What was the message of Alfred Thayer Mahan?

Answer 1

Since the world was covered mostly by water, only a strong navy would enable a nation to "project" it's military might (armies) across the globe. If a nation didn't have a strong navy, they could not compete in the world's Arms Race; they could not be a major player, just part of the audience sitting on the side lines. What good is a strong army, if it can't reach an enemy to conquer (because of an ocean)? Mahan influenced the Kaiser & the Tsar of Russia to build up their navies. Britain already thought along Mahan's lines. The Kaiser slyly eliminated his cousin Nick of Russia, by getting him into a fight with Japan in 1904...which effectively caused the loss of 2 of Russia's 3 battleship fleets; thus removing him from the (naval arms) Race.

Answer 2

Mahan's views were shaped by the eighteenth century naval wars between France and Britain, where British naval superiority eventually defeated France, consistently preventing invasion and blockade

A t mahan

was Popular propaganist for expansion. Advocated that the countries with the biggest navies would inhert the earth. " Americans must now begin to look outward."

Answer 3

This is a very broad topic, but in a nutshell, Mahan believed international relations were decided by a command of the sea, he illustrated this often by the example of the growth and development of the British Empire.

Answer 4

Sea Power. An army is worthless if it can't be projected (sent overseas).

Answer 5

That whoever controlled the seas controlled the world, because the seas were key to world dominance.