-
Start of World War I
World War I began after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, Bosnia. This event triggered a chain reaction of declarations of war between European nations due to pre-existing alliances. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, leading to the Central Powers joining forces against the Allied Powers, ultimately leading to a full-scale global war. -
U.S. Declaration of War
On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson urged Congress to declare war on Germany due to Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare and attempts to form an alliance with Mexico. The U.S. officially entered the war on April 6, 1917. -
End of World War I
On November 11, 1918, an armistice was signed between the Germans and the Allies, decisively ending World War I. The war heralded the introduction of new military technologies and trench warfare, resulting in unparalleled levels of carnage and destruction. A staggering 116,708 Americans perished in the war. This conflict profoundly shaped American culture and spurred civil rights activism, women's suffrage, and an amplified role for the U.S. in international affairs. -
Start of World War II
World War II commenced on September 1, 1939, with the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany, leading Great Britain and France to declare war on Germany two days later. This marked the beginning of the European conflict and is widely viewed as the event that sparked the global war. The US joined World War II following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. -
U.S. Declaration of War
The U.S. entered World War II after Congress declared war on Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor. On December 11, 1941, declarations of war on Germany and Italy were approved, and the U.S. had to prepare to fight on two fronts, in Europe and the Pacific. -
End of World War II
After the devastating atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan officially surrendered on September 2, 1945, marking the end of the Second World War. The conflict took the lives of over 330,000 American soldiers, and many more were left permanently injured or maimed, highlighting the immense human cost of the war. -
Start of Korean War
The U.S. entered the Korean War on June 27, 1950, in response to North Korea's invasion of South Korea on June 25, 1950. The U.S. participated under the United Nations, with General Douglas MacArthur leading the UN Command, along with troops from 15 other countries. The reasons for U.S. involvement included defending South Korea from communist aggression, upholding global credibility by supporting the Republic of Korea (ROK), and preventing the collapse of the UN to avoid another world war. -
End of Korean War
On July 27, 1953, the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed, ending the fighting. The Korean War ended in a stalemate, with no clear victory for either side. However, the United States and its allies achieved some outcomes, including South Korea's democracy, preventing communism, and increased understanding of Korea's culture by Americans. About 37,000 Americans lost their lives during the Korean War and over 92,000 were wounded and 8,000 were missing. -
Start of Vietnam War
The Vietnam War began after the French were defeated at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. This led to the division of Vietnam into North Vietnam, controlled by communist forces, and South Vietnam, supported by the United States. This started a Cold War proxy conflict between the two superpowers. The war escalated when the US committed ground troops to South Vietnam in the mid-1960s, primarily due to fears of communist expansion in Southeast Asia, known as the Domino Theory. -
End of Vietnam War
The Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975, when North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, unifying the country under communist rule. The "Fall of Saigon," marked the war's conclusion with a North Vietnamese victory following the withdrawal of US troops in 1973 as part of the Paris Peace Accords. The war's end led to a unified communist Vietnam, a substantial refugee crisis, and political and social division within the US. -
Start of Gulf War
The Gulf War began on August 2, 1990, and involved a coalition of 35 nations led by the United States against Iraq. It was a response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait, consisting of two phases: Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. -
End of Gulf War
On February 27, President Bush announced that the American and multinational forces would cease hostilities against Iraq at midnight February 28, U.S. Eastern Standard Time (100 hours after the commencement of the ground operation). On February 28, Iraq finally announced its acceptance of the 12 U.N. The coalition forces successfully liberated Kuwait, but Saddam Hussein remained in power. The war also set important precedents for using military force in the subsequent decades.