Important WARS in American History
French-Indian War (1754-1763)
War fought between the British and the French/Indians over land claims. Proclamation line of 1763 divided the French and British sections by the Appalachian Mountains. The line later proved meaningless.
American Revolution (1775-1783)
First skirmish was between September 1774 and May 1775. Began over lack of fair representation in England. Eventually came to mean independence from England after the Declaration of Independence was signed.
French Revolution (1789-1799)
French peasants (bourgeois) fought against the rich.
Mexican-American War (1846-1848)
Fought over the rights to the Southwest (later became Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California). Greatly expanded the size of the U.S.
Civil War (1861-1865)
Lincoln was elected and the southern states seceded. Fought over economics and slavery. Bull Run ws the turning point from rebellion to civil war. Lasted four years. North won when Lee surrendered at Appomattox on April 9, 1865.
Spanish-American War (1898)
Conflict lasting ten weeks in which Spain eventually lost to the U.S. and gave up control of Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.
World War I (1914-1919)
Started by the assassination of Austrian Crown Prince Ferdinand – rival countries in Europe went to war. Central Powers (Germany and Austria-Hungary) versus Allied Powers (Great Britain, France, Russia). U.S. tried to remain neutral but Germans sank Lusitania. On April 6, 1917U.S. joined the Allied Powers. War ended with the Treaty of Versailles.
World War II (1939-1945)
Axis Powers (Germany and Italy) joined forces to gain control of the European continent. Japan became an Axis Power and bombed Pearl Harbor. The U.S. entered the war on the side of the Allies (Britain, France and the USSR). The U.S. troops stormed beaches of Normandy, France, liberated Paris, marched across the German border, and forced Germany’s surrender. Japan was bombed because it would not surrender. Japan surrendered on September 2, 1945.
Korean War (1950-1953)
The northern communist part of Korea invaded the southern, U.S.-backed southern part of Korea. The U.S. helped South Korea and the USSR and China helped North Korea. Eventually a stalemate was reached and the two remained separate.
Vietnam War (1959-1975)
Troops were committed for the first time in 1965, justified by the threat of Chinese communism. Felt Vietnam would fall to communism as well. U.S. pulled out without victory. War did not end officially until the fall of Saigon.