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America Has Been At War 93% of the Time – 222 Out of 239 Years – Since 1776




America Has Been At War 93% of the Time – 222 Out of 239 Years – Since 1776

Posted o­n February 20, 2015 by WashingtonsBlog

The U.S. Has o­nly Been At Peace For 21 Years Total Since Its Birth

 

In 2011, Danios wrote:

 

Below, I have reproduced a year-by-year timeline of America’s wars, which reveals something quite interesting: since the United States was founded in 1776, she has been at war during 214 out of her 235 calendar years of existence.In other words, there were o­nly 21 calendar years in which the U.S. did not wage any wars.

 

To put this in perspective:

 

* Pick any year since 1776 and there is about a 91% chance that America was involved in some war during that calendar year.

 

* No U.S. president truly qualifies as a peacetime president.Instead, all U.S. presidents can technically be considered “war presidents.”

 

* The U.S. has never gone a decade without war.

 

* The o­nly time the U.S. went five years without war (1935-40) was during the isolationist period of the Great Depression.

 

***

 

Here is a graphic depiction of U.S. wars:

 

 

 

And here is the year-by-year timeline of America’s major wars:

 

****

 

Year-by-year Timeline of America’s Major Wars (1776-2011)

 

1776 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamagua Wars, Second Cherokee War, Pennamite-Yankee War

 

1777 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Second Cherokee War, Pennamite-Yankee War

 

1778 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War

 

1779 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War

 

1780 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War

 

1781 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War

 

1782 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War

 

1783 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War

 

1784 – Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War, Oconee War

 

1785 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War

 

1786 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War

 

1787 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War

 

1788 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War

 

1789 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War

 

1790 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War

 

1791 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War

 

1792 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War

 

1793 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War

 

1794 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War

 

1795 – Northwest Indian War

 

1796 – No major war

 

1797 – No major war

 

1798 – Quasi-War

 

1799 – Quasi-War

 

1800 – Quasi-War

 

1801 – First Barbary War

 

1802 – First Barbary War

 

1803 – First Barbary War

 

1804 – First Barbary War

 

1805 – First Barbary War

 

1806 – Sabine Expedition

 

1807 – No major war

 

1808 – No major war

 

1809 – No major war

 

1810 – U.S. occupies Spanish-held West Florida

 

1811 – Tecumseh’s War

 

1812 – War of 1812, Tecumseh’s War, Seminole Wars, U.S. occupies Spanish-held Amelia Island and other parts of East Florida

 

1813 – War of 1812, Tecumseh’s War, Peoria War, Creek War, U.S. expands its territory in West Florida

 

1814 – War of 1812, Creek War, U.S. expands its territory in Florida, Anti-piracy war

 

1815 – War of 1812, Second Barbary War, Anti-piracy war

 

1816 – First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war

 

1817 – First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war

 

1818 – First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war

 

1819 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war

 

1820 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war

 

1821 – Anti-piracy war (see note above)

 

1822 – Anti-piracy war (see note above)

 

1823 – Anti-piracy war, Arikara War

 

1824 – Anti-piracy war

 

1825 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war

 

1826 – No major war

 

1827 – Winnebago War

 

1828 – No major war

 

1829 – No major war

 

1830 – No major war

 

1831 – Sac and Fox Indian War

 

1832 – Black Hawk War

 

1833 – Cherokee Indian War

 

1834 – Cherokee Indian War, Pawnee Indian Territory Campaign

 

1835 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War

 

1836 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War, Missouri-Iowa Border War

 

1837 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War, Osage Indian War, Buckshot War

 

1838 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Buckshot War, Heatherly Indian War

 

1839 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars

 

1840 – Seminole Wars, U.S. naval forces invade Fiji Islands

 

1841 – Seminole Wars, U.S. naval forces invade McKean Island, Gilbert Islands, and Samoa

 

1842 – Seminole Wars

 

1843 – U.S. forces clash with Chinese, U.S. troops invade African coast

 

1844 – Texas-Indian Wars

 

1845 – Texas-Indian Wars

 

1846 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars

 

1847 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars

 

1848 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War

 

1849 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians

 

1850 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, California Indian Wars, Pitt River Expedition

 

1851 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, California Indian Wars

 

1852 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, California Indian Wars

 

1853 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, Walker War, California Indian Wars

 

1854 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians

 

1855 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Yakima War, Winnas Expedition, Klickitat War, Puget Sound War, Rogue River Wars, U.S. forces invade Fiji Islands and Uruguay

 

1856 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Puget Sound War, Rogue River Wars, Tintic War

 

1857 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Utah War, Conflict in Nicaragua

 

1858 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Mohave War, California Indian Wars, Spokane-Coeur d’Alene-Paloos War, Utah War, U.S. forces invade Fiji Islands and Uruguay

 

1859 Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Pecos Expedition, Antelope Hills Expedition, Bear River Expedition, John Brown’s raid, U.S. forces launch attack against Paraguay, U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1860 – Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Paiute War, Kiowa-Comanche War

 

1861 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign

 

1862 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Dakota War of 1862,

 

1863 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Colorado War, Goshute War

 

1864 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Colorado War, Snake War

 

1865 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Colorado War, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War

 

1866 – Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Franklin County War, U.S. invades Mexico, Conflict with China

 

1867 – Texas-Indian Wars, Long Walk of the Navajo, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War, U.S. troops occupy Nicaragua and attack Taiwan

 

1868 – Texas-Indian Wars, Long Walk of the Navajo, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Comanche Wars, Battle of Washita River, Franklin County War

 

1869 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War

 

1870 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War

 

1871 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War, Kingsley Cave Massacre, U.S. forces invade Korea

 

1872 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Modoc War, Franklin County War

 

1873 – Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Modoc War, Apache Wars, Cypress Hills Massacre, U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1874 – Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Red River War, Mason County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1875 – Conflict in Mexico, Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Eastern Nevada, Mason County War, Colfax County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1876 – Texas-Indian Wars, Black Hills War, Mason County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1877 – Texas-Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Black Hills War, Nez Perce War, Mason County War, Lincoln County War, San Elizario Salt War, U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1878 – Paiute Indian conflict, Bannock War, Cheyenne War, Lincoln County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1879 – Cheyenne War, Sheepeater Indian War, White River War, U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1880 – U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1881 – U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1882 – U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1883 – U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1884 – U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1885 – Apache Wars, Eastern Nevada Expedition, U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1886 – Apache Wars, Pleasant Valley War, U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1887 – U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1888 – U.S. show of force against Haiti, U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1889 – U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1890 – Sioux Indian War, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Ghost Dance War, Wounded Knee, U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1891 – Sioux Indian War, Ghost Dance War, U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1892 – Johnson County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1893 – U.S. forces invade Mexico and Hawaii

 

1894 – U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1895 – U.S. forces invade Mexico, Bannock Indian Disturbances

 

1896 – U.S. forces invade Mexico

 

1897 – No major war

 

1898 – Spanish-American War, Battle of Leech Lake, Chippewa Indian Disturbances

 

1899 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

 

1900 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

 

1901 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

 

1902 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

 

1903 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

 

1904 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

 

1905 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

 

1906 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

 

1907 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

 

1908 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

 

1909 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

 

1910 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

 

1911 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

 

1912 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars

 

1913 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars, New Mexico Navajo War

 

1914 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico

 

1915 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico, Colorado Paiute War

 

1916 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico

 

1917 – Banana Wars, World War I, U.S. invades Mexico

 

1918 – Banana Wars, World War I, U.S invades Mexico

 

1919 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico

 

1920 – Banana Wars

 

1921 – Banana Wars

 

1922 – Banana Wars

 

1923 – Banana Wars, Posey War

 

1924 – Banana Wars

 

1925 – Banana Wars

 

1926 – Banana Wars

 

1927 – Banana Wars

 

1928 – Banana Wars

 

1930 – Banana Wars

 

1931 – Banana Wars

 

1932 – Banana Wars

 

1933 – Banana Wars

 

1934 – Banana Wars

 

1935 – No major war

 

1936 – No major war

 

1937 – No major war

 

1938 – No major war

 

1939 – No major war

 

1940 – No major war

 

1941 – World War II

 

1942 – World War II

 

1943 – Wold War II

 

1944 – World War II

 

1945 – World War II

 

1946 – Cold War (U.S. occupies the Philippines and South Korea)

 

1947 – Cold War (U.S. occupies South Korea, U.S. forces land in Greece to fight Communists)

 

1948 – Cold War (U.S. forces aid Chinese Nationalist Party against Communists)

 

1949 – Cold War (U.S. forces aid Chinese Nationalist Party against Communists)

 

1950 – Korean War, Jayuga Uprising

 

1951 – Korean War

 

1952 – Korean War

 

1953 – Korean War

 

1954 – Covert War in Guatemala

 

1955 – Vietnam War

 

1956 – Vietnam War

 

1957 – Vietnam War

 

1958 – Vietnam War

 

1959 – Vietnam War, Conflict in Haiti

 

1960 – Vietam War

 

1961 – Vietnam War

 

1962 – Vietnam War, Cold War (Cuban Missile Crisis; U.S. marines fight Communists in Thailand)

 

1963 – Vietnam War

 

1964 – Vietnam War

 

1965 – Vietnam War, U.S. occupation of Dominican Republic

 

1966 – Vietnam War, U.S. occupation of Dominican Republic

 

1967 – Vietnam War

 

1968 – Vietnam War

 

1969 – Vietnam War

 

1970 – Vietnam War

 

1971 – Vietnam War

 

1972 – Vietnam War

 

1973 – Vietnam War, U.S. aids Israel in Yom Kippur War

 

1974 – Vietnam War

 

1975 – Vietnam War

 

1976 – No major war

 

1977 – No major war

 

1978 – No major war

 

1979 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan)

 

1980 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan)

 

1981 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), First Gulf of Sidra Incident

 

1982 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), Conflict in Lebanon

 

1983 – Cold War (Invasion of Grenada, CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), Conflict in Lebanon

 

1984 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), Conflict in Persian Gulf

 

1985 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua)

 

1986 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua)

 

1987 – Conflict in Persian Gulf

 

1988 – Conflict in Persian Gulf, U.S. occupation of Panama

 

1989 – Second Gulf of Sidra Incident, U.S. occupation of Panama, Conflict in Philippines

 

1990 – First Gulf War, U.S. occupation of Panama

 

1991 – First Gulf War

 

1992 – Conflict in Iraq

 

1993 – Conflict in Iraq

 

1994 – Conflict in Iraq, U.S. invades Haiti

 

1995 – Conflict in Iraq, U.S. invades Haiti, NATO bombing of Bosnia and Herzegovina

 

1996 – Conflict in Iraq

 

1997 – No major war

 

1998 – Bombing of Iraq, Missile strikes against Afghanistan and Sudan

 

1999 – Kosovo War

 

2000 – No major war

 

2001 – War o­n Terror in Afghanistan

 

2002 – War o­n Terror in Afghanistan and Yemen

 

2003 – War o­n Terror in Afghanistan, and Iraq

 

2004 – War o­n Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen

 

2005 – War o­n Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen

 

2006 – War o­n Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen

 

2007 – War o­n Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen

 

2008 – War o­n Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen

 

2009 – War o­n Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen

 

2010 – War o­n Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen

 

2011 – War o­n Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen; Conflict in Libya (Libyan Civil War)

 

In most of these wars, the U.S. was o­n the offense. Danios admits that some of the wars were defensive.However, Danios also leaves out covert CIA operations and other acts which could be considered war.

 

Let’s update what’s happened since 2011:

 

2012 – War o­n Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria and Yemen

 

2013 – War o­n Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria and Yemen

 

2014 – War o­n Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria and Yemen; Civil War in Ukraine

 

2015 – War o­n Terror in Somalia, Somalia, Syria and Yemen; Civil War in Ukraine

 

So we can add 4 more years of war. That means that for 222 out of 239 years – or 93% of the time – America has been at war. (We can quibble with the exact numbers, but the high percentage of time that America has been at war is clear and unmistakable.)

 

Indeed, most of the military operations launched since World War II have been launched by the U.S.

 

And American military spending dwarfs the rest of the world put together.

 

No wonder polls show that the world believes America is the number 1 threat to peace:

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2014/03/2014-gallup-international-poll-us-1-threat-world-peace.html

 

Original: http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2015/02/america-war-93-time-222-239-years-since-1776.html



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