Includes bibliographical references (pages 657-669) and index.

A dangerous New World, 1607-1689 -- The colonial wars, 1689-1763 -- The American Revolution, 1763-1783 -- Preserving the new republic's independence, 1783-1815 -- The armed forces and national expansion, 1815-1860 -- The Civil War, 1861-1862 -- The Civil War, 1863-1865 -- From postwar demobilization toward great power status, 1865-1898 -- The birth of an American empire, 1898-1902 -- Building the military forces of a world power, 1899-1917 -- The United States fights in "the war to end all wars", 1917-1918 -- Military policy between the two world wars, 1919-1939 -- The United States and World War II : from the edge of defeat to the edge of victory, 1939-1943 -- The United States and World War II : the road to victory, 1943-1945 -- Cold War and hot war : the United States enters the age of nuclear deterrence and collective security, 1945-1953 -- Waging Cold War : American defense policy for extended deterrence and containment, 1953-1965 -- In dubious battle : the war for Vietnam and the erosion of American military power, 1961-1975 -- The common defense and the end of the Cold War, 1976-1993 -- Epilogue: After the Cold War.