Causes
What caused the Revolutionary War?
Boston Tea Party and the Intollerable Acts
Describe the German Blitzkrieg tactic.
Offensive warfare designed to strike a swift, focused blow at an enemy using mobile, maneuverable forces, including armored tanks and air support.
What occurred at the Battle of Trenton/Princeton?
Trenton: Washington crossed the Deleware on Christmas night to attack German mercenaries by surprise
Princeton: Suprise attack on rear British forces using a feint attack (left campfires burning)
What did Sherman do in the Civil War?
- Takes Atlanta and conducts a scorched earth campaign to the ocean.
What were the results of the War of 1812?
- realization of too much reliance on militia and bad logistic planning
- Treaty resolved nothing, but did confirm US Sovereignty
Why did the US enter World War 1?
Sinking of the Lusitania (German U-boats)
Zimmerman Telegram (Germany to Mexico)
Describe a double envelopment.
A maneuver in which forces simultaneously attack both flanks (sides) of an enemy formation
What happened to the US Forces when China entered the Korean War?
China pushed the US out of North Korea causing massive amounts of US casualties on both East and West Army forces.
(Some units had up to 95% casualties, Task Force McLean)
What was the difference between Scott and Taylor during the Mexican-American War?
Scott was a great planner and manager of resources.
Taylor was an excellent battle commander but lacked logistical and disciplinarian skills.
What were the results of the Mexican-American War?
- US pays 15 Mil to Mexico
- Rio Grande is the new Texas border
- The US gets land from New Mexico to Northern California
Why did the US decide to invade Panama in 1989?
- Protecting access to the Panama Canal
- Combating the drug war that Noriega participated in
What are the benefits of guerrilla warfare?
Allowed smaller, less experienced, and poorly supplied troops to defeat or severely damage large, experienced, and well-supplied enemy troops.
Describe the Tet Offensive in 1967-68.
- A surprise attack on Tet lunar new year with 80,000 troops on 23 airbases and 36 of 44 provincial capitals (Saigon and US embassy)
- Goal to start an uprising in South Vietnam
Why was MacAurthor fired during the Korean War and what was his shining moment?
Fired for not obeying direct commands and threatening deployment of nukes.
The shining moment was the Inchon Landing. The amphibious assault that caused the breakdown of North Korean forces in South Korea.
What were the results of the Civil War?
- Union restored
- Emancipation of slaves
- The Army stayed in the South to help rebuild and ensure the South states complied with new amendments
Describe "mission creep" and why that caused part of the conflict in Somalia.
Mission Creep: the gradual or incremental expansion of an intervention, project, or mission, beyond its original scope, focus, or goals.
We started as a humanitarian force that evolved into an undeclared conflict with Somali Warlords, and then the Mogadishu firefight (Blackhawk Down)
What factors lead to Army success in the Indian Wars (1865-1890)?
- Year-round campaigns
- Converging campaigns
- Superior supply, firepower, and tech
- Indian allies
What battle led to the Treaty of Versie and what happened there?
The Meuse-Argonne. Germans had spent 4 years preparing defenses here. Rapid repositioning of Allied troops caused supply chain issues (ammo before food). Allies were still able to push Germans almost out of France.
Who was LT Calley and what event is he most known for?
- Poor quality leader, college dropout, drifted between civilian jobs.
- Led his platoon in the My Lai Massacre, killing 100-200 men, women, and children.
What were the results of the Spanish-American War?
- The US now has colonies in the Philipines, Guam, and Puerto Rico
- Spain gave independence to Cuba
What were some causes of the My Lai Massacre?
- Poor quality in platoon leadership.
- Desire for revenge for deaths of US NCOs
- hatred towards locals
- Confusing orders
What tactics did President Kenedy want the Army to start using in Vietnam, and what units did the Army create to do this?
Performed counterinsurgency ops by forming the Special Forces 'Green Berets'.
What did El Salvador and Grenada have in common?
They both had Marxist Governments trying to take over and the US sent in the Military to subdue those threats.
Who was Gen Schwarzkopf?
Commander during Dessert Storm. Developed a plan to conduct an air campaign followed by a large-scale ground force turning movement.
What were the results of World War 1?
- 4 empires fall
- European powers deminished
- Soviet Union is organized
- US becomes a world power
- Shaped modern Balkans and Middle East