Changes

==1898-1939==

==1898-1939==

The [[Spanish-American War]] demonstrated that more effective control over the department and bureaus was necessary. In 1903 Secretary [[Elihu Root]] sought to achieve this goal in a businesslike manner by appointing a chief of staff as general manager and a European-type general staff for planning. His successor, [[William Howard Taft]], returned to the traditional secretary-bureau chief alliance, subordinating the chief of staff to the adjutant general, a powerful office since its creation in 1775. Indeed Taft himself had little power as President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] made the major decisions.

The [[Spanish-American War]] demonstrated that more effective control over the department and bureaus was necessary. In 1903 Secretary [[Elihu Root]] sought to achieve this goal in a businesslike manner by appointing a chief of staff as general manager and a European-type general staff for planning. His successor, [[William Howard Taft]], returned to the traditional secretary-bureau chief alliance, subordinating the chief of staff to the adjutant general, a powerful office since its creation in 1775. Indeed Taft himself had little power as President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] made the major decisions.

In 1911 Secretary [[Henry L. Stimson]] and Maj. Gen. [[Leonard Wood]], his chief of staff, revived the Root reforms. The general staff assisted them in their efforts to rationalize the army's organization along modern lines and in supervising the bureaus.  

In 1911 Secretary [[Henry L. Stimson]] and Maj. Gen. [[Leonard Wood]], his chief of staff, revived the Root reforms. The general staff assisted them in their efforts to rationalize the army's organization along modern lines and in supervising the bureaus.  

Marshall's principal task was advising the president on military strategy; he had little time to act as general manager of the department. But the whole organization was poorly geared to direct the army in a global war, for authority and responsibility were still fragmented among many agencies, and the chief of staff was burdened with too many details. Marshall said it was a "poor command post" and, supported by [[Henry L. Stimson]], who was brought in by [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] as secretary of war, he reorganized it after Pearl Harbor under the War Powers Act. He created three new major commands to run the department's operations: the Army Ground Forces to train land troops; the [[Army Air Forces]], which developed an independent air arm; and the Army Service Forces, which directed administrative and logistical operations. The Operations Division acted as Marshall's general planning staff.  

Marshall's principal task was advising the president on military strategy; he had little time to act as general manager of the department. But the whole organization was poorly geared to direct the army in a global war, for authority and responsibility were still fragmented among many agencies, and the chief of staff was burdened with too many details. Marshall said it was a "poor command post" and, supported by [[Henry L. Stimson]], who was brought in by [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] as secretary of war, he reorganized it after Pearl Harbor under the War Powers Act. He created three new major commands to run the department's operations: the Army Ground Forces to train land troops; the [[Army Air Forces]], which developed an independent air arm; and the Army Service Forces, which directed administrative and logistical operations. The Operations Division acted as Marshall's general planning staff.  

===Postwar===

===Postwar===

After the war Marshall's organization was abandoned for the fragmented prewar pattern, while the independent services continually parried efforts to reestablish firm executive control over their operations. Under the National Security Act of 1947, as amended in 1949, the War Department became the Department of the Army within the Department of Defense and the secretary of the army an operating manager for the new secretary of defense.  

After the war Marshall's organization was abandoned for the fragmented prewar pattern, while the independent services continually parried efforts to reestablish firm executive control over their operations. Under the National Security Act of 1947, as amended in 1949, the War Department became the Department of the Army within the Department of Defense and the secretary of the army an operating manager for the new secretary of defense.

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==