Nearly everything about America’s armed forces has been debated since 1776, from the mission and size of the military to which governments should have responsibility for fielding and supporting an army and navy. Some of those debates were resolved by the Constitution, others by the experience of World War II. But from the earliest days until today, Americans have agreed that our armed forces should be under civilian command . . . and provided solely by government.
Civil War
State Colleges and Universities
If you attended a state college or university, you benefited from one of America’s greatest investments in its people, the creation and expansion of affordable higher education. How did we get this network of 1,600 state colleges? Through a remarkable collaboration of the states and the federal government that began in the Civil War. It shows us federalism at its best.