The Thirteen Colonies fought for independence from British rule. The war began with battles at Lexington and Concord and ended with the Treaty of Paris, establishing the United States as an independent nation.
The United States fought Great Britain over trade restrictions, impressment of American sailors, and territorial expansion. The conflict ended in a stalemate with the Treaty of Ghent, though the Battle of New Orleans occurred after the treaty was signed.
Conflict between the US and Mexico over Texas annexation and territorial disputes. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo resulted in the US acquiring California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of several other states.
The deadliest conflict in American history fought between the Union and Confederate states over slavery and states' rights. The Union victory preserved the nation and led to the abolition of slavery.
A brief conflict sparked by the explosion of the USS Maine and American support for Cuban independence. US victory resulted in acquisition of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, marking America's emergence as a global power.
The US entered the Great War in 1917, joining the Allied Powers against Germany and the Central Powers. American forces helped break the stalemate on the Western Front, contributing to Allied victory.
Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the US joined the Allies against the Axis powers. The war ended with Germany's surrender in May 1945 and Japan's surrender in September after atomic bombs were dropped.
The US led UN forces supporting South Korea against North Korean and Chinese communist forces. The conflict ended in an armistice with Korea remaining divided at roughly the 38th parallel.
Major US military involvement began after the Gulf of Tonkin incident, supporting South Vietnam against communist North Vietnam. The Paris Peace Accords ended direct US involvement, though fighting continued until 1975.
US-led coalition forces expelled Iraqi forces from Kuwait following Iraq's invasion. The brief conflict demonstrated American military technological superiority and established a long-term US presence in the Middle East.
America's longest war, launched in response to the September 11 attacks to dismantle al-Qaeda and remove the Taliban from power. The conflict ended with US withdrawal and Taliban return to control.
The US invaded Iraq citing weapons of mass destruction concerns and links to terrorism, toppling Saddam Hussein's regime. The occupation faced prolonged insurgency, and US combat operations officially ended in 2011.
Following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, the US deployed naval assets and conducted airstrikes against Iran-backed groups in the region. American forces engaged Houthi rebels in Yemen and militias in Iraq/Syria to protect US interests and personnel.