Below, I have
reproduced a year-by-year timeline of
Americas wars, which reveals something
quite interesting: since the
United States was founded in 1776, she
has been at war during 214 out of her
235 calendar years of existence.
In other words, there were only 21
calendar years in which the U.S. did not
wage any wars.
To put this in
perspective:
* 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.
* * *
Here is a graphic
depiction of U.S. wars:
And here is the
year-by-year timeline of Americas major
wars:
****
Year-by-year
Timeline of Americas 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 Tecumsehs War
1812 War of 1812,
Tecumsehs War, Seminole Wars, U.S.
occupies Spanish-held Amelia Island and
other parts of East Florida
1813 War of 1812,
Tecumsehs 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
dAlene-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 Browns
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, Utahs Black
Hawk War
1866 Texas-Indian
Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars,
California Indian Wars, Skirmish between
1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War,
Utahs Black Hawk War, Red Clouds 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, Utahs Black Hawk
War, Red Clouds 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, Utahs Black Hawk
War, Red Clouds War, Comanche Wars,
Battle of Washita River, Franklin County
War
1869 Texas-Indian
Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st
Cavalry and Indians, Utahs Black Hawk
War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War
1870 Texas-Indian
Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st
Cavalry and Indians, Utahs Black Hawk
War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War
1871 Texas-Indian
Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st
Cavalry and Indians, Utahs Black Hawk
War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War,
Kingsley Cave Massacre, U.S. forces
invade Korea
1872 Texas-Indian
Wars, Apache Wars, Utahs 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)