Military Conflicts in U.S. History
This page provides information about military conflicts involving the United States; including the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Indian Wars, Dominican Republic, Bosnia, and more.
American Revolution (1775–1783)
Great Britain forced its 13 American colonies to pay
taxes but did not give them representation in the British Parliament. This
and other injustices led the colonies to declare independence on July 4,
1776. Independence was achieved in 1783, when the Treaty of Paris was
signed with Britain.
War of 1812 (1812–1815)
British interference with American trade,
impressment of American seamen, and “war hawks” in Congress calling for
western expansion into British territory led to war. At the war's
conclusion, trade issues remained unresolved, but Britain gave up some of
its territorial claims on the continent.
Mexican War (1846–1848)
The U.S. annexation of Texas, and its stated desire
to acquire California and other Mexican territory, precipitated this war.
Mexico was forced to give up two-fifths of its territory. This land
eventually became the states of California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico,
and Utah.
Civil War (1861–1865)
Economic and political rivalry between an agrarian
South and an industrial North grew into a civil war fought over slavery
and states' rights. Eleven states seceded from the Union to form the
Confederate States of America. The Union victory led to the reunification
of the country and ended slavery.
Indian Wars (colonial era to 1890)
U.S. expansionism led to numerous military conflicts
with the indigenous inhabitants of North America, forcing them to give up
their land. The massacre at Wounded Knee, S.D., in 1890 is generally
considered the last of these conflicts.
Spanish American War (1898)
The U.S. supported Cuba's desire for independence
from Spanish rule, and seized the opportunity to expand U.S. powers in
other parts of the world. At the end of the brief conflict, Cuba gained
its independence, and the U.S. gained several former Spanish territories:
Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.
World War I (1914–1918)
Rivalries over power, territory, and wealth led to
the “Great War.” In 1917, the U.S. joined the Allies (Britain, France,
Russia, Italy, and Japan), who were at war with the Central Powers
(Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey), after German submarines
began sinking unarmed ships.
World War II (1939–1945)
The Axis powers—Germany, Italy, and Japan—attempted
to dominate the world. The Allies (U.S., Britain, France, USSR, and
others) fought to stop them. The United States entered the war in 1941,
after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. Germany surrendered in 1945, and
Japan surrendered later that same year, after the U.S. dropped the atomic
bomb on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Korean War (1950–1953)
Communist North Korea, supported by China, invaded
non-communist South Korea. UN forces, principally made up of U.S. troops,
fought successfully to protect South Korea. The Korean War was the first
armed conflict in the global struggle between democracy and communism,
called the cold war.
Bay of Pigs (1961)
The U.S. orchestrated the invasion, an unsuccessful
attempt by Cuban exiles to overthrow Fidel Castro's communist regime in
Cuba.
Vietnam War (1961–1973)
In 1955, communist North Vietnam invaded
non-communist South Vietnam in an attempt to unify the country and impose
communist rule. The United States joined the war on the side of South
Vietnam in 1961, but withdrew combat troops in 1973. In 1975 North Vietnam
succeeded in taking control of South Vietnam.
Dominican Republic (1965) President Lyndon Johnson
sent marines and troops to quash a leftist uprising in the Dominican
Republic, fearing the island nation would follow in the footsteps of Cuba
and turn communist.
Lebanon (1982–1984) U.S. troops formed part of a
multinational peacekeeping force to help the fragile Lebanese government
maintain power.
Grenada (1983) President Reagan invaded the Caribbean
nation of Grenada to overthrow its socialist government, which had close
ties with Cuba.
Panama (1989) President George H.W. Bush invaded
Panama and overthrew Panamanian dictator and drug-smuggler Manuel
Noriega.
Gulf War (1991)
Iraq invaded Kuwait, and a U.S.-led multinational
force came to Kuwait's aid and expelled Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's
forces.
Somalia (1993) A U.S.-led multinational force
attempted to restore order to war-torn Somalia so that food could be
delivered and distributed within the famine-stricken country.
Bosnia (1994–1995)
During the Bosnian civil war, which began shortly
after the country declared independence in 1992, the U.S. launched air
strikes on Bosnia to prevent “ethnic cleansing,” primarily by Serbs
against Bosnians. The U.S. became a part of NATO's peacekeeping force in
the region.
Kosovo (1999)
Yugoslavia's province of Kosovo erupted into
violence in the spring of 1999. A U.S.-led NATO force intervened with air
strikes after Slobodan Milosevic's Serbian forces uprooted the population
and embarked on the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo's ethnic Albanian
population.
Afghanistan (2001– )
The Taliban government harbored Osama bin Laden and
the al-Qaeda terrorist group, responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks
on the United States. After Afghanistan refused to turn over Bin Laden,
the U.S. and UN coalition forces invaded. The Taliban government was
ousted and many terrorist camps in Afghanistan were destroyed. U.S. and
NATO troops remain in Afghanistan to support its fragile new
government.
Iraq War (2003– )
The U.S. and Great Britain invaded and toppled the
government of dictator Saddam Hussein. Troops remain in Iraq to combat the
insurgency that formed after Hussein's defeat.
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