The United States has been involved in many conflicts. It's okay to take a peek at our ancestors history. Just don't re-live it.
Revolutionary War
The first war of the United States was the war that gained them independence. The United States fought Great Britain - which at the time was the supreme power in the world - and somehow amazingly defeated the British Empire. The beginning of the war is unconfirmed because historians debate when the first real battle was fought. It is confirmed that the British in New Jersey and Philadelphia surrendered in 1781 and the rest of the British Army surrendered in 1783.
The War of 1812
The War of 1812 is known as “The Forgotten War” for good reason. Not many people even know that the War of 1812 ever happened. The War of 1812 began in - obviously - 1812 and ended in 1815. The United States was fighting Great Britain - Yet again - because one of their ships was attacked. After several humiliating defeats in Washington D.C. the city of Baltimore rallied and defended the port. Then after driving off that fleet famous Andrew Jackson defended New Orleans. A peace treaty was actually signed in late 1814 but the news didn't reach the U.S. until 1815.
The Civil War
The Civil War is the bloodiest battle the United States has ever been involved in. It is estimated that over 500,000 soldiers from the Confederate Army and Union were killed. It started when the southern states began seceding from the U.S. because they had slaves working in their fields and wanted to keep slavery. The Union wanted to abolish it. The southern states named themselves the “Confederate States of America” which survived until 1865 when Union troops finally took the capital, Richmond. After the war it is believed that the men that were involved in Lincoln's assassination were Confederate Conspirators.
The Spanish-American War
This was fought for a pretty stupid reason. The United States and Spain were fighting over the Philippians. Eventually the U.S. conquered the Philippians and gave it its independence. Little is known about this war for this war had few conflicts.
The United States did not get involved in The First Great War - Commonly known as World War One - until 1917 because the Germans and Allies were stuck on the northern border of France. What happened was they were stuck in northern France not going anywhere at all, and gaining no more than 300 yards at a time. It was like this until fresh American Marines came in and took the German Empire down.
The Second Great War (WWII)
This war cost nearly 100 Million lives because one man was very sick. Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party took over Germany in 1933. They invaded Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary. In 1940 Hitler invades France. The U.S. gets involved when Pearl Harbor is bombed in 1941. Quickly the U.S. declares war on what is come to be known as “The Axis” which consisted of Germany, Japan and Italy. After re-taking North Africa and Italy the Allies commence with “Operation Overlord” which is the invasion of France. The Allies take heavy casualties and eventually get stalled at the Belgian border. Operation Market Garden goes disastrously wrong and 35,000 troops are mostly mis-dropped behind enemy lines. The Allies finally get to Berlin where Hitler commits suicide and Germany is defeated. In August 1945 the U.S. drops the first atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan surrenders and World War Two is over.
The Korean War
This is also not a very memorable war. North Korea invades South Korea and the United Nations intervenes. Eventually the Chinese assist the North Koreans and kick out the United Nations. The UN quickly re-takes South Korea the next year and kicks North Korean and Chinese Forces back to North Korea. Eventually a Cease-Fire was agreed upon and the De-Militarized Zone is established. Technically speaking North and South Korea are still at war.
The Vietnam War
Vietnam is known as “Vietnam” because the United States were slaughtered by the North Vietnamese tactics of Guerilla Warfare. Both sides exchange land and eventually the United States gets into North Vietnam. Then after taking out headquarters in South Vietnam the Vietnamese re-group and eventually kick out the United States all together.
The First Persian Gulf War
The first Persian Gulf war was an effort by 13 different countries including the United States, England and Egypt to get Sadam Hussein out of Kuwait. United Nations special forces are dispatched in 1991 and take out communication lines and SCUD Missile Launchers that are attacking Israel. After three weeks of air bombardment the UN move into Kuwait. Fighting is little and many troops lay down their arms. In other cases they stay and fight. After re-taking Kuwait, The UN decides not to move into Iraq.
The Second Persian Gulf War
The Current war - The Second Persian Gulf War - is occurring now. Right now United States forces are occupying Iraq and are trying to stabilize a government there. After the fall of Sadam Hussein, there are only Al-Qaeda and The Taliban Rebels to threaten the force. This war is different because the enemy always fires first. The soldiers do not know who the enemy is and all they can do is wait to get shot at. Now there is a some-what stable government and the soldiers there are trying to eliminate terrorist groups terrorizing Iraq and Afghanistan.
