Season 4, Episode 9 | Why Congress Can't Run a War—But Won One Anyway

Congress went to war in 1775 against the most powerful empire in the world, but could a legislative body actually run a war? With no executive departments, no Pentagon, and little experience managing a national military, the Second Continental Congress had to figure out how to transform colonial militias into a Continental Army, appoint a commander in chief, supply the troops, and direct a war that stretched across thousands of miles. In this episode, Matthew Brogdon and Savannah Eccles Johnston examine Congress's extraordinary experiment in wartime government. They trace the creation of the Continental Army and George Washington's appointment as commander-in-chief, explore why Congress chose Washington over other experienced military officers, and examine the committee system Congress created to manage everything from military supplies to naval affairs. They also look at the disastrous invasion of Canada, where strategic theories collided with the realities of distance, supply, weather, and an inexperienced army. The hosts then explore Congress's struggles with military appointments, political maneuvering, and the Conway Cabal, while examining Washington's careful relationship with civilian authority. Finally, they show how the Revolutionary War experience influenced the Constitution's division of war powers between Congress and the president, including the crucial distinction between Congress's power to declare war and the president's responsibility as commander-in-chief. Tune in to discover why the Revolutionary experience convinced the framers that Congress could create the conditions for war, but should not be the institution directing military operations. In This Episode [00:00] Introduction: Can Congress run a war? [01:04] Forming the Continental Army [02:14] Why pick Washington? [04:17] Supervising the war by committee [05:47] The failed Canadian expedition [12:56] Congressional officer appointments [13:33] The Conway Cabal [16:03] Washington's independent actions [19:41] A new balance of power [21:05] Constitutional solutions: Make vs. declare war [24:26] The president as commander in chief [27:28] Conclusion: Can Congress run a war?  Notable Quotes (09:15) "Canada offers big threats, potentially a big reward, and it's Congress actually that creates this two-pronged offensive strategy." — Savannah Eccles Johnston (11:19) "You get this theoretical debate: would it be a good thing if we went and did this? Well, that's kind of beside the point if you don't actually have the capability to do it." — Matthew Brogdon (12:20) "Congress is bad at directing military operations... that's what we're taking from this." — Savannah Eccles Johnston (17:31) "We really do owe him a debt for taking seriously the idea that the military is in subjection to the civil authority." — Matthew Brogdon (22:38) "Can Congress run a war? And it seems that the answer is yes, if they'll take their hands off the steering wheel when it comes to military strategy." — Savannah Eccles Johnston (25:45) "The Constitution, in describing the president's role, uses a military term, but it's applied to a person who holds elected office." — Matthew Brogdon (27:35) "Can Congress run a war? No. But Congress can create the conditions for war. That's what they can do." — Savannah Eccles Johnston Resources and Links This Constitution   Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-constitution/id1771900485 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0IQCq5DUPWlImiAdc4t3pf?si=85085b24b55b4130 Website: https://www.uvu.edu/ccs/projects/this_constitution_podcast.html YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@centerforconstitutionalstu8915/videos Savannah Eccles Johnston https://www.linkedin.com/in/savannah-eccles-johnston-515a72198 https://www.uvu.edu/ccs/people/savannah_eccles_johnston.html Matthew Brogdon https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-brogdon-8a21bb89/ https://www.uvu.edu/ccs/people/matthew_brogdon.html