What is a political general?
Q: What is a political general?
A: A political general is a General officer who does not have formal military training or experience and who gained his position through political influence.
Q: What can "political general" also mean to a lesser degree?
A: To a lesser degree, it can also mean generals who engaged in politics during or after their time as a general.
Q: Does the term "political general" apply only to the American Civil War?
A: No, the term "political general" is most often used by historians in the context of the American Civil War but can be applied to other contexts as well.
Q: Can someone become a political general in the United States without political influence?
A: No, a political general always achieves their position through political influence.
Q: Is it common for generals to engage in politics?
A: It is not very common for generals to engage in politics, but some have done so during or after their time as a General officer.
Q: Was Dwight D. Eisenhower a political general?
A: Yes, Dwight D. Eisenhower graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in the class of 1915, but he was also a political general who developed political skills to deal with his British and American officers as well as political leaders. He later became President of the United States.
Q: Does the United States military answer to civilian authority by law?
A: Yes, the United States is a country where by law the military is under civilian authority.
