Question

a splendid little war? (front) alfred t. mahan, the influence of sea power upon history: 1660 - 1783 alfred t. mahan was a united states naval officer and historian. in the influence of sea power upon history: 1660 - 1783, mahan described factors needed to support sea power and the role sea power had played in wars during the 17th and 18th centuries. the book was published in 1890 while mahan was president of the u.s. naval war college, and the naval strategies it describes were adopted by many different countries. ...having therefore no foreign establishments, either colonial or military, the ships of war of the united states, in war, will be like land birds, unable to fly far from their own shores. to provide resting - places for them, where they can coal and repair, would be one of the first duties of a government proposing to itself the development of the power of the nation at sea.... it may safely be said that it is essential to the welfare of the whole country that the conditions of trade and commerce should remain, as far as possible, unaffected by an external war. in order to do this, the enemy must be kept not only out of our ports, but far away from our coasts. reading questions 1. the author claims that american warships will be like ______ in times of war. 2. during a war, would it be good or bad for a country’s ships to only be able to sail close to land? 3. the author says one of the first duties of the government is to provide places for ships to ______. 4. one outcome of the spanish - american war was that the united states gained possession of guam and the philippines, which could be used to support american ships. based on this outcome, do you think this author would have supported the united states going to war? why or why not?

Explanation:

1. The text explicitly states "the ships of war of the United States, in war, will be like land - birds".
2. It is bad as it limits a country's naval reach and ability to protect trade and commerce far from its shores, as the author emphasizes the importance of keeping enemies far from ports and coasts.
3. The author mentions "To provide resting - places for them, where they can coal and repair, would be one of the first duties of a government".
4. The author would likely support the war as the acquisition of Guam and the Philippines provides the resting - places and support for American ships that he deems essential for sea power.

Answer:

1. land birds
2. bad
3. coal and repair
4. Yes, because it provides places to support American ships which are essential for sea - power according to the author.