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

Waking Times – by Isaac Davis

“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.

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.

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)

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

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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