A concise history of the birth of the modern U.S. military-industrial complex from 1881-1917 including : shipbuilding, armor and armament, and business relationships between the government, the military and industry. Set in the populist and progressive eras, questions arose as to whether the U.S. should use public or private financing or an amalgamation of those production programs for materiel, construction, and tools of war. The author uses the Navy as a case study for analyzing institutional reactions, and national policies and requirements in economic, political, strategic, and technological sectors.

Transition and experiment --The day of the Dolphin -- Lion, cock, and eagle, the first commercial contracts -- A military-industrial complex is born -- MIC, Robber Barons, and an Alabama Colonel -- War, imperialism, and another armor crisis -- Armor, armament, and the progressive era -- Armor, armament, and the new freedom.