American Involvement in Wars from Colonial Times to the Present

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, 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 longest 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 actually 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.