An examination of the idea of American military exceptionalism as viewed from a British perspective. How have military actions shaped the history of the United States? How have these actions shaped the wider role that the US plays in world history? Historian Jeremy Black tackles these and other important questions in this examination of American military exceptionalism from the struggle for independence to the end of the Civil War. He brings to this study the critical eye of a foreign scholar, and utilizes the comments of contemporary British observers to provide a context on how American actions fit within a global perspective. This study seeks to shed light on the distinctive combination of political, social, intellectual and physical factors, including potential threats, that shaped and were shaped by the general American culture during this period. This phase of American warfare was characterized by several major conflicts: the War for Independence; the War of 1812; the Mexican War; war with Native Americans; and, finally, the Civil War. One sees a shift from a state devoting resources to conflict with neighbouring states to a nation divided, fighting for its very survival. A Black contextualizes American military developments and relates them to key events elsewhere in the world.