Although it has been mentioned before in this discussion I will bring it up again. Anyone interested in a very good book on this subject should read Weaver's "A Legacy in Brick and Stone". He does an excellent job of explaining the reasoning behind the third system. Mike is right in his email. You have to make the ports so stong that only a suicidal enemy would attack.

The strengthening of the US coast afforded the opportunity to look west and south without fear of exposing our undefended coastline to enemy attack. Thus the advent of the Monroe Doctrine and the fun we had in Mexico 1846-48 (From the Halls of Montezuma...) . Could we have carried ot Manifest Destinty with the spectre of France and England looming over the Atlantic and threatening our shores?  For better and worse, the third system played a major role in giving the US the military confidence it needed to become a major player on the world stage.    

B      

Brian Scott Robinson, MHP
Professor
Savannah College of Art and Design
School of Building Arts
Historic Preservation Department
P.O. Box 3146
Savannah, GA 31402

912 525 6940 office (Tues/Thurs)
912 262 2650 home (students emergency only)
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