Alfred Thayer Mahan recognized the existence of the intermediate field of study and practice between naval policy, strategy and tactics. His theories created a foundation for modern operational art and operational warfare while analyzing contributing factors of politics, social and economic conditions while keeping maritime interests at the forefront of his beliefs. As classical naval theoretician, he shaped the service culture and military doctrine for a multiplicity of navies on a global scale through the examination of European and American naval history referencing the particular effect of operational sea power. Mahan created lessons that could be universally applied and specifically analyzed the British rise to power as a …show more content…
Mahan wrote in The Influence of Sea Power upon History (1860-1783) “Americans must see themselves as inhabitant of a maritime state in a world of strong opposing navies...a new strategy for the U.S. Navy--offensive sea control” (Baer, 1993, p. 1). Prior to the war, Americans never possessed a regular naval force capable of acting in an offensive posture against the enemy in any effective way. The Continental navy, therefore, naturally resorted injuring the enemy through preying upon British commerce. State navies and privateers were engaged in the same pursuit with over 2,000 American vessels employed in privateering and predatory warfare consisting of intercepting the enemy’s transports and supply convoys (Allison, 2011). Colonists could make no headway against the fleets of Great Britain, and were consequently forced to abandon the sea to them, resorting to diplomatic discussions with the French. The French knew that the Americans would be better suited as allies rather than enemies in their endeavor to defeat England. By December 16, 1777, the French foreign minister and delegates of King Louis XVI informed the Second Continental Congress that the French king was ready to recognize the independence of the United States, and form a contingent defensive