War has been around since the beginning of time and the bible talks about wars and rumors of war in the end times. It seems it is something we as humans can never get away from. I thought I'd share an overview of some of the 19th century American wars. Unfortunately it would take many posts to cover all the wars we have been involved in. It seems we go very few years without getting into a conflict somewhere.
Revolutionary War Battle of Trenton by Charles McBarron.jpg Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38533645 |
DATE: 1775-1783
LENGTH: Eight years
CAUSE: The war was brought on by what many Americans believed to be illegal and unjust taxes levied on them by Parliamentary acts. The war was preceded by patriots protests in 1773 when they destroyed a shipment of tea in the Boston Harbor. The British retaliated by closing the Boston Harbor. A very important harbor for the colonists as imports passed through there. The protests and retaliation soon turned into the Revolutionary War. Colonists were aided by France, Spain, and The Netherlands. Britain hired German Mercenaries called Hessians to aid the in their fight.
RESULT: Victory American freedom
NORTHWEST INDIAN WAR
DATE:1785-1795
LENGTH: Ten years
CAUSE: This war was a fight for the Northwest Territory. The conflict had been on going as the United states tried to take control of the territory that The Treaty of Paris had granted them. The U.S. wanted to force Britain to ceded control to the United States. But there were many Indian tribes who were fighting for their land and homes and were not going to let a white-man's treaty take them from them. The Indian's had much to lose and went to war against the expansion into the North West Territory. They had limited support from the British as the British continued to have forts in the NW Territory. The Native American tribes joined together and thus the Northwest Indian War (also known as the Ohio war and Little Turtle's War).
RESULT: Victory for the United States- American occupation of the Northwest Territory
The Barbary Wars By Edward Moran - Naval History and Heritage Command: Photo #: KN-10849 (Color), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=323305 |
THE BARBARY WARS
DATES: 1801-1805 & 1815-1816
LENGTH: Total of five years
CAUSE: The Barbary States were a group of North African states that not only allowed piracy but encouraged it. They targeted weaker Atlantic countries who could not defend their ships. The United States while it was part of Britain enjoyed the protection that the British afforded them, however, upon America's freedom they not only lost that protection but found that the British informed the Barbary States that the US ships were no longer under their protection and open for attack. The piracy not only looted ships but took captives that were then ransomed.The United States went to war against piracy in attempt to protect their merchant ships. The merchant ships were vital to the United States as the country imported and exported cargo, keeping a prosperous economy.
RESULTS: Both wars ended in Peace treaties
The War of 1812 John David Kelly, Anton Otto Fischer, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19406500 |
THE WAR OF 1812
DATE: 1812-1815
LENGTH: Three years
CAUSE: British war with France was largely to blame for this war. Britain had many trespasses that pushed the young American country back into war with Britain. They blockaded American trade with France, hurting the American economy. They also supported the Native American tribes in fighting the American settlers attempting to move west into the frontier country, By doing this they kept peace at bay. And finally the Royal Navy began impressing American merchant sailors. The British had impressed close to 10,000 American merchant sailors into service. Finally the United States had been pushed too far and declared war against Britain.
RESULT: Depends on who you ask. Truly it was more a stalemate than anything else.
THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR
DATE: 1846-1848LENGTH: Two years
CAUSE: The Texas Revolution took place in 1836. The new Texans created a republic that Mexico did not recognize. So in 1845 when the United States annexed Texas, Mexico still considered the annexed Texas as part of its territory. With both countries claiming Texas Mexico declared war on the United States.
RESULT: Victory Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
The American Civil War By Excel23 - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35844165 |
THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
DATE: 1861-1865
LENGTH: Four years
CAUSE: Although we've all been told it was over the moral issue of slavery, that isn't the entire truth. The truth lies a little deeper. It did tie in with slavery in that the Southern states wanted to assert their authority over the federal government, and one of those issues was slavery. It was more about the economics of slavery and not being subject to the United States Government but being only accountable to themselves. Now this was prompted by the Southern states not wanting to have to give up their slaves. So yes, it had to do with slavery but no it wasn't over the moral issue of slavery but states rights.
RESULTS: Victory and beginning of The Reconstruction Period
THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
DATE: 1898
LENGTH: 4 Months
CAUSE: For many years Cuba revolted against Spanish rule. The United States eventually backed these revolts. The United States was divided on going to war. Newspaper propaganda encouraged war, but the business community just recovering from a deep depression were adamant against war. However when the US Navy battleship Maine sunk in the Havana harbor mysteriously the Democratic Party pushed the Republican President William McKinley into war.
RESULTS: Victory
This is just a fraction of the war/conflicts the American military fought in during the 19th century. Below is a list of more conflicts and wars. I counted seventy total. It is sad to note how many battles were fought with the Native American Indians. But even beyond that the amount of conflicts we as a nation we fought in over the end of the 18th century and the 19th century is staggering.
Chickamunga War (1776-1795)
Northwest Indian War (1785–1793)
Shay's Rebellion (1876-1877)
Whiskey Rebellion (1791–1794)
Quasi-War (1798–1800)
US Slave Rebellions (1800-1865)
1811 Coast Uprising (1811)
Tecumseh's War (1811)
Creek War (1813-1814)
First Seminole War (1817-1818)
Texas-Indian War (1820-1875)
Arikara War (1823)
Aegean Sea Anti-Piracy Operations (1825-1828)
Winnebago War (1827)
First Sumatran Expedition (1832)
Black Hawk War (1832)
Second Seminole War (1835-1842)
Second Sumatran Expedition (1838)
Cayuse War (1847-1855)
Apache Wars (1851-1900)
Puget Sound War (1855-1856)
First Fiji Expedition (1855)
Rogue River Wars (1855-1856)
Third Seminole War (1855-1858)
Yakima War (1855-1858)
Bleeding Kansas (1855-1860)
Second Opium War (1856-1859) we were not part of the First Opium War
Utah War (1857-1858)
Navajo Wars (1858-1866)
Second Fiji Expedition (1859)
John Brown's Raid on Harper Ferry (1859)
The First and Second Cortina War (1859-1861)
Paiute War (1860)
Yavapai Wars (1861-1875)
Dakota War of 1862 (1862)
Colorado War (1863-1865)
Shimonoseki War (1863-1864)
Snake War (1864-1868)
Powder River War (1865)
Red Cloud's War (1866-1868)
Formosa Expedition (1867)
Comanche Campaign (1867-1875)
United States Expedition to Korea (1871)
Modoc War (1872-1873)
Red River War (1874-1875)
Las Cuevas War (1875)
Great Sioux War of 1876 (1876-1877)
Buffalo Hunter's War (1876-1877)
Nez Perce War (1877)
Bannock War (1878)
Cheyenne War (1878-1879)
Sheepeater Indian War (1879)
Victorio's War (1879-1881)
White River War (1879-1880)
Pine Ridge Campaign (1890-1891)
Garza Revolution (1891-1893)
US intervention into Hawaiian Revolution (1893)
Rio de Janeiro Affair (1894)
Yaqui Wars (1896-1918)
Second Samoan Civil War (1898-1899)
Philippine-American War (1899-1902)
Moro Rebellion (1899-1913)
Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901)
I'm giving away a copy of choice of one of my books to one lucky winner, Shattered Memories or Sword of Forgiveness. To be entered into the giveaway tell me what surprised you most about this post or tell us something you know about one of the 70 wars of the 19th century. Giveaway ends 1/14/17.
Shattered Memories
Olivia Macqueen wakes in a makeshift hospital, recovering from a head injury. With amnesia stealing a year of her memories, she has trouble discerning between lies and truth. When her memories start returning in bits and pieces, she must keep up the charade of amnesia until she can find out the truth behind the embezzlement of her family’s business while evading the danger lurking around her. Doctor Drew Warwick frantically searches through the rubble left by the Charleston earthquake for the lady who owns his heart. He finds her injured and lifeless. When she regains consciousness, the doctor’s hopes are dashed as he realizes she doesn’t remember him. But things only get worse after he discovers she believes she’s still engaged to the abusive scoundrel, Lloyd Pratt. Now Drew is on a race with the wedding clock to either help her remember or win her heart again before she marries the wrong man.
Debbie Lynne has enjoyed writing stories since she was eight years old. She raised her family and then embarked on her own career of writing the stories that had been begging to be told. She and her husband have four children and live in upstate South Carolina. She has worked in many capacities in her church and is currently the Children’s director. Debbie Lynne has shown and raised Shetland sheepdogs for eighteen years and still enjoys litters now and then. In their spare time, She and her husband enjoy camping and riding their Arabian and Tennessee Walking horses. Visit Debbie Lynne at www.debbielynnecostello.com www.theswordandspirit.blogspot.com https://www.facebook.com/debbielynnecostello https://plus.google.com/+DebbieLynneCostello/posts https://twitter.com/DebiLynCostello
What The American/Civil War was really about. I did not know that though I'm not really to up to date on My History (Get It LOL JK) Thanks for the chance to win Your books sound good I have one already just haven't had a chance to read it yet.
ReplyDeleteHey Linda. LOL You are quick! ;o) Hope you get a chance to read my book AND enjoy it! Thanks for coming by and good luck!
DeleteI have always been fascinated by the Civil War because Lincoln is one of my two most favorite presidents, mainly because he freed the slaves and brought an end to slavery in that time. I know we still have forms of slavery today and there is an unofficial war going on over that. Thanks for the giveaway and good luck everyone.
ReplyDeleteHey Debbie! My favorite president was Reagan. I loved that man. He brought pride back to America and made people proud of our country. There is so much slavery going on today with especially young women. Its so sad. You would think that with our technology access to information that they would be able to shut that down. Thanks for coming by and good luck!
DeleteWhat an ambitious post, Debbie Lynne! Thanks for all the great information. I had no idea there were that many military conflicts in our short history as a nation.
ReplyDeleteIt's staggering when one looks at it. And also makes one wonder WHY are we constantly policing other countries. I don't know if that is the job God has given our country or if it is what we just decided to do.
DeleteI, too, had no clue we were in that many wars. It shows our ambition to fight for freedom. The Boxer rebellion is something in my history. My grandfather and his brother were missionaries to China during this war. I was told by my mother, who turns 100 tomorrow, that they were traded back and forth a few times by the Japanese. Guess I need to do a little research! I love historicals--- can't get enough of them.
ReplyDeleteWow, Paula. I hadn't heard of that war when I put it down here. I hadn't heard of a lot of them until I started researching. You have my interest now. I think I may do a little research on that one myself. Glad to year you love historicals. Have you read any of mine? Good luck in the giveaway!
DeleteI appreciate that you have mentioned many conflicts that I was unaware of. Your statement that the Civil War was more about the economic issues of slavery/non-slavery than the moral issue of human bondage reminds me that this is often the case. Government intervention is often spurred by the greed of a few who worry about the loss of income or the cost of correction as opposed to the welfare of many!
ReplyDeleteDidn't mean to climb on my soapbox :-) Thanks for a great post!!
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Great comment Connie! My husband is forever saying these wars we've been fighting are about greed. One thing I do believe is that God has blessed and been merciful to this country because of our support of Israel. And when we started pulling back from supporting them, I truly believed it was the fall of America. There are a lot of things one can say about Trump, but I will say when he said he WILL support Israel, I felt like God heard the Christian's prayers. Because when we turn our back on Israel God very well may turn His back on America. We have become an ungodly nation.
DeleteI just posted but did not give my email address and I just joined your specific newsletter with feedburner. paulams49 (at) sbcglobal(dot)net. Thanks
ReplyDeleteAwesome, Paula! Thanks!!
DeleteSorry but there was a lot more to the War of 1812 then the official Version which blames in all on evil old Britain. France, and yes America bear responsibility as well. France also imposed trade blockades- in fact, Napoleon issued the so called Continental Blockade saying that nobody was allowed to trade with Britain and "Also, all ports (worldwide) were to be closed to British ships; all British goods were to be excluded from the Continent; any ship which had called at a British port or paid duty to the Brits or been searched at sea by the Royal Navy was declared by him to be lawful prize; and all commerce was to be seized, even ‘letters written in English.’ See https://mmbennetts.wordpress.com/2010/02/04/the-war-of-1812/
ReplyDeleteAlso French privateers were know to prey upon American ships. Yet America did not declare war of France because of that.
Also, sorry, but it really irks me when Americans don't seem to understand why Britain was at war with France in the 19th century. You seem to think it was for fun or something. No. That little existential threat to the existence and sovereignty of Britain from the man who had taken over much of Europe, invaded Russia and Eygpt had a lot to do with it.
Thank you for sharing your opinion, English lady. I am not sure where you get the idea that Americans seem to think Britain thought war was fun or something. I assure that is not the case. No American thinks ANY war was fun. If you will reread what I wrote I did not even say why Britain and France were at war or who started it. This post focused on American wars. And why we went to war with the country. We were not at war with France there for I did not bring up any issues we were having with France. I am sorry you have misunderstood the post.
DeleteI was not referring to the content of this post, sorry if I gave the wrong impression. I was referring to how the Napoleonic Wars are presented in a lot of books and blog posts. They seem to suggest a real misunderstanding of the reasons for the conflict- some even suggest Napoleon was a nice guy.
DeleteI'm surprised at the number of wars! jarning67@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteJoan, I was too!!!
DeleteWow! That synopsis was helpful to this person who has forgotten most everything I knew from school about history. And we sure have been involved in a LOT of conflicts. Thank you so much for the post!!!
ReplyDeleteHey Connie! I am glad you enjoyed the post and got a refresher course. It was a refresher for me too.
DeleteSo many wars, I had no clue. Thank you for your interesting post.
ReplyDeletemauback55 at gmail dot com
I was really quite shocked when I realized how many wars and conflicts we've been in.
DeleteThe Civil War has been one of my favorite era to read about in the past. Although, I read other eras, too. So many American Wars I was unaware of. Thank you for sharing Debbie. marilynridgway78[at]gmail[dot]com
ReplyDeleteHey Marilyn, Thank you for coming by. And if you love Civil War stories my critique partner, Kathleen L. Maher, has a Civil War story coming out sometime this year and it is FABULOUS! Truly one of the best CW stories I have read.
DeleteI didn't know there were so many wars. It is so sad that so many lives are lost in every war.
ReplyDeleteIt is very sad. I wish more problems could be solved with diplomacy.
DeleteI keep on forgetting my email mommystuck1(at)optonline(dot)com
ReplyDelete;o) I'm glad you remembered though!
DeleteI enjoy history and have done quite a lot of reading, to some degree in relation to genealogy, on the Civil War and WWII, but not as much on the others. I was not really familiar with the Northwest Indian War nor was I familiar with some of the wars/conflicts in the basic listing. Very interesting post, thanks! dixiedobie at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by CC. I love reading about history and learning things. My problem is its hard to retain everything I read! And I love genealogy. I know my 8 x great grandfather and his 3 brothers fought in the Revolutionary War in Cowpens and hour or so from where I live. My 8 x great-grandfather was shot and walked with a limp the rest of his life. So interesting to learn how family members fought for our freedom.
DeleteWe certainly spent a lot of time fighting. My home town area in Northern New York was involved in the French and Indian War, American Revolution , and the War of 1812. Being on what is now the Canadian border and along Lake Champlain, the French had a lot of influence over the area. The Battle of Plattsburgh was fought on and along Lake Champlain and was pivotal to the US winning the War of 1812.
ReplyDelete