We'll examine three often- overlooked conflicts in our nation's history. First, we'll focus on the undeclared 1798-1800 Quasi War with France. This maritime conflict was significant as the fledgling American Navy's baptism of fire against a foreign power, Revolutionary France. Then we'll review the American Navy's second serious conflict - the war against the Barbary States (1801-1805) when President Thomas Jefferson ordered a naval expedition to the Mediterranean to curb piratical activities. Finally, we'll focus on the Spanish- American War, a four-month war with Spain that launched America as an international power and made national heroes of Theodore Roosevelt and his "Rough Riders."

Instructor Bio: Robert Smith, Ph.D., is the recently retired director of the Fort Riley Museum. He has a doctorate in history from KSU and has published numerous articles on military history.</p>