First published 1974
Stephen Ambrose traces how America's armed forces expanded dramatically following World War II. The historian examines the political, economic, and social pressures that drove this military buildup. He analyzes how civilian leaders, defense contractors, and military officials worked together to create a permanent war machine. Ambrose shows how this growth affected American institutions, from universities conducting weapons research to communities dependent on defense spending. The book reveals how wartime mobilization became a peacetime fixture. Ambrose connects military spending to broader changes in American life, including the rise of the national security state and shifts in federal priorities. The work demonstrates how defense needs influenced everything from scientific research to foreign policy decisions. Readers gain insight into the complex relationship between military power and democratic society in postwar America.
Genres: 20th-century, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, military-history, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism, social-change
Setting: America
Period: World War II, Postwar
320 pages · Paperback · The Free Press/Macmillan Publishing Company, Inc.