In one of his military sci-fi books, Larry Niven says "By the fact that
there have occasionally been intervals between wars, we can deduce that
there is such a thing as peace." (John Christian Falkenberg)

If you look at JL's chart, you might think that the period between the
Civil War and the Spanish American War was the longest interval of peace
this country has known, but that is not the case. We were fighting
Indian tribes within the U.S. (Battle of Little Big Horn, 1876) and
sending naval & Marine forces abroad almost continuously. This was a
time of momentous change in the balance of power world wide: the rise of
Germany, the opening of Japan, the collapse of China, the emergence of
oil as a powerful & profitable energy source. The United States emerged
from this period with tremendous resources in materials & technology, a
world power in every respect

It is a noble cause to defend one's home & country. It is generally not
reckoned as noble to fight to squeeze a profit by deadly force out of
foreign lands & peoples. Undoubtedly some of America's wars have been of
the latter type.

Fortunately, whenever the United States has been faced by a threat,
we've had the resources and the determination to defend ourselves.
Unfortunately, today I believe that while we are definitely faced with a
serious threat, our elected leaders have diverted enormous resources
away from fighting the enemy. I think we'll win in the end, but the U.S.
will be a different country than what we've known.

Regards
Doug King


jlrogers wrote:
Wars of the United States

Colonial Wars -A series of wars involving the colonizing European powers
of England, France, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden in North America and
the Caribbean.
King William's War, (1689-1697)-Known in Europe as the War of the League
of Augsburg AND as the War of the Grand Alliance and in North America as
King William's War.
Queen Anne's War, (1702-1712)-Known in Europe as the War of the Spanish
Succession, in North America as Queen Anne's War and in India as the First
Carnatic War. This conflict also included the Second Abnaki War. The Abnaki
Indian tribe allied itself with the French against the English colonists in
North America.

The War of Jenkins' Ear, (1739-1743)-Fought between Britain and Spain.

King George's War, (1744-1748)-Known in Europe as the War of the
Austrian Succession and in North America as King George's War.

French and Indian War, (1755-1763)-Known in Europe as the Seven Years'
War and in North America as the French and Indian War. France forever lost
possession of Quebec/Canada. In many ways, England's victory set the stage
for the American Revolution.

Colonial Indian Wars (1609-1775)-A series of wars involving the colonizing
European powers of England, France, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden and
their colonists against the native tribes of North America.

American Revolution (1775-1783)- Also involved France, Spain and the
Netherlands against Britain. The first Anglo-American War.

Indian Wars (1775-1890)-A series of wars involving the United States
government and her migrating settlers with the native tribes of what became
the continental United States.

Shay's Rebellion (1786-1787)

The Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

Quasi-War with France (1798-1800)

Fries's Rebellion "The Hot Water War" (1799)

U.S. Slave Rebellions (1800-1865)

Barbary Wars

Tripolitanian War (1800-1805)
Algerine War (1815)

War of 1812 (1812-1814)-The second Anglo-American War.

Invasion of Spanish Florida (1819)-Andrew Jackson seized Florida from
Spain.

U.S.-Mexican War (1846-1847)-The United States invaded Mexico and forced
the Mexicans to cede the northern half of the country and also to give up
any claim to Texas.

Kansas Civil War "Bleeding Kansas" (1855-1860)-Guerilla warfare between
pro and anti slavery forces.

Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry (1859)-Anti-slavery militant John Brown's
attempt to jump start a slave rebellion.

Civil War (1861-1865)

U.S. Intervention in Hawaiian Revolution (1893)

Spanish-American War (1898)

U.S. Intervention in Samoan Civil War (1898-1899) with U.S. and British
Naval Bombardment of Samoa --A resumption of past civil wars in which Samoan
chief Mataafa seized power following the death of his rival, King Malietoa
Laupepa, who had defeated him in the last Samoan Civil War (1893-1894).
Fighting ensued, which was complicated by the long-standing rivalry between
the U.S., Britain and Germany for de facto control over the Samoan Islands.
On March 15, 1899, warships of the American and British Navies bombarded the
Samoan city of Apia to intimidate the reigning Samoan king, who was allied
with the Germans. An Anglo-American landing force took control of Apia, but
were not able to pacify the interior. All sides agreed to cease fighting on
May 13, 1899. Later that year, the three Western nations signed a treaty
dividing Samoa between them. This whole conflict was part of a wider Samoan
civil war.

Philippine-American War (1899-1902)

Boxer Rebellion (1900)-Also involved Britain, France, Germany, Russia,
Japan, Italy, Austria-Hungary against "Boxer" rebels in China as well as the
Chinese government.

The Moro Wars (1901-1913)-Guerilla warfare against U.S. forces by the Moro
Muslims of the southern Philippines. Can be seen as a continuation of the
Philippine-American War.

U.S. Intervention in Panamanian Revolution (1903)-The U.S. landed troops
in Panama to prevent Columbia from crushing the separatist Panamanian
government.

The Banana Wars (1909-1933)-A series of U.S. interventions in various
Central American and Caribbean countries.

U.S. Occupation of Vera Cruz (1914)-The U.S. landed troops in Vera Cruz,
Mexico.

Pershing's Raid into Mexico (1916-1917)-After Mexican rebel Pancho Villa
attacked a U.S. town, General Pershing pursued him across the border.

World War I (1917-1918)

Allied Intervention in Russian Civil War (1919-1921)-Also involved
Britain, France, Japan, Italy, Poland and the Czech Legion against the new
Bolshevik (Soviet Communist) government in Russia.

World War II (1941-1945)

The Cold War (1945-1991)

Korean War (1950-1953)-Also involved Britain, France, Turkey, and others
against North Korea and China.

Intervention in Lebanon (1958)

Second Indochina War (1956-1975)

Vietnam War (1964-1973)--The "advisory" phase of U.S. involvement goes
from 1956 to 1964, and then resumes from 1973 to 1975. The years 1964 to
1973 refer to the period of "official" combat deployment of U.S. forces in
the war.
Cambodian Civil War (1970-1975)

Laotian Civil War (1960?-1975)

Dominican Intervention (1965-1966?)

Iranian Hostage Crisis (1979-1980)

Lebanese Intervention (1982-1984)

Grenada Invasion (1983)

First Persian Gulf War (1980-1988)-The U.S. gave logistical and
intelligence information to Iraq in its war against Iran.

"Tanker War" (1987-1988)-The U.S. provided naval protection for Kuwaiti
oil tankers in the Persian Gulf. This led to multiple clashes with the
Iranian military.
Panama Invasion (1989)

Second Persian Gulf War (1991)

No-Fly Zone War (1991-2003)

Somalia Intervention (1992-1993)

Occupation of Haiti (1994-Present)

Bosnian War (1995)-The U.S. and NATO engaged in air strikes to force the
Bosnian Serb forces to negotiate a peace agreement. Also known as Operation
Deliberate Force. U.S. airpower contributed 65.9% of the NATO air sorties.

bin Laden's War (1998-Present) -Terrorist conflict between the United
States and irregular forces led by Osama bin Laden. The violence has also
involved Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan and Afghanistan.

Kosovo War (1999) --Links Page

The War in Afghanistan (2001-Present)

The Third Persian Gulf War : "Operation Iraqi Freedom" (2003)--The second
major war between the United States-led coalition and the Middle Eastern
nation of Iraq. Military members of the coalition also include the United
Kingdom and Australia.

Intervention in Haiti (2004)--Intervention to prevent civil war/anarchy
in Haiti following the Gonsalves Rebellion against the Haitian government.