List of conflicts in the Americas

Last updated

Ongoing armed conflicts in 2018; updated September 2024.
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Major wars, 10,000 or more deaths in current or past year
Wars, 1,000-9,999 deaths in current or past year
Minor conflicts, 100-999 deaths in current or past year
Skirmishes and clashes, fewer than 100 deaths in current or past year Ongoing conflicts around the world.svg
Ongoing armed conflicts in 2018; updated September 2024.
  Major wars, 10,000 or more deaths in current or past year
  Wars, 1,000–9,999 deaths in current or past year
  Minor conflicts, 100–999 deaths in current or past year
  Skirmishes and clashes, fewer than 100 deaths in current or past year

This is a list of conflicts in The Americas . This list includes all present-day countries starting northward first from Northern America (Canada, Greenland, and the United States of America), southward to Middle America (Aridoamerica, Oasisamerica, and Mesoamerica in Mexico; and Central America over Panama, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua), eastward to the Caribbean (Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Grenada, Saint Martin, the Dominican Republic, and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago) and South America, in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela. Conflicts are also arranged chronologically starting from the Pre-Columbian era (the Lithic, Archaic, Formative, Classic, Post-Classic, and Colonial periods/stages of North America and Mesoamerica; c. 18000 BCE  – c.1821 CE ) up to the post-colonial period (c.1821 CEPresent). This list includes any raid, strike, skirmish, siege, sacking, and/or battle (land, naval, and air) that occurred on the territories of what may today be referred to as falling within any of the aforementioned modern nations; however, in which the conflict itself may have only been part of an operation of a campaign in a theater of a greater war (e.g. any and/or all border, undeclared, colonial, proxy, liberation, global, Indian wars, etc.). There may also be periods of violent, civil unrest listed; such as, shootouts, spree killings, massacres, terrorist attacks, coups, assassinations, regicides, riots, rebellions, revolutions, and civil wars (as well as wars of succession and/or independence). The list might also contain episodes of human sacrifice, mass suicide, and ethnic cleansing/genocide.

Contents

Northern America

Territorial evolution of North America of non-native nation states from 1750 to 2008. Non-Native-American-Nations-Territorial-Claims-over-NAFTA-countries-1750-2008.gif
Territorial evolution of North America of non-native nation states from 1750 to 2008.

Bermuda

As a British Colony Bermuda served as a staging point for Great Britain during the American Revolution and War of 1812. During the Battle of the Atlantic the island served as an allied airbase for Anti-submarine warfare submarine hunters. NATO also used Bermuda as a base during the Cold War.

Canada

11th century

16th century

17th century

18th century

19th century

20th century

21st century

Greenland

United States

This includes all conflicts that have taken place within the modern territory of the United States. See also

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is geographically located within the Caribbean; however, because Puerto Rico territory of the United States the island's conflicts are listed here.

Precolonial

This includes all known conflicts that occurred within the territory of the United States of America prior to European exploration.

American Indian Wars

This list covers all wars regarding Native Americans and First Nations within the 49 continental states of the United States (does not include territories) and the 10 provinces and 3 territories of Canada. This includes conflicts fought between American Indian and First Nation tribes and wars against encroachment from European Colonial Powers or the United States and Canada. Generally American Indian Wars classifies all conflicts for Native Americans and First Nations between 1540 and 1924 however this list also includes 20th century incidents on Indian Reservations.

Hernando De Soto's expedition through the Southeast United States was the first major conflict between Europeans and Native Americans in the U.S. Thousands of natives were killed by the expedition, and the majority of the expedition including De Soto did not survive the journey. DeSoto Map HRoe 2008.jpg
Hernando De Soto's expedition through the Southeast United States was the first major conflict between Europeans and Native Americans in the U.S. Thousands of natives were killed by the expedition, and the majority of the expedition including De Soto did not survive the journey.
The Battle of Little Bighorn near the Little Bighorn river in the state a Montana. A confederation of Lakatoa and allied tribes defeated the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment. Part of the Great Sioux War which was an ultimately a victory of the U.S. Government. Painting is The Custer Fight by Charles Marion Russell. Charles Marion Russell - The Custer Fight (1903).jpg
The Battle of Little Bighorn near the Little Bighorn river in the state a Montana. A confederation of Lakatoa and allied tribes defeated the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment. Part of the Great Sioux War which was an ultimately a victory of the U.S. Government. Painting is The Custer Fight by Charles Marion Russell.

17th century

The Burning of Jamestown, Virginia by Bacon's Rebellion. Common Indentured Servants and African Slaves fought together against the government of Colonial Virginia. The Rebellion's failure caused a hardening of racial lines in Colonial English America. The Burning of Jamestown.jpg
The Burning of Jamestown, Virginia by Bacon's Rebellion. Common Indentured Servants and African Slaves fought together against the government of Colonial Virginia. The Rebellion's failure caused a hardening of racial lines in Colonial English America.

This covers all conflicts in the 1600s that occurred between rival European Colonial Powers, or between Colonists and their Colonial Administration. This section does not include conflicts regarding Native Americans.

18th century

This covers all conflicts in the 1700s that occurred between rival European Colonial Powers, or between the early United States against European Colonial Powers. Many of the wars in this period were extensions of wars from continental Europe. This section does not include conflicts regarding Native Americans.

*1754–1763 The French and Indian War

Battle of Fort Oswego fought in Oswego, New York part of the French an Indian War. An alliance of French and Native American tribes defeated a British assault. New France enjoyed strong relations with Natives in the Great Lakes Region. Despite early French victories British supremacy on the sea assured victory in the overall war. Drawing by J.Walker Fort Oswego.jpg
Battle of Fort Oswego fought in Oswego, New York part of the French an Indian War. An alliance of French and Native American tribes defeated a British assault. New France enjoyed strong relations with Natives in the Great Lakes Region. Despite early French victories British supremacy on the sea assured victory in the overall war. Drawing by J.Walker

Was fought within both Canada and the United States

1775–1783 American Revolutionary War

The first of four engravings of the Battle of Lexington and Concord by Amos Doolittle from 1775. Doolittle visited the battle sites and interviewed soldiers and witnesses. Contains controversial elements, possibly inaccuracies. Fire from the militia may have occurred but is not depicted. Battle of Lexington Detail.jpg
The first of four engravings of the Battle of Lexington and Concord by Amos Doolittle from 1775. Doolittle visited the battle sites and interviewed soldiers and witnesses. Contains controversial elements, possibly inaccuracies. Fire from the militia may have occurred but is not depicted.
Siege of Yorktown in Yorktown, Virginia was the deciding battle of the American Revolutionary War and among the largest North American Battles of the 18th century. America's independence was recognized in 1783. Painting by Eugene Lami EL Lami - Storming of redoubt 10 during the Siege of Yorktown (1840).jpg
Siege of Yorktown in Yorktown, Virginia was the deciding battle of the American Revolutionary War and among the largest North American Battles of the 18th century. America's independence was recognized in 1783. Painting by Eugene Lami

19th century

This covers all conflicts in the 1800s that occurred between the governments of North America that took place within the modern territory of the United States of America and conflicts between North American and European states. This does not include conflicts regarding Native Americans. *1812–1814 War of 1812

*1835–1836 Texas Revolution

*1846–1848 Mexican–American War

*1861–1865 American Civil War

20th Century

This covers all conflicts and terrorist attacks in the 1900s that occurred within the modern territory of the United States of America. This also includes attacks upon the United States from Eurasian powers.

The Navy radio station at Dutch Harbor burning after the Japanese Attack, 4 June 1942 According to Japanese intelligence, the nearest field for land-based American aircraft was at Fort Morrow AAF on Kodiak, more than 600 miles (970 km) away, and Dutch Harbor was a sitting duck for the strong Japanese fleet, carrying out a coordinated operation with a fleet that was to capture Midway Island. The Dutch Harbor attack was part of the Aleutian Islands Campaign. Dutch Harbor Attack - June 1942.jpg
The Navy radio station at Dutch Harbor burning after the Japanese Attack, 4 June 1942 According to Japanese intelligence, the nearest field for land-based American aircraft was at Fort Morrow AAF on Kodiak, more than 600 miles (970 km) away, and Dutch Harbor was a sitting duck for the strong Japanese fleet, carrying out a coordinated operation with a fleet that was to capture Midway Island. The Dutch Harbor attack was part of the Aleutian Islands Campaign.

21st century

This includes domestic conflicts and terrorist attacks that took place within the United States. Note that actions of terrorism and domestic conflict are distinguished from one another.

Boxes War

Middle America

Mexico

Pre-Columbian

Map depicting the Maya area within the larger Mesoamerican region. View full size for details. Mayamap.png
Map depicting the Maya area within the larger Mesoamerican region. View full size for details.

16th century

The maximal extent of the Aztec Empire, according to Maria del Carmen Solanes Carraro and Enrique Vela Ramirez. Aztec Empire 1519 map-fr.svg
The maximal extent of the Aztec Empire, according to María del Carmen Solanes Carraro and Enrique Vela Ramírez.

17th century

18th century

19th century

Development of Spanish American Independence

Government under traditional Spanish law
Loyal to Supreme Central Junta or Cortes
American junta or insurrection movement
Independent state declared or established
Height of French control of the Peninsula Hisparevol.gif

Development of Spanish American Independence
  Government under traditional Spanish law
  Loyal to Supreme Central Junta or Cortes
  American junta or insurrection movement
  Independent state declared or established
  Height of French control of the Peninsula

20th century

21st century

Central America

Guatemala

Nicaragua

Costa Rica

El Salvador

Honduras

Panama

Belize

Caribbean

All conflicts which occurred on the islands in the Caribbean Sea are listed here. US Territories such as Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are exceptions to this rule as they included in the United States' Section.

Dominican Republic

Cuba

Saint Martin

Tobago

Haiti

Political evolution of Central America and the Caribbean Political Evolution of Central America and the Caribbean 1700 and on.gif
Political evolution of Central America and the Caribbean

Jamaica

Grenada

Anguilla

South America

Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

Ecuador

French Guiana

Peru

The area of the Chavin culture, as well as areas the Chavin culture influenced. Chavin-small.png
The area of the Chavín culture, as well as areas the Chavín culture influenced.
A map of the extent of the Wari Empire Huari-with-tiahuanaco.png
A map of the extent of the Wari Empire
A map of the extent of the Kingdom of Cuzco in 1438 Late-intermediate-peru.png
A map of the extent of the Kingdom of Cuzco in 1438
A map of the Inca Empire at its greatest extent Inca Expansion.svg
A map of the Inca Empire at its greatest extent


Paraguay


Uruguay

Venezuela

Suriname

Guyana


See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Peru</span>

The history of Peru spans 15 millennia, extending back through several stages of cultural development along the country's desert coastline and in the Andes mountains. Peru's coast was home to the Norte Chico civilization, the oldest civilization in the Americas and one of the six cradles of civilization in the world. When the Spanish arrived in the sixteenth century, Peru was the homeland of the highland Inca Empire, the largest and most advanced state in pre-Columbian America. After the conquest of the Incas, the Spanish Empire established a Viceroyalty with jurisdiction over most of its South American domains. Peru declared independence from Spain in 1821, but achieved independence only after the Battle of Ayacucho three years later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Túpac Amaru</span> Monarch of the Inca state in Peru

Tupaq Amaru or Thupa Amaru was the last Sapa Inca of the Neo-Inca State, the final remaining independent part of the Inca Empire. He was executed by the Spanish following a months-long pursuit after the fall of the Neo-Inca State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huayna Capac</span> Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire

Huayna Capac was the third Sapa Inca of Tawantinsuyu, the Inca Empire. He was the son of and successor to Túpac Inca Yupanqui., the sixth Sapa Inca of the Hanan dynasty, and eleventh of the Inca civilization. He was born in Tumipampa and tutored to become Sapa Inca from a young age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire</span> Period of the Spanish conquest in South America

The Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire, also known as the Conquest of Peru, was one of the most important campaigns in the Spanish colonization of the Americas. After years of preliminary exploration and military skirmishes, 168 Spanish soldiers under conquistador Francisco Pizarro, along with his brothers in arms and their indigenous allies, captured the Sapa Inca Atahualpa in the 1532 Battle of Cajamarca. It was the first step in a long campaign that took decades of fighting but ended in Spanish victory in 1572 and colonization of the region as the Viceroyalty of Peru. The conquest of the Inca Empire, led to spin-off campaigns into present-day Chile and Colombia, as well as expeditions to the Amazon Basin and surrounding rainforest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manco Inca Yupanqui</span> 16th-century Inca emperor

Manqu Inka Yupanki (Quechua) was the founder and monarch of the independent Neo-Inca State in Vilcabamba, although he was originally a puppet Inca Emperor installed by the Spaniards. He was also known as "Manco II" and "Manco Cápac II". He was one of the sons of Huayna Capac and a younger brother of Huascar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qullasuyu</span> Suyu of the Incan Empire

Qullasuyu was the southeastern provincial region of the Inca Empire. Qullasuyu is the region of the Qulla and related specifically to the native Qulla Quechuas who primarily resided in areas such as Cochabamba and Potosí. Most Aymara territories which are now largely incorporated into the modern South American states of northern Chile, Peru, Bolivia and the Argentine northwest were annexed during the reign of Sapa Inca Huayna Cápac in the sixteenth century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lloque Yupanqui</span> Third Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cuzco

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Incas</span> Incan Civilization

The Incas were most notable for establishing the Inca Empire which was centered in modern-day South America in Peru and Chile. It was about 4,000 kilometres (2,500 mi) from the northern to southern tip. The Inca Empire lasted from 1438 to 1533. It was the largest Empire in America throughout the Pre-Columbian era. The Inca state was known as the Kingdom of Cuzco before 1438. Over the course of the Inca Empire, the Inca used conquest and peaceful assimilation to incorporate the territory of modern-day Peru, followed by a large portion of western South America, into their empire, centered on the Andean mountain range. However, shortly after the Inca Civil War, the last Sapa Inca (emperor) of the Inca Empire was captured and killed on the orders of the conquistador Francisco Pizarro, marking the beginning of Spanish rule. The remnants of the empire retreated to the remote jungles of Vilcabamba and established the small Neo-Inca State, which was conquered by the Spanish in 1572.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peruvian War of Independence</span> 1809–1826 war against Spanish rule

The Peruvian War of Independence was a series of military conflicts in Peru from 1809 to 1826 that resulted in the country's independence from the Spanish Empire. Part of the broader Spanish American wars of independence, it led to the dissolution of the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inca Civil War</span> War of succession just before the Spanish conquest

The Inca Civil War, also known as the Inca Dynastic War, the Inca War of Succession, or, sometimes, the War of the Two Brothers, was fought between half-brothers Huáscar and Atahualpa, sons of Huayna Capac, over succession to the throne of the Inca Empire. The war followed Huayna Capac's death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paullu Inca</span> Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire

Pawllu Inka Tupaq Paullu was a statesman, military man and politician, thanks to the intellectual training he received as a member of the Inca Nobility. He became the main indigenous ally for different spanish factions after Manco Inca Yupanqui, rebelled against the Spanish and established the small Neo-Inca State in Vilcabamba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military history of South America</span>

The military history of South America can be divided into two major periods – pre- and post-Columbian – divided by the entrance of European forces to the region. The sudden introduction of steel, gunpowder weapons and horses into the Americas would revolutionize warfare. Within the post-Columbian period, the events of the early 19th century, when almost all of South America was marked by wars of independence, also forms a natural historical juncture. Throughout its history, South America has had distinct military features: it has been geographically separated from many major military powers by large oceans; its unique terrain has imposed major logistical challenges, and privileged naval lines of communications.

Yupanqui is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protectorate of San Martín</span> Polity created in 1821 after Perus declaration of independence

The Protectorate of Peru, also known as the Protectorate of San Martín, was a protectorate created in 1821 in present-day Peru after its declaration of independence from the Spanish Empire. The protectorate existed for one year and 17 days under the rule of José de San Martín and Argentina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neo-Inca State</span> 1537–1572 rump state of the Inca Empire

The Neo-Inca State, also known as the Neo-Inca state of Vilcabamba, was the Inca state established in 1537 at Vilcabamba by Manco Inca Yupanqui. It is considered a rump state of the Inca Empire (1438–1533), which collapsed after the Spanish conquest in the mid-1530s. The Neo-Inca State lasted until 1572, when the last Inca stronghold was conquered, and the last ruler, Túpac Amaru, was captured and executed, thus ending the political authority of the Inca state.

References

  1. Working people By Desmond Morton, page 72
  2. Knowledge "Vancouver Island War" (3 minute video summary)
  3. "Trucker Protest: Day 24 — 'Businesses should feel safe to reopen', police say; 191 arrested".