The forging of the American Navy from the Revolution to the War of 1812 [video 51min]

Author George Daughan discusses his book If by Sea, in which he contends that the creation of the American Navy met resistance by several of the Founding Fathers, who found it overly expensive and possessing the potential to attract American involvement in other countries' wars. He posits that these arguments ended when the Navy proved invaluable in the War of 1812. Daughn was the director of the MA program in international affairs at the Air Force Academy and has taught at the University of New Hampshire, the University of Colorado, Wesleyan University, and Connecticut College. This event was hosted by the National Archives in Washington, DC.