Analyzes the wars, military campaigns, and foreign and military policy of the United States from its inception to the present day, and argues that the problems confronting the U.S. in the war on terror are the result of political failures rather than military ones. "Don't Tread on Me is a sweeping, colorful--and controversial--history of America's wars and foreign and military policy over the past four hundred years. Full of gripping battle scenes and contrarian arguments, this stirring book challenges Americans to rethink what they thought they knew about our nation at war."--Publisher's website.

Prologue: The summons of the trumpet -- The gentle art of scalping -- Wolfe's triumph and Pontiac's rebellion -- "Disperse, ye rebels!" -- Forged in battle : from 1776 to Valley Forge -- The world turned upside down -- The Founders' foreign entanglements -- Madison's wars -- The guns of Old Hickory -- The emerging colossus -- Military holiday in Mexico -- Wrecking the furniture -- "War is cruelty, you cannot refine it" -- "War means fighting and fighting means killing" -- "For every Southern boy--it's still not yet two o'clock on that July afternoon in 1863" -- "The satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed" -- "But westward, look! The land is bright" -- "Half devil and half child" -- "Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever?" -- A world made safe for war -- Infamy -- "The great crusade" -- "Another Marine reporting for duty, sir. I've spent my time in hell." -- "Retreat, hell--we're just attacking in another direction." -- The long twilight struggle -- America resurgent -- Epilogue: "Go tell the Spartans.".