Deck 7: Toward a Professional Military

Question 1

What was the hallmark of Napoleon's method of warfare?

A) the decisive battle that resulted in the destruction or crippling of the opposing army
B) besieging an enemy in order to capture their army intact
C) the use of small forces to infiltrate an enemy's territory and undermine their government
D) a disinterest in maneuver in favor of a slow, ponderous advance

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Who wrote the Précis de l'art de la guerre?

A) Antoine Henri Jomini
B) Napoleon Bonaparte
C) Karl von Clausewitz
D) Henry Lloyd

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following was NOT among Jomini's four primary rules for battle?

A) when concentrating mass upon decisive points, do so randomly over an extended period of time
B) maneuver one's forces to bear upon the enemy's most important points
C) disrupt his communications without placing one's own forces in a vulnerable position
D) concentrate one's forces on only part of the enemy's force

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of these elements of Jomini's theory was not found in Napoleon's?

A) gaining territory, not annihilating the enemy, would achieve the political objectives of war
B) well planned defenses were more important than coordinated attacks
C) a working knowledge of the geography of the theater of operations was less important than maintaining the initiative
D) complete annihilation was needed to break the enemy's will

Question 5

For Clausewitz, what factors determined the course of war?

A) uncontrollable influences
B) able planning by the general staff
C) the initiative of the army commander
D) the geography of the theater of operations

Question 6

Which of the following best represents the Clausewitzian trinity?

A) violence, chance, reason
B) will, chance, emotion
C) order, violence, reason
D) reason, will, emotion

Question 7

All of the following were major proponents of military education at West Point, EXCEPT

A) Andrew Jackson.
B) Sylvanus Thayer.
C) Denis Hart Mahan.
D) Henry W. Halleck.

Question 8

In 1835, why did Texans rebel against Mexico?

A) Mexico outlawed slavery.
B) Texans wanted the same rights as those granted in California.
C) Anglos were barred from political office.
D) Texans were forced to serve in the Spanish military.

Question 9

Which General first saw armed combat with Mexico?

A) George Meade
B) John Fremont
C) Winfield Scott
D) Zachary Taylor

Question 10

How did Congress react to President Polk's vision of a quick war with Mexico?

A) Congress agreed and provided abundant financial assistance and increased the size of the Army.
B) Due to political dissent, Congress refused to back the president's plan.
C) Congress believed that a quick war was impossible but provided sufficient funding for the endeavour.
D) Congress respected his bravado but did not share his support in the American military.

Question 11

The initial strategy for war with Mexico was based on all the following, EXCEPT

A) a seaborne invasion with the goal of a rapid march on Mexico City.
B) A drive led by general Zachary Taylor on Mexico City.
C) an advance by general John Wool from San Antonio to Saltillo.
D) a drive from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas that would eventually take San Diego.

Question 12

Both of these commanders sought political advancement while serving in the Mexican War.

A) Winfield Scott and Zachary Taylor
B) Thomas Jackson and George Meade
C) Ulysses S. Grant and George McClellan
D) Robert E. Lee and Winfield Scott

Question 13

Why did President Polk want to capture Mexico City?

A) in order to bolster sagging support for the war
B) because of its natural resources
C) to break Mexico's naval control
D) to create a chain reaction and then take the more important location of Veracruz

Question 14

The invasion of which of these turned the tide of war in the favor of the U.S.?

A) Veracruz
B) Churubusco
C) Mexico City
D) Monterey

Question 15

How did the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo benefit Mexico?

A) It compensated Mexico with $15 million for the loss of their lands.
B) Both sides agreed to the Nueces River as the southern boundary of Texas.
C) Mexico did not have to forfeit any land north of modern day Arizona.
D) It gave the United States modern-day New Mexico, Arizona, California and parts of Wyoming and Colorado.

Question 16

What lessons did Baron Antoine Henri Jomini draw from the Napoleonic Wars? How did he apply these lessons to U.S. military strategy?

Question 17

How did Jomini depart from Napoleon's thought? On what did he base his arguments?

Question 18

List and explain the three elements of the Clausewitzian trinity. How do they interrelate?

Question 19

How did Sylvanus Thayer work to expand professional military education at West Point? What were some of the obstacles he faced?

Question 20

Describe the ideas contained in Henry W. Halleck's Elements of Military Art and Science. How useful were these concepts to the United States strategic situation in the 1840s?

Question 21

Beyond the major works of some of the seminal American military authors and theorists, how else did the spirit of military professionalism grow? Why were these changes significant?

Question 22

Why did the Navy lag behind the Army in professional development in the first half of the nineteenth century? Describe some of the advances made and obstacles to further progress.

Question 23

How did politics continue to influence the filling of officer positions during the Mexican War?

Question 24

How did Winfield Scott's landing at Vera Cruz alter the course of the Mexican War? Why was it considered such a radical maneuver?

Question 25

Describe the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo. How did the American victory underscore an enhanced level of military professionalism?