Gunboats and Empires

The Roots of Naval Policy in Early U.S. History

Boris Karpa

• Publisher: Casemate
• Year: 2026
• eBook ISBN:
  9781636246420
• Topic: Historia
• Subtopic: Historia militar y marítima

The information and analysis admirably cover a key period between Revolution and War of 1812… Enjoyed it." – Historical Miniatures Gaming Society

Gunboats and Empires reveals how Thomas Jefferson’s naval strategy—favoring small, fast gunboats over a traditional ocean-going fleet—was influenced by Enlightenment ideals and a selective interpretation of European military history. In the years before the War of 1812, Jefferson and his allies looked to the Russo-Turkish War, and especially the 1788 battle of the Liman, as validation of his belief in smallcraft tactics, despite the battle’s contested interpretations and its limited relevance to the American context.

Drawing on letters, newspapers, and official records, the book reveals how Jefferson’s strategic vision was shaped not only by military reality but his own political and ideological convictions. This is a story of how leaders use history to confirm their beliefs, a compelling case study of the ways preconceptions and political agendas can influence strategic decision-making—offering lessons that resonate well beyond the early republic.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 - Inheritance and Anxiety: The British Origins of American Anti-Militarism
• Chapter 2 - Victory and Vision: The Battle of the Liman and Jefferson’s Naval Policy
• Chapter 3 - Prudence and Power: Jefferson’s First Term and the Navy
• Chapter 4 - Doctrine and Dispute: Jefferson’s Naval Vision in the Second Term
• Chapter 5 - Inheritance and Implementation: Madison’s First Term and the Navy
• Conclusion
• Acknowledgments
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Index