War · United States

Every war the country has fought, in order.

Scroll down. The cards get bigger as the wars get bigger. It is not subtle.

Colonial Wars

1754

–1763

Lake George skirmish

French & Indian War

Britain & colonies vs. France & allies

A continent-sized turf war — also the first half of a world war.

A Nation Forged

1775

–1783

Crossing the Delaware

American Revolution

United States vs. Great Britain

We hold these truths to be — well, you know the rest.

1812

–1815

Burning of Washington

War of 1812

United States vs. Great Britain

Britain burned the White House. We got an anthem out of it.

1846

–1848

Battle of Veracruz

Mexican–American War

United States vs. Mexico

Texas, California, and a long argument about whether any of this was OK.

Industrial Wars

1861

–1865

The 54th Massachusetts at Fort Wagner

American Civil War

Union vs. Confederacy

The argument the country had been refusing to finish since 1789.

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1898

San Juan Hill

Spanish–American War

United States vs. Spain

Ten weeks, four oceans, one empire — ours, now.

World Wars

1917

–1918

Trenches, Western Front

World War I

Allies vs. Central Powers

The war that finally explained what artillery could really do.

1939

–1945

Normandy landings, June 1944

World War II

Allies vs. Axis

The big one. Set the table for everything that came after.

Cold War & After

1950

–1953

Inchon landing

Korean War

UN & South Korea vs. North Korea & China

Officially still going. Technically a ceasefire, not a peace.

1955

–1975

Hueys at dawn

Vietnam War

United States & South Vietnam vs. North Vietnam

The war that taught a generation to mistrust the official story.

1990

–1991

Highway of Death

Gulf War

Coalition vs. Iraq

A hundred-hour ground war, watched live on cable.

2001

–pres

Tora Bora

War on Terror

United States & allies vs. al-Qaeda, Taliban, ISIS

A war fought in deserts and in spreadsheets. The longest one yet.

Today — you are here.