Maass, John R. The U.S. Army, 1783-1811

Defending a new Nation

From the final days of the War of Independence in 1783 to the start of the War of 1812, the United States Army found itself in one of its most difficult periods. During this time, American soldiers faced threats from Great Britain, France and Spain. On the western frontier, enemy warriors from American Indian tribes north of the Ohio River fought against the US Army and militia troops, as the insatiable greed of white settlers for land led to conflicts with Indian communities. The army suppressed civil unrest, built roads and conducted explorations, including the transcontinental expedition led by army officers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. In the years following the Revolution, the army also underwent a process of frequent restructuring, beginning with the disbanding of the Continental Army at the end of the War of Independence, through the establishment of the Legion of the United States under Major General Anthony Wayne, to President Thomas Jefferson's efforts to reform the army into a republican institution. These structural changes intensified during James Madison's first term in office, as Americans prepared for war with Britain over maritime rights, free trade, and territorial expansion, which became known as the War of 1812. Illustrated with photographs, artwork, and maps, this book explains how the United States Army changed during the first four decades of its existence.