Context: Following the American Revolutionary War, the United States faced potential military conflict on the high seas as well as on the western frontier. The United States was a minor military power during this time, having only a modest army, Marine corps, and navy. A traditional distrust of standing armies, combined with faith in the abilities of local militia, precluded the development of well-trained units and a professional officer corps. Jeffersonian leaders preferred a small army and navy, fearing that a large military establishment would involve the United States in excessive foreign wars, and potentially allow a domestic tyrant to seize power.

Question: What quality made the US only a minor military power after the Revolutionary War?
Answer: having only a modest army

Question: Why was the US military so small initially?
Answer: A traditional distrust of standing armies

Question: The founding fathers had faith in what military groups?
Answer: local militia

Question: What did early American leaders worry a large standing army would involve America in?
Answer: foreign wars

Question: Early leaders also feared a large army would allow what internal conflict to take place?
Answer: a domestic tyrant to seize power

Question: What quality made the US a major military power after the Revolutionary War?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question:  Why was the US military so large initially?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question:  The founding fathers had no faith in what military groups?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question:  What did early American leaders worry a large standing army would involve Africa in?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question:  Early leaders also feared a small army would allow what internal conflict to take place?
Answer: Unanswerable