Early Army Reform and the Election of 1900

Abstract

Debate on army reform was encouraged, both by the weaknesses that appeared in the American army during the Spanish-American War and by the new colonial responsibilities created by that war. Traditional American political philosophy promoted trust in a volunteer army with local political control and rejected the idea of military preparedness. Military reform, which proposed a strong central executive and large standing army, challenged these assumptions. Neo-Hamiltonian politicians endorsed this challenge, encouraged by their belief that increasing global competition for limited resources was inevitable. Abroad, the on-going guerrilla war in the Philippines and the Boxer Rebellion in China kept army reform at the centre of political debate. At home the enduring admiration for business and its organisational achievements ensured that corporate ideals would continue to influence the debate on military reform.