Humanities History & Culture American Involvement in Wars from Colonial Times to the Present Wars from 1675 to the Present Day Share Flipboard Email Print Dead bodies at the Battle of Antietam. Library of Congress History & Culture Military History Battles & Wars Key Figures Arms & Weapons Naval Battles Aerial Battles & Aircraft American Civil War French Revolution Vietnam War World War I World War II American History African American History African History Ancient History & Culture Asian History European History Family History & Genealogy Inventions Latin American History Medieval & Renaissance History The 20th Century Women's History View More by Martin Kelly Martin H. Kelly is a former history and social studies teacher, and the author of two history books, one on Colonial life and the other on American Presidents. He is an online course developer for the UK-based Pamoja Education company. He lives in Tampa, Florida. Updated January 27, 2019 Americans have been involved with wars both large and small since before the founding of the nation. The first such war, sometimes called Metacom’s Rebellion or King Philip's War, lasted 14 months and destroyed 14 towns. The war, tiny by today's standards, ended when Metacom (the Pokunoket chief called ‘King Philip’ by the English), was beheaded. The most recent war, America's engagement in Afghanistan and Iraq following the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, is the most protracted war in American history and shows no sign of ending. Wars over the years have changed dramatically, and American involvement has varied. For example, many of the earliest American wars were fought on American soil. 20th-century wars such as World Wars I and II, by contrast, were fought overseas; few American on the home front saw any type of direct engagement. While the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II and the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001 resulted in American deaths, the most recent war fought on American soil was the Civil War which ended in 1865–more than 150 years ago.Chart of Wars With American Involvement In addition to the named wars and conflicts listed below, members of the American military (and some civilians) have played small but active roles in many other international conflicts. Dates War in Which American Colonists orUnited States Citizens Officially ParticipatedMajor CombatantsJuly 4, 1675–August 12, 1676King Philip's WarNew England Colonies vs. Wampanoag, Narragansett, and Nipmuck Indians1689–1697King William's WarThe English Colonies vs. France1702–1713Queen Anne's War (War of Spanish Succession)The English Colonies vs. France1744–1748King George's War (War of Austrian Succession)The French Colonies vs. Great Britain1756–1763French and Indian War(Seven Years War)The French Colonies vs. Great Britain1759–1761Cherokee WarEnglish Colonists vs. Cherokee Indians1775–1783American RevolutionEnglish Colonists vs. Great Britain1798–1800Franco-American Naval WarUnited States vs. France1801–1805; 1815Barbary WarsUnited States vs. Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli1812–1815War of 1812United States vs. Great Britain1813–1814Creek WarUnited States vs. Creek Indians1836War of Texas IndependenceTexas vs. Mexico1846–1848Mexican-American WarUnited States vs. Mexico1861–1865U.S. Civil WarUnion vs. Confederacy1898Spanish-American WarUnited States vs. Spain1914–1918World War ITriple Alliance: Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary vs. Triple Entente: Britain, France, and Russia. The United States joined on the side of the Triple Entente in 1917.1939-1945World War IIAxis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan vs. Major Allied Powers: United States, Great Britain, France, and Russia1950–1953Korean WarUnited States (as part of the United Nations) and South Korea vs. North Korea and Communist China1960–1975Vietnam WarUnited States and South Vietnam vs. North Vietnam1961Bay of Pigs InvasionUnited States vs. Cuba1983GrenadaUnited States Intervention1989US Invasion of PanamaUnited States vs. Panama1990–1991Persian Gulf WarUnited States and Coalition Forces vs. Iraq1995–1996Intervention in Bosnia and HerzegovinaUnited States as part of NATO acted peacekeepers in former Yugoslavia2001–presentInvasion of AfghanistanUnited States and Coalition Forces vs. the Taliban regime in Afghanistan to fight terrorism.2003–2011Invasion of IraqUnited States and Coalition Forces vs. Iraq2004–presentWar in Northwest PakistanUnited States vs. Pakstan, mainly drone attacks2007–presentSomalia and Northeastern KenyaUnited States and Coalition forces vs. al-Shabaab militants2009–2016Operation Ocean Shield (Indian Ocean)NATO allies vs. Somali pirates2011Intervention in LibyaUS and NATO allies vs. Libya2011–2017Lord's Resistance ArmyUS and allies against the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda2014–2017US-led Intervention in IraqUS and coalition forces against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria2014–presentUS-led intervention in SyriaUS and coalition forces against al-Qaeda, Isis, and Syria2015–presentYemeni Civil WarSaudi-led coalition and US, France and Kingdom against the Houthi rebels, Supreme Political Council in Yemen and allies2015–presentUS intervention in LibyaUS and Libya against ISIS Continue Reading