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**Captain Alfred T. Mahan**
Occupation: President of Naval War College, Captain in the United States Navy, author  Reasons for Interest:  In 1859, I graduated from the Naval Academy, 2nd from my class. I then went on to serve as a Lieutenant in the Civil War and taught at the Naval Academy. I was appointed Captain in 1885, and protected American benefits during the War of the Pacific. Later, after I became President of the Naval War College, I wrote several sea-based lectures, the most famous being //The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783//. I also wrote at least a hundred articles on international policies.  Position: I, Captain Alfred T. Mahan, am a firm believer of imperialism. The control of the sea means world supremacy. I believe that the sea is a great highway, where men can pass in all directions. Trade should be done by our own ships, which in turn should have secure ports. These would not be dependable if in other nations’ hands, so it is critical to acquire these ports. The voyage across sea is long and dangerous, and full of enemies. A strong navy requires islands for naval bases. Therefore, colonies not only bolster shipping, but provide safety as well.  The government plays a large role in the development of its navy, and, in turn, its preparation for war. Distant naval bases are protected by military force, or friendly surroundings. This, the latter especially, keeps the nation united and stable, even though the motherland is remote from the bases. In turn, the government, looks after this colony, and ensures its welfare. Without foreign naval bases, and with the ocean being so vast, the American war ships would be like “land-birds”, unable to stay away from the coast for long. It is our duty to provide resting places.  References: -Theodore Roosevelt, whom I met at Naval War College -Sir John Knox Laughton, fellow naval historian -Admiral Stephen B. Luce, who convinced me to write about sea power  <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Work Cited: <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> "Mahan Publishes //The Influence Of Sea Power Upon History//, 1890." //DISCovering U.S. History//. Gale Research, 1997. Reproduced in History Resource Center. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale. [|http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/HistRC/] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Alfred Thayer Mahan " Sea Power and History," //Annals of American History.// <[]> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Alfred Thayer Mahan " Arbitration and the Moral Aspect of War," //Annals of American History.// <[]>