Founded in 1682 by a society that had no military, eschewed violence as a means of solving conflicts, and tolerated a wide variety of religions, Pennsylvania began as a “peaceable kingdom”—but war was essential to both Pennsylvania’s founding and its history. Pennsylvania was the site of some of the most important military events in American history, including the destruction of the Braddock Expedition, the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, Valley Forge, the Whiskey Rebellion, and the Battle of Gettysburg. Pennsylvania was also a leader in America’s modern wars, with the Pennsylvania-based 28th Infantry Division serving with distinction in both world wars as well as in Iraq, and the state’s industry, particularly steel production and ship building, being essential to the natinal effort. Complete with a list of historical sites and a comprehensive bibliography, Pennsylvania: A Military History is an important reference for those interested in the role of the Keystone State in our nation’s wars.

Westholme State Military History Series
Each state in the United States of America has a unique military history. The volumes in this series seek to provide a portrait of the richness of each state’s military experience, primarily defined by its borders, as well as the important contributions the state has made to the nation’s military history. Written by historians for the general reader, the volumes trace the history of conflict from the original native populations to today. The volumes are well illustrated and include specially commissioned maps, extensive bibliographies, lists of national and state historical sites, and a detailed index.

WILLIAM A. PENCAK (1951–2013) was professor emeritus of history at Pennsylvania State University. He is the author of many articles and books, including Pennsylvania: A History of the Commonwealth, and was editor of Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies. CHRISTIAN B. KELLER is professor of history in the Department of National Security and Strategy at the United States Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He is author of a number of books and articles on the Civil War, including Damn Dutch: Pennsylvania Germans at Gettysburg. BARBARA A. GANNON is assistant professor of history at the University of Central Florida and has written on Pennsylvania and various military history subjects.