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Thirty Years War
The Thirty Years War was the most bloody conflict in the history of Europe up to that point. The war was from 1618 to 1648. The war was religious in nature and usually pitted Protestant armies against Catholic armies. The fighting occurred mainly in the area known as the Holy Roman Empire (which is now modern day Germany) and thoroughly destroyed cities and the entire countryside. The war ended with the Peace Of Westphalia, which determined each state was free to choose their own religion. -
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary war was fought between the American colonies and the British in 1775 until 1783. It was crucial in establishing America. Its ideals were based on Enlightenment thinking and helped to influence other revolutions to follow, namely the French Revolution. -
The French Revolution
The French Revolution was a revolution that lasted a total of around 10 years. Inspired by Enlightenment thoughts and the American Revolution, the French Revolution showcased a completely democratic revolution that overthrew a monarch and created mass terror (i.e. Reign of Terror) across France for roughly 10 years. The French Revolution would pave the way for Napoleon to gain recognition and assert his control on the military. -
The Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a collection of battles fought by Napoleon against other European countries from the years of 1803 until his Waterloo demise in 1815. This war reasserted France as a dominant power along with the creation of the Napoleonic code, which revolutionized the way feudal law was practiced in Europe for the foreseeable future. -
Franco Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War was a war fought between France and the country of Prussia between 1870 and 1871. The Franco Prussian war was a crucial victory for Prussia and it would lead to the formation of the country of Germany. This war allowed the German country to come to the forefront as a European power. -
World War I
WWI, or the Great War, was a global war that began in 1914 until 1918. The War was a first of its kind due to the advance in technology as well as there being numerous countries that took part. It was the largest war up to that point and it was most certainly the deadliest. The war comprised of the Allies (consisting of the US, Britain, Russia, and France) against the Central powers (consisting of Germany, Austria, and the Ottoman Empire). The Allies would claim victory in November of 1918. -
World War II
World War II was, and still is today, the bloodiest war in human history. The war was fought between the Allies (US, Britain, France, Russia) against the Axis Powers (Germany, Japan, and Italy). It was a costly war that was fought all over the world (Europe, Africa, Asia, Atlantic/Pacific Ocean) that saw heavy advancement in weaponry and military tactics. The Allies would claim victory, but not after a long and costly war that was detrimental to the countries of Europe and their populations. -
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (or Second Indochina War) was a war between Communist North Vietnam and Democratic South Vietnam from 1955-1975. The Vietnam War was a long and drawn out war that showcased the democratic nations using the war to leverage over communist adversaries. The war was extremely unpopular in the United States and lead to mass protest and riots from the general public. The war was a platform for social protest that would change the lives of not just the soldiers, but society as a whole.