The 239 Year Timeline of America’s Involvement in Military Conflict

National Cemetary

Isaac Davis, Staff
Waking Times

“I should welcome almost any war, for I think this country needs one.” -President Theodore Roosevelt

The American public and the world have long since been warned of the dangers of allowing the military industrial complex to become such an integral part of our economic survival. The United States is the self-proclaimed angel of democracy in the world, but just as George Orwell warned, war is the health of the state, and in the language of newspeak, democracy is the term we use to hide the reality of the nature of our warfare state.

In truth, the United States of America has been engaged in some kind of war during 218 out of the nation’s total 239 years of existence. Put another way, in the entire span of US history, this country has only experienced 21 years without conflict. For a sense of perspective on this sobering statistic, consider these 4 facts about the history of US involvement in military conflict:

    • Pick any year since 1776 and there is about a 91% chance that America was involved in some war during that calendar year.
    • No U.S. president truly qualifies as a peacetime president.  Instead, all U.S. presidents can technically be considered “war presidents.”
    • The U.S. has never gone a decade without war.
    • The only time the U.S. went five years without war (1935-40) was during the isolationist period of the Great Depression.

    READ: Former Presidents Warn About the “Invisible Government” Running the United States

    As the world moves closer and closer to an official beginning to world war III, and as many people are seeking opportunities to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East, it is important to realize that the US state and the American people are simply not equipped or conditioned to pursue and realize peace. War is indeed the health of our state.

    US War Graph

    Here is a year-by-year timeline of America’s involvement in military conflict, as compiled by Danios of Loonwatch.com. It is noted that this list is not exhaustive, but rather a compilation of events that fit the definition of ‘war,’ excluding acts of genocide and ethnic cleansing such as were carried out against Native American populations during the establishment of the empire, and also excluding foreign interventions by America’s covert security agencies such as the CIA :

    Year-by-year Timeline of America’s Major Wars (1776-2011)

    1776 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamagua Wars, Second Cherokee War, Pennamite-Yankee War

    1777 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Second Cherokee War, Pennamite-Yankee War

    1778 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War

    1779 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War

    1780 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War

    1781 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War

    1782 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War

    1783 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War

    1784 – Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War, Oconee War

    1785 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War

    1786 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War

    1787 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War

    1788 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War

    1789 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War

    1790 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War

    1791 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War

    1792 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War

    1793 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War

    1794 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War

    1795 – Northwest Indian War

    1796 – No major war

    1797 – No major war

    1798 – Quasi-War

    1799 – Quasi-War

    1800 – Quasi-War

    1801 – First Barbary War

    1802 – First Barbary War

    1803 – First Barbary War

    1804 – First Barbary War

    1805 – First Barbary War

    1806 – Sabine Expedition

    1807 – No major war

    1808 – No major war

    1809 – No major war

    1810 – U.S. occupies Spanish-held West Florida

    1811 – Tecumseh’s War

    1812 – War of 1812, Tecumseh’s War, Seminole Wars, U.S. occupies Spanish-held Amelia Island and other parts of East Florida

    1813 – War of 1812, Tecumseh’s War, Peoria War, Creek War, U.S. expands its territory in West Florida

    1814 – War of 1812, Creek War, U.S. expands its territory in Florida, Anti-piracy war

    1815 – War of 1812, Second Barbary War, Anti-piracy war

    1816 – First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war

    1817 – First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war

    1818 – First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war

    1819 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war

    1820 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war

    1821 – Anti-piracy war (see note above)

    1822 – Anti-piracy war (see note above)

    1823 – Anti-piracy war, Arikara War

    1824 – Anti-piracy war

    1825 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war

    1826 – No major war

    1827 – Winnebago War

    1828 – No major war

    1829 – No major war

    1830 – No major war 

    1831 – Sac and Fox Indian War

    1832 – Black Hawk War

    1833 – Cherokee Indian War

    1834 – Cherokee Indian War, Pawnee Indian Territory Campaign

    1835 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War

    1836 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War, Missouri-Iowa Border War

    1837 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War, Osage Indian War, Buckshot War

    1838 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Buckshot War, Heatherly Indian War

    1839 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars

    1840 – Seminole Wars, U.S. naval forces invade Fiji Islands

    1841 – Seminole Wars, U.S. naval forces invade McKean Island, Gilbert Islands, and Samoa

    1842 – Seminole Wars

    1843 – U.S. forces clash with Chinese, U.S. troops invade African coast

    1844 – Texas-Indian Wars

    1845 – Texas-Indian Wars

    1846 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars

    1847 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars

    1848 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War

    1849 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians

    1850 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, California Indian Wars, Pitt River Expedition

    1851 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, California Indian Wars

    1852 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, California Indian Wars

    1853 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, Walker War, California Indian Wars

    1854 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians

    1855 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Yakima War, Winnas Expedition, Klickitat War, Puget Sound War, Rogue River Wars, U.S. forces invade Fiji Islands and Uruguay

    1856 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Puget Sound War, Rogue River Wars, Tintic War

    1857 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Utah War, Conflict in Nicaragua

    1858 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Mohave War, California Indian Wars, Spokane-Coeur d’Alene-Paloos War, Utah War, U.S. forces invade Fiji Islands and Uruguay

    1859 Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Pecos Expedition, Antelope Hills Expedition, Bear River Expedition, John Brown’s raid, U.S. forces launch attack against Paraguay, U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1860 – Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Paiute War, Kiowa-Comanche War

    1861 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign

    1862 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Dakota War of 1862,

    1863 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Colorado War, Goshute War

    1864 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Colorado War, Snake War

    1865 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Colorado War, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War

    1866 – Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Franklin County War, U.S. invades Mexico, Conflict with China

    1867 – Texas-Indian Wars, Long Walk of the Navajo, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War, U.S. troops occupy Nicaragua and attack Taiwan

    1868 – Texas-Indian Wars, Long Walk of the Navajo, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Comanche Wars, Battle of Washita River, Franklin County War

    1869 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War

    1870 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War

    1871 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War, Kingsley Cave Massacre, U.S. forces invade Korea

    1872 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Modoc War, Franklin County War

    1873 – Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Modoc War, Apache Wars, Cypress Hills Massacre, U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1874 – Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Red River War, Mason County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1875 – Conflict in Mexico, Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Eastern Nevada, Mason County War, Colfax County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1876 – Texas-Indian Wars, Black Hills War, Mason County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1877 – Texas-Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Black Hills War, Nez Perce War, Mason County War, Lincoln County War, San Elizario Salt War, U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1878 – Paiute Indian conflict, Bannock War, Cheyenne War, Lincoln County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1879 – Cheyenne War, Sheepeater Indian War, White River War, U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1880 – U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1881 – U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1882 – U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1883 – U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1884 – U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1885 – Apache Wars, Eastern Nevada Expedition, U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1886 – Apache Wars, Pleasant Valley War, U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1887 – U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1888 – U.S. show of force against Haiti, U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1889 – U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1890 – Sioux Indian War, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Ghost Dance War, Wounded Knee, U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1891 – Sioux Indian War, Ghost Dance War, U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1892 – Johnson County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1893 – U.S. forces invade Mexico and Hawaii

    1894 – U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1895 – U.S. forces invade Mexico, Bannock Indian Disturbances

    1896 – U.S. forces invade Mexico

    1897 – No major war

    1898 – Spanish-American War, Battle of Leech Lake, Chippewa Indian Disturbances

    1899 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

    1900 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

    1901 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

    1902 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

    1903 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

    1904 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

    1905 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

    1906 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

    1907 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

    1908 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

    1909 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

    1910 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

    1911 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

    1912 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

    1913 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars, New Mexico Navajo War

    1914 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico

    1915 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico, Colorado Paiute War

    1916 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico

    1917 – Banana Wars, World War I, U.S. invades Mexico

    1918 – Banana Wars, World War I, U.S invades Mexico

    1919 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico

    1920 – Banana Wars

    1921 – Banana Wars

    1922 – Banana Wars

    1923 – Banana Wars, Posey War

    1924 – Banana Wars

    1925 – Banana Wars

    1926 – Banana Wars

    1927 – Banana Wars

    1928 – Banana Wars

    1930 – Banana Wars

    1931 – Banana Wars

    1932 – Banana Wars

    1933 – Banana Wars

    1934 – Banana Wars

    1935 – No major war

    1936 – No major war

    1937 – No major war

    1938 – No major war

    1939 – No major war

    1940 – No major war

    1941 – World War II

    1942 – World War II

    1943 – Wold War II

    1944 – World War II

    1945 – World War II

    1946 – Cold War (U.S. occupies the Philippines and South Korea)

    1947 – Cold War (U.S. occupies South Korea, U.S. forces land in Greece to fight Communists)

    1948 – Cold War (U.S. forces aid Chinese Nationalist Party against Communists)

    1949 – Cold War (U.S. forces aid Chinese Nationalist Party against Communists)

    1950 – Korean War, Jayuga Uprising

    1951 – Korean War

    1952 – Korean War

    1953 – Korean War

    1954 – Covert War in Guatemala

    1955 – Vietnam War

    1956 – Vietnam War

    1957 – Vietnam War

    1958 – Vietnam War

    1959 – Vietnam War, Conflict in Haiti

    1960 – Vietam War

    1961 – Vietnam War

    1962 – Vietnam War, Cold War (Cuban Missile Crisis; U.S. marines fight Communists in Thailand)

    1963 – Vietnam War

    1964 – Vietnam War

    1965 – Vietnam War, U.S. occupation of Dominican Republic

    1966 – Vietnam War, U.S. occupation of Dominican Republic

    1967 – Vietnam War

    1968 – Vietnam War

    1969 – Vietnam War

    1970 – Vietnam War

    1971 – Vietnam War

    1972 – Vietnam War

    1973 – Vietnam War, U.S. aids Israel in Yom Kippur War

    1974 – Vietnam War

    1975 – Vietnam War

    1976 – No major war

    1977 – No major war

    1978 – No major war

    1979 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan)

    1980 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan)

    1981 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), First Gulf of Sidra Incident

    1982 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), Conflict in Lebanon

    1983 – Cold War (Invasion of Grenada, CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), Conflict in Lebanon

    1984 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), Conflict in Persian Gulf

    1985 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua)

    1986 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua)

    1987 – Conflict in Persian Gulf

    1988 – Conflict in Persian Gulf, U.S. occupation of Panama

    1989 – Second Gulf of Sidra Incident, U.S. occupation of Panama, Conflict in Philippines

    1990 – First Gulf War, U.S. occupation of Panama

    1991 – First Gulf War

    1992 – Conflict in Iraq

    1993 – Conflict in Iraq

    1994 – Conflict in Iraq, U.S. invades Haiti

    1995 – Conflict in Iraq, U.S. invades Haiti, NATO bombing of Bosnia and Herzegovina

    1996 – Conflict in Iraq

    1997 – No major war

    1998 – Bombing of Iraq, Missile strikes against Afghanistan and Sudan

    1999 – Kosovo War

    2000 – No major war

    2001 – War on Terror in Afghanistan

    2002 – War on Terror in Afghanistan and Yemen

    2003 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, and Iraq

    2004 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen

    2005 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen

    2006 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen

    2007 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen

    2008 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen

    2009 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen

    2010 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen

    2011 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen; Conflict in Libya (Libyan Civil War)

    About the Author

    Isaac Davis is an outspoken advocate of liberty and an honest society from the top down. He is a contributing writer for WakingTimes.com. Follow him on Facebook, here.

    Sources:

    http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article2320.htm
    http://www.loonwatch.com/2011/12/we-re-at-war-and-we-have-been-since-1776/
    http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz/interventions.html

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    This article (The 239 Year Timeline of America’s Involvement in Military Conflict) was originally created and published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Isaac Davis and WakingTimes.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this copyright statement.

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