1.The Battle of Saratoga - our first Major Victory and a paradox of our gratitude. In it we are forever in dept to our most infamous traitor who without we may not have found our selfs a nation.
The shooting of general Burgoyne and pivotal American attack led by Benedict Arnold gave us the international intervention that was needed achieve victory over the British empire (realistically there was no way we could have won without the preoccupation of English forces all over the world and Europe with French and Spanish forces.). It also for the most part weekend the British army in Canada taking away another avenue of approach for a thinly stretched continental army to deal with. Arnold and Morgan were not alone the reasons we won our Independence put without them it becomes far less likely. Arnold may not have been a man of great character but he was a man of great skill.
2.Little Round Top - This may or may not be the pivotal moment of the civil war, that part can be argued. but with the folding of the union left flank the battle more then likely would have been lost, with the battle goes the first time the union has a clear victory in the east, more than likely swaying a already close election in 1864. One thing that cant be questioned is the bravery and luck of then Col. Chamberlain of ordering a charge while outnumbered and out of ammunition at the perfect time to push the southern attackers beyond there limits. Without this move how different would our history books read of the war that set our nation on a more unified and clearer path for a stronger Federal government that would not again be looked at as separate states but as one unified nation.
3.Midway - In no other battle in my opinion is it more apparent that god is on our side. We had the enemy's location, perfectly placed our forces to best deal with the incoming threat and still managed to screw up our initial attack. To me to many factors lead up to the perfect Carrier attack ( the opposite of what American Carrier doctrine is at the time.) to be interpreted as anything less then divine intervention. one a failed submarine attack makes a Japanese destroyer lag behind the main task force. Two our own failed coordination brings our torpedo bombers in for one of the most heroic and wastefully attacks in history.( the courage of those men to go in knowing that more then likely they would be shot down and that there efforts would more then likely be fruitless was amazing we as a nation are forever gratefully to them for there sacrifice.) Three the perfect timing at which the American dive bombers appear with the refueling of the zeroes and refitting of the attack planes on the Japanese decks not to mention the number of hits scored in the attack. This just being the tactical examination of the battle.
Strategically midway changes the aspect of the war in the pacific. we no longer are outnumbered fighting a defensive action. the Japanese navy's offensive capabilities would never be the same and all they could do from that point on is defend what they have. with the fall of midway pearl harbor and the pacific fleet is just a few thousand miles away. without the loss of thoughts carriers they could have more than likely pressed the naval advantage leaving us without the ability to resupply or relieve a force at pearl harbor. with pearl goes the pacific supply line and we are forced to the peace table with our tail between our legs. If you think this is unlikely just look at when our new capital ships and carriers start coming on line not until 44 is the us Navy unstoppable and i point out again thats because its not facing 5 veteran Japanese carriers. world war two looks much different without US victory in the pacific and i think we ow that to the pilots and crew of those two torpedo squadrons.
please comment or point out faults in my logic i would love the exchange.
