DAWNING OF THE AGE OF MAHAN1890-1898

Sea Power & Maritime AffairsLesson 7

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Anything you want to include– Quizzes– Assignments– Etc

Last Class

Post American Civil War Revolution in Navy technology

Today

Dawning of Age of Mahan Formalization of education Formalization of Strategy

8 Key Themes

1. Navy as an instrument of foreign policy2. Interaction between Congress and Navy3. Interservice relations4. Technology5. Leadership6. Strategy & Tactics7. Evolution of US Naval Doctrine8. Future missions of Navy and USMC

Formalizing and Educating

Naval Institute Press

1873 Professional articles on the current and

future topics in naval warfare.

Office of Naval Intelligence

1882 Mission was to study foreign navies

and remain up-to-date on foreign naval strength, strategy and tactics.

Education

Navy War College (1884)– Stephen B. Luce– Study sea power– Alfred Thayer Mahan– Strategy & tactics• War Plans

EducationThe Influence of Sea Power Upon History 1890 Studies naval history 1660-1783 Draws several conclusions about sea power:

1. Command of the sea determines national prosperity, and big navies determine command of the sea.

2. Concentrated fleets and concentrated battles win wars.

3. Controlling lines of communication is paramount

Book is an instant success– Required reading

Breathes life into US Navy Sparks US naval renaissance.

How do these influence US navy?

Renaissance of US Navy– Ship building, force size, force structure

Formal education in strategy and tactics

Intellectual approach to sea power– Pre-planed strategy– “Plan Black”– “Plan Orange”

ABCD Ships 1883 Reason: Diplomatic impotence USS Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dolphin First “All-Steel” ships Boon for steel industry

Congress begins authorizing consistent ship construction.

Why do we care?

How did tactics change?

Tactics more complex but not institutionalized– Battle of Lissa– Spanish-American War– Russo-Japanese War

Overall– Less formality (no line)– Distant engagements– Battle Group tactics

• Ships• Attacks• Munitions

History

Wars, conflicts, and interventionsDiplomacy

Major Events?

International Conflicts– Russo-Japanese War (1905)

US Conflicts– Small international conflicts• Pacific & Caribbean

– Spanish-American War (1898)

American foreign Policy? “Open Door Policy” (1899) Roosevelt Corollary (1904)– Venezuela, Dominican Republic & Cuba– “Speak softly and carry a big stick”

Overall foreign policy Spirit of Imperialism Awareness of Navy’s role– Economy– National Strength– Foreign Policy

Colonialism Pre-1900

Virginius Affair Cuban Civil War Virginius was American ship hired by

insurrectionists to supply revolution– American & British crew– Spanish capture it– (53) executed for piracy

Enormous international tension– US poised to declare war– Settlement: Reparations for affected families

Sparks Naval Renaissance: we realize there is no weight to our threats

1873-1875

Samoan Crisis Samoan Civil War– Germany interfering (colonial ambition)

US and Great Britain opposed Germany– Tense standoff – (3) American v. (3) German warships

Before hostilities, a cyclone wrecked all (6) ships.

Standoff ends Agreed to partition– American Samoa– German Samoa

1887-1889

True Blue Saloon Incident

Chilean Revolution USS Baltimore sent to protect American interests 2 killed, 18 wounded at bar in

Valparaiso US demands restitution Chile pays, but US realizes its Navy is

weaker than Chile’s Navy.

1891

What do these incidents teach US?

Reinforce “Social Darwinism” Navy is key to– International diplomacy– National prosperity

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