Living from 1936 to 2002, Ambrose published many great historical works. Perhaps his greatest work was finished months before he passed away, as he finished writing one of his last books, To America: Personal Reflections of an Historian. This book was his final goodbye to the country he so dearly loved. The topics he covers in this book range from the beginning of the Founding Fathers to World War Two to the turn of the millennium. Throughout his life, he was always fascinated with militaries and war. This book reflects his perspective on matters regarding the history of America and one message he portrays was his fascination with war, the military, and the men who lead or served in battle, such as Dwight Eisenhower. This also exposes Ambrose’s great patriotism for his country. He portrays his messages by using many descriptive adjectives and an upbeat style of speech as well writing about achievements he has done throughout his life, for instance launching a museum in commemoration for World War Two veterans. Ambrose was also very influenced by historical and biographical factors such as his Father, the period in which he grew up in, and of American figures. Stephen Ambrose speaks much on wars that America was directly or indirectly involved in. In one chapter, The Legacy of World War Two, he saw war, for the US and the Allies, in World War Two, as “not to conquer, not to enslave, not to destroy, but to liberate” (Ambrose 120) He goes on to say that “the Marshall Plan was the most generous act in human history.” (Ambrose 121) The Marshall Plan created NATO, the Berlin Air Lift and Ambrose swimming in patriotism claimed it was “the American spirit, more than American productive power, that made it so.” (Ambrose 121) He continues h... ... middle of paper ... ...rian who showed at no end that he would stop doing what he loved, writing about America and enriching the minds of his readers and students. Ambrose has shown his great admiration for his country, reflecting upon his views for America and writing what he has done to help benefit this country, such as his D-day Museum. He visibly shows his patriotism and his fascination for military history as he recounts stories of World War 2 and the War of 1812 and speaks highly of countries achievements of helping rebuild Europe after the war and gaining independence for colonies held by Japan during the war. He uses imagery, contrasting ideas, and quotes from other historians or Americans to back up his messages he tries to convey to his readers. His background also influenced him very heavily in his writing as well and was what encouraged him to keep on writing to the very end.
Edward, Rebecca and Henretta, James and Self, Robert. America A Concise History. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin’s, 2012.
Tindall, George, and David Shi. America: A Narrative History. Ed. 9, Vol. 1. New York: WW. Norton & Company, 2013. 185,193. Print.
... characteristics for other countries that Americans could be identified by. His books added legend and culture to America.
Adams, Michael C. C. The "Best War Ever: America and World War II" Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD 1994. Bailey, Ronald H. The Home Front, U.S.A. Time-Life Publishing, Chicago, IL. 1978 Bard, Mitchell G.
Chafe, William H. The Unfinished Journey: America Since World War II. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
As an American observes the life around him, noting the many advancements made in merely the last century, he must wonder how America climbed to such a level. The 21st century technology, the military and political power, education and ethics, all came from such meager beginnings, solidified by the Revolutionary War. The Revolutionary War proved to be a significant turning point in the history of our country, but what caused America to win? What were some of the most significant factors in the victory of these American patriots? By examining these three particular factors, America’s military assets, it’s aid from other countries, and its own spirit of independence, one’s understanding of the Revolutionary War, an essential root of this nation, is truly increased.
Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce was born on June 24, 1842, in Horse Cave Creek, Ohio. His mother was Laura Sherwood and his father was Marcus Aurelius Bierce. Bierce came from a big family; he was number ten out of fourteen children. He was never really close to his parents and always wanted to do things for himself. At the age of four his family moved to Indiana, where he spent most of his teen years. At the age of fifteen he left home to work for an abolitionist’s newspaper company where he was a ‘printer’s devil’. Soon after, he moved to Akron, Ohio with his uncle Lucius Versus Bierce. Young Ambrose deeply admired his uncle not only because he was a lawyer and former Mayor of Akron, but also because he had bravely served in the military. He was inspired by his uncle to attend the Kentucky Military Institute and further his education. After one year, he dropped out and enlisted in the military. “When the Civil war erupted, he enlisted at the age of eighteen as a volunteer in the Ninth Indiana Infantry Regiment” (Grenader). A brave solider, he quickly escalated from Cadet to First Lieutenant. Two years later he was given the position of Major. He fought in numerous battles, including Sherman’s march to the sea, the battle of Shiloh and Chickamauga. After being injured in one of the battles, he was left permanently damaged and was forced to retire. Being able to experience war at first hand would later help him write some of his best known works. After his departure from the military he
The war of 1898 and 1917 were pivotal events in American foreign relations. Both wars shaped the way America is seen from a global lens and also offers insight into the foundation for how we respond to future crisis. Though these wars were drastically different in reasons and outcome, they share close similarities and obvious differences that help us to better understand the decision making process in America’s war efforts abroad.
Tindall, George B., and David E. Shi. America: A Narrative History. 7th ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company Inc., 2007.
Schweikart, Larry, and Michael Allen. A Patriot's History of the United States: from Columbus's Great Discovery to the War on Terror. New York, NY: Sentinel, 2007. Print.
Author, Douglas Brinkley, is a distinguished professor of history and director of the Eisenhower Center at the University of New Orleans. He is the author of multiple award-winning books on FDR, Jimmy Carter, and The American Heritage History of the United States. These accomplishments were acknowledged in his biography in the back of this book. Since 2000, Brinkley is now a professor of History at Rice University in Houston, Texas where he is happily living with his wife and three children. Brinkley is also the CNN presidential historian and is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and Audubon. He recently won the Sperber Prize for Best Book in Journalism and was a Washington Post Notable
The next four years were spent traveling the states fighting in some of the most well known battles of the Civil War . Ambrose Bierce’s experience during the Civil War where he faced the dangers of nature and man influenced his writing.
World War II was the largest and most violent armed disagreement in the history of the world. However, the 50 year that now separates us from that war has exacted its toll on our unified knowledge. While World War II continues to consume the interest of military scholars and historians, as well as its veterans, a generation of Americans has grown to maturity largely unaware of the political, social, and military implications of a war that, more than any other, united us as a people with a common intention.
This book is written from a perspective foreign to most Americans. Historically, American students are taught from a single perspective, that being the American perspective. This approach to history (the single perspective) dehumanizes the enemy and glorifies the Americans. We tend to forget that those on the opposing side are also human.
November 1888 - Miss Goldquist is my sixth grade teacher this year and she keeps talking about how well an education will serve you. Maybe so; all I know, is that I sure do like to read and that is something that Miss Goldquist likes as well. In fact she said, “You don’t know what good friends books can be till you try them, till you try many of them.” and for sure I have been reading a lot and I think she may be right (C. Sandburg, Prairie 51). So far, I like Charles Carleton Coffin’s The Boys of ’76 the best. I feel like I’m right there in the middle of the war and the pictures are swell (C. Sandburg, Prairie 52). Mart and I take turns being Paul Revere or George Washington. Emil is too young to play soldiers with us, but mama says we have to include him, anyway. Playing around outside, sometimes I’ll walk over to the campus of Knox College. I like looking at the plaque there that quotes Lincoln and Stephen Douglas as they d...