War is part of American history. This book examines how military technology both moulded and reflected interactions between the American military and other American institutions. The growth of engineering and science has reshaped military technology, organisation, and practice from the Colonial era to the present day. At the same time, military concerns influenced, and sometimes channelled, American engineering and scientific development "American Military Technology" chronicles the interactions of technology and science with America's armed forces from colonial times to the end of the 20th century. Each period of the nation's history brought new and influential changes to the interaction of the military and technology, from the introduction of rifles and steam power in the nineteenth century, to the 'smart bombs' and guided missiles of modern warfare. The book provides a springboard for understanding the complex relationship of science, technology, and war in American history.