List of Major American Wars That You Need to Know

From countries abroad, Americans have been involved in many wars. These wars ranged from an expansion of national boundaries to colonists. Here is a list of major American wars that will help expand your American history knowledge.

List of American Wars in History

Do you know everything about the history of the American Wars? Scroll down to uncover the US war timeline.

The Revolutionary War- 1775-1783

Deaths: 4,435 Dead, 6,188 Wounded

The American Revolution War, also known as the US War of Independence, was fought between 1775 to 1783, in which 13 of Great Britain’s North American colonies liberated themselves from British rule to establish the independent United States of America. Americans accepted the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

War Of 1812 (1812-1815) 

Casualties: 2,260 Dead, 4,505 Wounded 

America announced war on Great Britain in 1812. It was a fight between the United States and its indigenous allies against Great Britain, its territories including North America, indigenous allies, and Spain on the other. The war concluded with no profit for both sides.

Mexican -American War (1846-1848)

Casualties: 13,283 Dead, 4,152 Wounded

The U.S. tried to purchase Texas and what was known as “Mexican California” from Mexico. But Mexicans attacked the US troops in 1846. Following that Congress declared war on Mexico. It ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848.

American Civil War (1861-1865)

Casualties: 620,000 Dead, 412,175+ Wounded

The four-year war was fought by 11 southern states known as the Confederacy and Union states. This war was considered the deadliest war in history. In 1865, the Union won, and the Confederate armies retreated. As a result of the war, slavery was ended.

Spanish-American War -1898

Casualties: 387 Dead, 1,662 Wounded

The war started because the United States supported the Cuban struggle for independence. As a result, the US acquired the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

World War I (1914-1918

Casualties: 116,708 Dead, 204,002 Wounded

The First World War was a conflict between the Central Powers, including the Ottoman Empire, the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, the German Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria, and the Allied Powers, including the British Empire, the Russian Empire, the Empire of Japan, Italy, France, and the US. Allied powers won the war in 1918.

World War II (1939-1945)

Casualties: 407,316 Dead, 670,846 Wounded

It was fought between the Axis Powers, including Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Allied Powers, including Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, and France. It ended with the surrender of Germany in May 1945.

Vietnam War (1959-1975)   

Casualties: 58,168 Dead, 303,635 Wounded

It was fought between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea).