List of wars involving the United States in the 19th century

For the criteria of what may be permitted on this list, see Lists of wars involving the United States § Criteria for inclusion on these lists.

The United States was involved in a number of military conflicts in the 19th century.

This list is part of a larger series of list articles that cover the various wars involving the United States from its colonial roots to the present. They are:

• Lists of wars involving the United States
  • List of 17th-century wars involving the Thirteen Colonies
  • List of 18th-century wars involving the Thirteen Colonies
  • List of wars involving the United States in the 18th century
  • List of wars involving the United States in the 19th century
  • List of wars involving the United States in the 20th century
  • List of wars involving the United States in the 21st century

Key

US victory   Another result *   US defeat

*e.g. a treaty or peace without a clear result, status quo ante bellum , result of civil or internal conflict, result unknown or indecisive, inconclusive

19th-century wars

Conflict	Allies	Opponent(s)	Result for the United States and its Allies	Presidents of the United States
First Barbary War (1801–1805) Part of the Barbary Wars Location: Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Tripoli Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon at Derna, April 1805	United States [1] Sweden [1] Kingdom of Sicily [1] Malta Protectorate [1] Kingdom of Portugal [1] Sultanate of Morocco [1]	Ottoman Tripolitania [2] Sultanate of Morocco [2]	US-allied victory	Thomas Jefferson (March 4, 1801 – March 4, 1809)
Chesapeake–Leopard affair (1807) Part of the events leading to the War of 1812 Location: off Norfolk, Virginia HMS Leopard (right) fires upon USS Chesapeake. Drawn by Fred S. Cozzens and published in 1897.	United States	United Kingdom	British Victory The USS Chesapeake was bordered and 4 of her crew impressed into British service. Heightened tensions between the British and the Americans President Jefferson later pushes forward the Embargo Act of 1807 in response to the affair	Thomas Jefferson (March 4, 1801 – March 4, 1809)
Tecumseh's War (1810–1813) Part of the Seminole Wars and the War of 1812 Location: Northwest River Ohio The Battle of Tippecanoe	United States	Tecumseh's Confederacy List Shawnee Red Sticks Ojibway Chickamauga Meskwaki Iroquois Miami Mingo Odawa Kickapoo Lenape Mascouten Potawatomi Sauk Wyandot	US victory	James Madison (March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817)
U.S. Annexation of the Republic of West Florida (1810) Part of Decline of Spain Location: Modern day Florida Parishes, Louisiana	United States	Republic of West Florida (American filibusters)	US Victory [3] US annexes West Florida James Madison proclaimed a specific interpretation of the Louisiana Purchase and Third Treaty of San Ildefonso to justify annexation as opposed to recognizing the territory as Spain's	James Madison (March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817)
Little Belt affair (1811) Part of the events leading to the War of 1812 Location: Off the North Carolina, Atlantic Ocean American Frigate USS President and the Sloop the HMS Little Belt engage in battle.	United States	United Kingdom	US Victory Successful retaliation for the impressment of John Diggio captured onboard the USS Spitfire (1803) by the HMS Guerriere (1806) Heightened tensions between the British and the Americans	James Madison (March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817)
Battle of Woody Point (1811) Part of American Indian Wars and Maritime fur trade Location: Clayoquot Sound, off Woody Point, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada The Tonquin being attacked off the shore of Vancouver Island in 1811.	United States Merchant Marines	Nuu-chah-nulth	Inconclusive/Other Result All the crew killed or captured and killed except one Tonquin exploded in a suicide bombing by a critically injured crewman 61-200 Natives killed and failed to capture any supplies on the Tonquin	James Madison (March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817)
Patriot War (Florida) (1812–1814) Part of War of 1812 , Decline of Spain, the American Indian Wars,and Seminole Wars Location: Amelia Island, Spanish East Florida	United States (Till 1813) Republic of East Florida (American filibusters, dubbed the Patriots)	Spain Seminole Seminole Maroons	American/Filibuster Defeat US abandon filibuster allies for fear of expanded conflict with Spain Buckner F. Harris killed Remaining filibusters abandon Republic of East Florida	James Madison (March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817)
War of 1812 (1812–1815) Location: Eastern and Central North America General Andrew Jackson stands on the parapet of his makeshift defenses as his troops repulse attacking Highlanders, by painter Edward Percy Moran in 1910.	United States Choctaw Nation Cherokee Nation Creek Allies Baratarian Pirates led by Jean and Pierre Lafitte [4] [Note 1]	United Kingdom British North America The Canadas Swiss Mercenaries (The Regiment de Meuron and De Watteville's Regiment) Tecumseh's Confederacy List Shawnee Red Sticks Ojibway Chickamauga Meskwaki Iroquois Miami Mingo Odawa Kickapoo Lenape Mascouten Potawatomi Sauk Wyandot Spain (1814)	Inconclusive/Other Result Treaty of Ghent Military stalemate; both sides' invasion attempts repulsed Status quo ante bellum Tecumseh's Confederacy Disbanded York sacked by American troops, destroying the original Canadian parliament. Commonwealth troops commit the burning of Washington including the White House and the Capitol Spanish control over West Florida weakened and Mobile comes under American control	James Madison (March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817)
Creek War (1813–1814) Part of the American Indian Wars and the War of 1812 Location: Southern United States The Battle of Horseshoe Bend, 1814	United States Lower Creeks Cherokee Nation Choctaw Nation	Red Stick Creek Supported by:   United Kingdom Spain Tecumseh's Confederacy	US-allied victory Treaty of Fort Jackson	James Madison (March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817)
Nuku Hiva Campaign (1813–1814) Part of the War of 1812 Location: Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands	United States	Tai Pi Happah (October 1813) Te I'i (May 1814)	US tactical victory Tai Pis and Happahs defeated Polynesian strategic victory Fort Madison destroyed and Nuku Hiva abandoned by May 1814	James Madison (March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817)
West Indies anti-piracy operations of the United States (1814–1825) Part of Piracy in the Caribbean Location: West Indies, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico On 8 April 1823, the barges USS Mosquito and USS Gallinipper chased the pirate schooner, Pilot, off Havana, Cuba. Driving the vessel ashore, the ensuing battle resulted in two pirate fatalities and with one being captured. The other pirates escaped on shore where Marines landed to pursue them. The engagement was supported by sloop-of-war Peacock.	United States United Kingdom   Denmark   Spain	Caribbean Pirates	US-allied victory With the Capture of the sloop Anne and the trial and arrest and execution of Roberto Cofresí classical Caribbean piracy ended [5]	James Madison (March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817) James Monroe (March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825) John Quincy Adams (March 4, 1825 – March 4, 1829)
Second Barbary War (1815) Part of the Barbary Wars Location: Mediterranean Sea and the Barbary States Decatur's squadron off Algiers	United States	Deylik of Algiers	US victory	James Madison (March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817)
U.S. Conquest of the Republic of the Floridas during the Amelia Island Affair (1817) Part of the Decline of Spain and the Atlantic Revolutions Location: Amelia Island, Florida	United States	Republic of the Floridas (Insurgent privateer filibusters for the Patriot governments of Venezuela and New Granada)	US victory [6] US annexes Amelia Island	James Monroe (March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825)
First Seminole War (1817–1818) Part of the Seminole Wars, the Decline of Spain, and the American Indian Wars Location: Pensacola , Spanish Florida Barracks and tents at Fort Brooke near Tampa Bay	United States	Seminole Spanish Florida	US victory Spain cedes Spanish Florida to the United States in the Adams–Onís Treaty of 1819 The United States forcibly relocates Seminole in northern Florida to a reservation in the center of the peninsula in the Treaty of Moultrie Creek of 1823	James Monroe (March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825)
Arikara War (1823) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Missouri River An Arikara warrior	United States Sioux	Arikara	Inconclusive/Other Result White Peace treaty agreed by US Col Leavenworth [7]	James Monroe (March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825)
Aegean Sea anti-piracy operations of the United States (1825–1828) Part of the Greek War of Independence Location: Aegean Sea Greek pirates attacking the British merchant ship Comet (later to be liberated by the USS Porpoise during the Battle of Doro Passage).	United States	Greek Pirates	US Victory Pirate Threat Eliminated	John Quincy Adams (March 4, 1825 – March 4, 1829)
Winnebago War (1827) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Illinois and Michigan Territory	United States Choctaw Nation	Prairie La Crosse Ho-Chunks with a few allies	US-allied victory Ho-Chunks cede lead mining region to the United States	John Quincy Adams (March 4, 1825 – March 4, 1829)
Falklands Expedition (1831–1832) Part of the Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute Location: Port Louis, Falkland Islands	United States	Argentina	US Victory Americans rescued Suspects captured Island evacuated Temporary severing of Argentina–United States relations Indirectly resulted in reassertion of British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands	Andrew Jakson (March 4, 1829 – March 4 1837)
First Sumatran Expedition (1832) Part of the Sumatran expeditions Location: Kuala Batee, Aceh Sultanate, Island of Sumatra U.S. Infantry Attacking at the Battle of Quallah Battoo	United States	Chiefdom of Kuala Batee	US Victory	Andrew Jackson (March 4, 1829 – March 4, 1837)
Black Hawk War (1832) Part of the American Indian Wars and the Ute Wars Location: Illinois and Michigan Territory Native women and children fleeing the Battle of Bad Axe	United States Ho-Chunk Menominee Dakota Potawatomi	Black Hawk's British Band Ho-Chunk and Potawatomi allies	US-allied victory End of Native armed resistance to U.S. expansion in the Old Northwest Black Hawk Purchase (1832) The United States purchases Potawatomi land in the Treaty of Tippecanoe (1832) The United States purchases the rest of Potawatomi land west of the Mississippi River in the Treaty of Chicago (1833)	Andrew Jackson (March 4, 1829 – March 4, 1837)
Second Seminole War (1835–1842) Part of the Seminole Wars and the American Indian Wars Location: Florida , United States U.S. Marines search for Seminoles in the Everglades	United States	Seminole	US victory Approximately 3,800 Seminoles transported to the Indian Territory Approximately 300 remain in Everglades	Andrew Jackson (March 4, 1829 – March 4, 1837) Martin Van Buren (March 4, 1837 – March 4, 1841) William Henry Harrison (March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841) John Tyler (April 4, 1841 – March 4, 1845)
Texas Comanche Wars (1836–1875) Part of the Texas–Indian wars and the American Indian Wars Location:South-central United States (Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas, Colorado) and northern Mexico A group of U.S. soldiers defend themselves from Comanche warriors at the Battle of Buffalo Wallow	Republic of Texas United States	Comanche	US victory	Andrew Jackson (March 4, 1829 – March 4, 1837) Martin Van Buren (March 4, 1837 – March 4, 1841) William Henry Harrison (March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841) John Tyler (April 4, 1841 – March 4, 1845) James K. Polk (March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849) Zachary Taylor (March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850) Millard Fillmore (July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853) Franklin Pierce (March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857) James Buchanan (March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861) Abraham Lincoln (March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865) Andrew Johnson (April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869) Ulysses S. Grant (March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877)
Patriot War (1838) Part of Rebellions of 1837–1838 and the Atlantic Revolutions Location: The Great Lakes Basin of the Canada–United States border Battle of the Windmill in which the United States Army and Navy participated in.	United States British Empire Upper Canada	Republic of Canada Hunters' Lodge	Anglo-American victory Act of Union 1840 Webster–Ashburton Treaty Unification of Upper and Lower Canada into the Province of Canada and democratic reforms to lessen social unrest	Martin Van Buren (March 4, 1837 – March 4, 1841)
Second Sumatran Expedition (1838) Part of the Sumatran expeditions Location: Kuala Batee and Muckie, Aceh Sultanate, Island of Sumatra, Island of Sumatra Bombardment of Muckie	United States	Chiefdom of Kuala Batee Chiefdom of Muckie	US Victory 5 Muckie Forts and the Village of Muckie destroyed Kuala Batee Bombarded End of Piracy by Muckie and Kuala	Martin Van Buren (March 4, 1837 – March 4, 1841)
Punitive expeditions of the 1840 Fiji expedition Part of the United States Exploring Expedition and the Fiji expeditions Location: Fiji The Killing of Lieutenant Underwood and passed midshipman Wilkes Henry during the first day of the Battle of Malolo.	United States	Fijian tribes	US Victory 4 Fijian Villages destroyed deaths of sailors avenged the villages of Sualib and Arro forced to give resources as reparations	Martin Van Buren (March 4, 1837 – March 4, 1841)
Bombardment of Upolu (1841) Part of the United States Exploring Expedition Location: Upolu, Samoa, Pacific Ocean A drawing of a Samoan village made in 1839 by Alfred Agate during the Wilkes Expedition.	United States	Samoa	US Victory 3 Villages destroyed Several war canoes destroyed	Martin Van Buren (March 4, 1837 – March 4, 1841)
Battle of Drummond's Island (1841) Part of the United States Exploring Expedition Location:Drummond's Island, Gilbert Islands, (Modern Day Kiribati) Gilbertese warriors of Tabiteuea, with shark's teeth weapons. (Drawn by Alfred Agate)	United States	Micronesian Natives	US victory 2 Native Villages Destroyed	John Tyler (April 4, 1841 – March 4, 1845)
Ivory Coast Expedition (1842) Part of the African Slave Trade Patrol and the Blockade of Africa Location: Ivory Coast , Liberia Veterans of the expedition on board Saratoga in 1842.	United States	Bereby	US Victory 8 Villages (including Little Bereby) destroyed	John Tyler (April 4, 1841 – March 4, 1845)
Capture of Monterey (1842) Location: Mexico (Modern day California) Commodore Jones' flagship USS United States	United States	Mexico	Inconclusive/Other Result Status quo ante bellum Americans leave the city after hearing the war did not break out	John Tyler (April 4, 1841 – March 4, 1845)
USS Congress incident (1844) Part of the Argentine Civil Wars, Platine War, Uruguayan Civil War, and the Great Siege of Montevideo Location: Río de la Plata, Uruguay USS Congress (1842-1862).	United States	Argentina	Status quo ante bellum Argentine Ships temporarily seized Maritime blocking of Montevideo resumed Prosecution of Philip Voorhees	John Tyler (April 4, 1841– March 4, 1845)
Mexican–American War (1846–1848) Location: Texas, New Mexico, California and Mexico The Battle of Río San Gabriel, January 1847.	United States California Republic	Mexico	US-allied victory Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Mexican Cession Mexican recognition of US sovereignty over Texas and California (among other territories)	James K. Polk (March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849)
Cayuse War (1847–1855) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Oregon The Whitman Massacre.	United States	Cayuse	US victory Cayuse reduced in numbers and forced to cede most of their lands	James K. Polk (March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849) Zachary Taylor (March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850) Millard Fillmore (July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853) Franklin Pierce (March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857)
Apache Wars (1849–1924) Part of the Texas–Indian wars, Ute Wars, and the American Indian Wars Location: Southwestern United States U.S. Cavalry dash for cover while fighting Apaches, by F. Remington	United States	Apache Ute Yavapai	US victory Apaches moved to reservations	James K. Polk (March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849) Zachary Taylor (March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850) Millard Fillmore (July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853) Franklin Pierce (March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857) James Buchanan (March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861) Abraham Lincoln (March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865) Andrew Johnson (April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869) Ulysses S. Grant (March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877) Rutherford B. Hayes (March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881) James A. Garfield (March 4, 1881 – September 19, 1881) Chester A. Arthur (September 19, 1881 – March 4, 1885) Grover Cleveland (March 4, 1885 – March 4, 1889) Benjamin Harrison (March 4, 1889 – March 4, 1893) Grover Cleveland (March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1897) William McKinley (March 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901) Theodore Roosevelt (September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909) William Howard Taft (March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913) Woodrow Wilson (March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921) Warren G. Harding (March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923) Calvin Coolidge (August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929)
Navajo Wars (1849–1866) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: New Mexico Fort Defiance	United States	Navajo Nation	US victory Long Walk of the Navajo Navajos moved to reservations	James K. Polk (March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849) Zachary Taylor (March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850) Millard Fillmore (July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853) Franklin Pierce (March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857) James Buchanan (March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861) Abraham Lincoln (March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865) Andrew Johnson (April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869)
California Indian Wars (1850–1887) Part of the American Indian Wars, the California Gold Rush, and the California Genocide Location: Sonora, Arizona, California Members of the Mariposa Battalion firing into an indigenous people encampment during a campaign in the Mariposa War	United States California militia Scalp hunters American Pioneers Gold miners Cahuilla Mountain Band San Pasqual Kumeyaay	Yuma Mohave Cahuilla Los Coyotes Band Cupeño Mountain Kumeyaay Pomo Ahwahnechee Chauchela/Chowchilla Yokuts Wintu Tolowa Yuki Red Caps Achomawi Atsugewi Whilkut – "Wintoons" Chilula – "Redwoods" Hupa Chimariko Lassik Mattole Nongatl Sinkyone Tsnungwe Wailaki Southern Paiute Mono Shoshone Kawaiisu Tübatulabal Snake Indians Modoc	US Allied Native Victory California colonized Native California Indians genocided The Last Major Battles fought solely between Native Americans occurs concluding with the Battle of Pima Butte	James K. Polk (March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849) Zachary Taylor (March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850) Millard Fillmore (July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853) Franklin Pierce (March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857) James Buchanan (March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861) Abraham Lincoln (March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865) Andrew Johnson (April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869) Ulysses S. Grant (March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877) Rutherford B. Hayes (March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881)
Johanna Expedition (1851) Part of the African Slave Trade Patrol and the Blockade of Africa Location: Matsamudu, Comoros Islands, Johanna Island, Indian Ocean USS Dale off San José del Cabo, Mexico in 1847, by William Henry Meyers.	United States	Johanna Sultanate	US Victory Johannans surrendered the town, houses, slaves, cattle and money to the U.S.A. Most Favored Nation Treaty Signed	Millard Fillmore
Sitgreaves Expedition (1851) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: New Mexico territory, Arizona territory, California On the Big Colorado, near Camp 37 by J. Ackerman.	United States	Mohave	US Victory Mohave attack repulsed Expedition successful The Zuni, Little Colorado, and Big Colorado rivers, successfully mapped Path open for pioneer emigration	Millard Fillmore
Battle of Muddy Flat (1854) Part of the Taiping Rebellion and the Small Swords Society UprisingLocation: Shanghai, China Battle of Muddy Flat along the Defense Creek	United States British Empire Shanghai Volunteer Corps Taiping Heavenly Kingdom	China Pirate Mercenaries	US-allied victory Qing forces retreat a mile away from the foreign concessions area Adherence to Foreign Extraterritoriality Status Maintained Yangtze Patrol, Shanghai Municipal Council, Shanghai Municipal Police, and the Chinese Maritime Customs Service established	Franklin Pierce
First Sioux War (1854–1856) Part of the Sioux Wars and the American Indian Wars Location: East of Fort Laramie, Nebraska Territory	United States	Lakota Sioux	US Victory The war was caused by the Grattan Massacre	Franklin Pierce (March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857)
Bleeding Kansas (1854–1861) Location: Kansas and Missouri Sacking of Lawrence in 1856	Anti-slavery settlers (Free-Staters)	Pro-slavery settlers (Border Ruffians)	Free-Stater victory. Kansas admitted as a free state on January 29, 1861.	Franklin Pierce (March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857) James Buchannan (March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861) Abraham Lincoln (March 4, 1861 – April 12, 1861)
Bombardment of Greytown (1854) Location: Greytown, Mosquito Coast (Modern Day Nicaragua) An illustration of USS Cyane bombarding Greytown	United States	Mosquito Coast	US Victory Monroe Doctrine enforced Beginning of a gradual decline of the Mosquito Coast as a British Protectorate	Franklin Pierce
Battle of Ty-ho Bay (1855) Location: Off Tai O, Hong Kong A model of an eight gun pirate junk.	United Kingdom United States	Chinese Pirates	Anglo-American victory
1855 Fiji expedition Part of the Fiji expeditions Location: Fiji Lautoka on Viti Levu in 1842	United States	Fijians	US Victory
Rogue River Wars (1855–1856) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Rogue Valley	United States	Tututni	US victory Indians relocated to Siletz, Grand Ronde and Coast Reservations
Puget Sound War (1855–1856) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Washington	United States Snoqualmie	Nisqually Muckleshoot Puyallup Klickitat Haida Tlingit	US victory Indians relocated to Siletz, Grand Ronde and Coast Reservations[ citation needed ]
Third Seminole War (1855–1858) Part of the Seminole Wars and the American Indian Wars Location: Pensacola , Florida	United States	Seminole	US victory By late 1850s, most Seminoles forced to leave their land; a few hundred remain deep in the Everglades on land unwanted by white settlers	Franklin Pierce (March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857) James Buchanan (March 4, 1857 – 1855)
Yakima War (1855–1858) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Washington Territory Seattleites evacuate to the town blockhouse as USS Decatur opens fire on advancing tribal forces.	United States Snoqualmie	Yakama Walla Walla tribe Umatilla tribe Nez Perce tribe Cayuse tribe	US victory	Franklin Pierce (March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857) James Buchanan (March 4, 1857 – September, 1858)
Second Opium War (1856–1860) Part of the Opium Wars Location: China Palikao's bridge, on the evening of the battle, by Émile Bayard	United Kingdom   France Russian Empire United States	China	US victory Treaties of Tientsin Kowloon Peninsula and Stonecutters Island ceded to the United Kingdom as part of British Hong Kong	Franklin Pierce (November 16, 1856 – March 4, 1857) James Buchanan (March 4, 1857 – June 26, 1859)
Utah War (1857–1858) Part of the Mormon wars Location: Utah Territory and Wyoming	United States	Deseret/Utah Mormons (Nauvoo Legion)	Inconclusive/Other Result Resolution through negotiation Brigham Young replaced as governor of the territory Full amnesty for charges of sedition and treason issued to the citizens of Utah Territory by President James Buchanan on the condition that they accept American Federal authority	James Buchanan
Reform War (1857–1861) Location: Mexico The USS Savannah which fought in the Battle of Antón Lizardo in March 1860	Liberals United States	Conservatives	Liberals - US victory	James Buchanan
1858 Fiji expedition Part of the Fiji expeditions Location: Fiji	United States	Fijians	US victory	James Buchanan
Mohave War (1858–1859) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Arizona territory A drawing of Mojave Indians from the Whipple Expedition (1853 to 1854) by Balduin Möllhausen.	United States Maricopa	Mohave Hualapai	US-allied Victory The Mohave and their allies surrender The guerrilla war between the Maricopa and the Mohave ends	James Buchanan
Pig War (1859) Location: San Juan Islands Proposed boundaries:   Through Haro Strait, favored by the US   Through Rosario Strait, favored by Britain   Through San Juan Channel, compromise proposal The lines are as shown on maps of the time. The modern boundary follows straight line segments and roughly follows the blue line. The modern eastern boundary of San Juan County roughly follows the red line.	United States Washington Territory	United Kingdom Colony of Vancouver Island	Inconclusive/Other Result Treaty of Washington Mostly a bloodless war – San Juan Islands awarded to the United States following third-party arbitration	James Buchanan
John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry (1859) Part of pre-Civil War conflicts Location: West Virginia Harper's Weekly illustration of U.S. Marines attacking John Brown's "Fort" Teresa Baine	United States	Abolitionist Insurgents	US victory	James Buchanan
First and Second Cortina War (1859–1861) Location: Texas and Mexico	United States Confederate States Mexico	Cortinista bandits	US-allied victory	James Buchanan Abraham Lincoln
Paiute War (1860) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Pyramid Lake , Nevada	United States	Paiute Shoshone Bannock	US victory	James Buchanan
American Civil War (1861–1865) Location: Southern United States, Indian Territory, Northeastern United States, Western United States, Atlantic Ocean The Battle of Gettysburg, July 1863.	United States Indian Home Guard Seminole Nation (Western) (most) [8] Seminole Nation (Florida) Muskogee Nation (part) [9]	Confederate States Cherokee Nation Choctaw Nation Catawba Chickasaw Nation (part) Muskogee Nation (part) Seminole Nation (Western) (part) Comanche Nation (part)	US victory Dissolution of the Confederate States U.S. territorial integrity preserved Beginning of the Reconstruction Era U.S. Federal government expands further control over land and railroad rights in the Indian Territory.	Abraham Lincoln
Bombardment of Qui Nhơn (1861) Part of the Cochinchina Campaign Location: Qui Nhơn, Vietnam USS Saginaw at Mare Island naval yard.	United States	Đại Nam under the Nguyễn dynasty	US Victory Vietnamese-held fort destroyed
Yavapai Wars (1861–1875) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Arizona Rescue of Lt. Charles King	United States	Yavapai Apache Yuma Mohave	US victory	Abraham Lincoln (March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865) Andrew Johnson (April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869) Ulysses S. Grant (March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877)
Dakota War of 1862 (1862) Part of the Sioux Wars and the American Indian Wars Location: Minnesota and Dakota The Siege of New Ulm, Minnesota on August 19, 1862	United States	Dakota Sioux	US victory	Abraham Lincoln
1st Battle of Shimonoseki Straits and the following Shimonoseki campaign (1863–1864) Part of Bakumatsu Conflicts Location: Shimonoseki Straits, Honshu, Japan USS Wyoming sinking the American built Koshin (Originally the Lancefield) which had been gifted to Japan that same year (1863)	United States British Empire French Empire   Netherlands	Chōshū Domain	US-allied victory Treaty of Amity and Commerce enforced
Colorado War (1863–1865) Part of the Sioux Wars and the American Indian Wars Location: Colorado , Wyoming , and Nebraska	United States	Cheyenne Arapaho Sioux	Inconclusive/Other Result Military and congressional hearings against John Chivington
Snake War (1864–1868) Part of the American Indian Wars Locations: Oregon , Nevada , California , and Idaho	United States	Paiute Bannock Shoshone	US victory	Abraham Lincoln (March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865) Andrew Johnson (April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869)
Hualapai War (1865–1870) Part of the American Indian Wars, Yavapai Wars [Note 2] Location: Arizona Territory An 1869 map of the United States Army Camp Date Creek and the nearby Hualapai reservation.	United States Mohave Scouts	Hualapai Yavapai Havasupai	US victory An outbreak of dysentery and whooping cough that caused many of the natives to surrender Hualapai forced onto reservations	Andrew Johnson
Powder River War (1865) Part of the Sioux Wars and the American Indian Wars Location: Powder River State	United States	Sioux Cheyenne Arapaho	Inconclusive	Andrew Johnson
Red Cloud's War (1866–1868) Part of the Sioux Wars and the American Indian Wars Location: Powder River State The Fetterman Massacre	United States Crow Nation	Lakota Cheyenne Arapaho	Lakota-allied victory Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868) Legal control of Powder River Country ceded to Native Americans Creation of the Great Sioux Reservation (including the Black Hills)
Formosa Expedition (1867) Location: Hengchun, Taiwan, Qing China Attack of United States Marines and Sailors on the pirates of the island of Formosa, East Indies, Harper's Weekly	United States	Paiwan	Paiwan victory
Comanche Campaign (1867–1875) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Western United States Battle of Beecher Island. One soldier and three horses have fallen, while others continue to wage the battle.	United States	Cheyenne Arapaho Comanche Kiowa	US victory	Andrew Johnson (April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869) Ulysses S. Grant (March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877)
Battle of Boca Teacapan (1870) Location: Boca Teacapan, Sinaloa, Teacapan Estuary, Mexico	United States	Mexican Pirates	US victory	Ulysses S. Grant (March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877)
United States expedition to Korea (1871) Location: Ganghwa Island The captured Sujagi aboard USS Colorado in June 1871	United States	Joseon dynasty	Inconclusive/Other Result American military victory American diplomatic failure Withdrawal of American forces Korea retains isolationist policies Eventual signing of the United States–Korea Treaty of 1882	Ulysses S. Grant (March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877)
Modoc War (1872–1873) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: California and Oregon Engraving of soldiers recovering the bodies of the slain May 3, 1873.	United States	Modoc	US victory	Ulysses S. Grant (March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877)
Red River War (1874–1875) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Texas	United States	Cheyenne Arapaho Comanche Kiowa	US victory End to the Texas-Indian Wars	Ulysses S. Grant (March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877)
Liberian–Grebo War (1875-1876) Location: Liberia	Liberia Supported by: United States	Grebo People	US–Liberian Victory The USS Alaska forces the Grebo to surrunder Attempt to establish the "G'debo Reunited Kingdom failed Grebo forced onto land concessions Captain Alexander Alderman Semmes made sure in the agreement that the Grebo were given Liberian citizenship	Ulysses S. Grant (March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877)
Las Cuevas War (1875) Location: Texas and Mexico Texan soldiers.	United States	Mexican bandits	US victory Cattle returned to Texas	Ulysses S. Grant (March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877)
Great Sioux War of 1876 (1876–1877) Part of the Sioux Wars and the American Indian Wars Location: Montana , Dakota and Wyoming The Battle of the Little Bighorn, June 1876	United States	Lakota Dakota Sioux Northern Cheyenne Arapaho	US victory Legal control of Powder River Country ceded to the United States	Ulysses S. Grant (March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877) Rutherford B. Hayes (March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881)
Buffalo Hunters' War (1876–1877) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Texas and Oklahoma	United States	Comanche Apache	US victory	Ulysses S. Grant (March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877) Rutherford B. Hayes (March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881)
Nez Perce War (1877) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Oregon , Idaho , Wyoming , and Montana Chief Joseph's band in the Battle of Bear Paw Mountain	United States	Nez Perce Palouse	US victory	Rutherford B. Hayes (March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881)
Bannock War (1878) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Idaho , Oregon , and Wyoming	United States	Bannock Shoshone Paiute	US victory
Cheyenne War (1878–1879) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Oklahoma , Kansas , Nebraska , South Dakota and Montana Aftermath of the Battle of "The Pit."	United States	Cheyenne	US victory
Sheepeater Indian War (1879) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Idaho	United States	Shoshone	US victory
Victorio's War (1879–1880) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Mexico	United States Mexico	Apache	US-allied victory
White River War (1879) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Colorado Battle of Milk Creek Canyon	United States	Ute	US victory
Egyptian Expedition (1882) Part of the Anglo-Egyptian War Location: Alexandria Front page of "Judge" magazine, August 12, 1882, featuring a cartoon by "JAW" concerning aid rendered by the American navy during the British bombardment of Alexandria.	United States	Egypt	US victory	Chester A. Arthur
Burning of Colón (1885) Part of the Colombian Civil War (1884–1885) and the Panama crisis of 1885 Location: Colón, Colombia (Modern day Panama) Sailors of the USS Galena in the 1880s	United States	Panamanian rebels Colombia Supported by: Chile	US victory Colón destroyed rebels retreat American hostages released First time a U.S. Marine Corps assembled a brigade level formation [10]	Grover Cleveland
Crow War (1887) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Montana Crow Indians Firing into the Agency 1887	United States	Crow people	US victory	Grover Cleveland
Ghost Dance War (1890–1891) Part of the Sioux Wars and the American Indian Wars Location: South Dakota Mass grave for the dead Lakota after the Wounded Knee Massacre.	United States	Sioux	US victory	Benjamin Harrison
Garza War (1891–1893) Location: Texas and Mexico 3rd Cavalry Troopers searching a suspected Revolutionist, 1892	Mexico United States	Garzistas	US-allied victory	Benjamin Harrison
Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom (1893) Part of the Hawaiian Rebellions (1887–1895) Location: Honolulu, Hawaiian Kingdom The USS Boston's landing force on duty at the Arlington Hotel, Honolulu, at the time of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, January 1893. Lieutenant Lucien Young, USN, commanded the detachment, and is presumably the officer at right.	United States Committee of Safety	Hawaiian Kingdom	US-Hawaiian League Victory Surrender of the Hawaiian Kingdom Queen Liliʻuokalani relinquishes power Provisional Government, later renamed a Republic, established Hawaii organized into a territory, then a state of the United States	Benjamin Harrison
Yaqui Wars (1896–1918) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Arizona and Mexico 10th Cavalry soldiers holding Yaqui prisoners at their camp in Bear Valley, January 9, 1918.	United States Mexico	Yaqui Pima Opata	US-allied victory	Grover Cleveland (March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1897) William McKinley (March 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901) Theodore Roosevelt (September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909) William Howard Taft (March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913) Woodrow Wilson (March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921)
Second Samoan Civil War (1898–1899) Location: Samoa Samoan warriors and American servicemen during the Siege of Apia in March 1899.	Samoa United States	Mataafans German Empire	Inconclusive/Other Result Allies and Rebels compromise for peace Tripartite Convention United States acquires American Samoa United Kingdom withdraws claim in exchange for concessions in the Solomon Islands Germany acquires German Samoa Mata'afa Iosefo becomes paramount chief of Samoa	William McKinley
Spanish–American War (1898) Location: Cuba , Puerto Rico , Philippines and Guam Theodore Roosevelt and the "Rough Riders" after the Battle of San Juan Hill.	United States Cuban Revolutionaries Filipino Revolutionaries	Spain Cuba Guam Philippines Puerto Rico	US-allied victory Treaty of Paris Fall of the Spanish Empire United States took possession of the Spanish colonies: Puerto Rico, Philippines and Guam Protectorate over Cuba Rise of the United States as a world power Founding of the First Philippine Republic and beginning of the Philippine–American War The war contributed to the popular image of Theodore Roosevelt as a war hero and advanced his career, in 1901 became the 26th president of the United States Spain sells to Germany its last colonies in the Pacific in 1899
Philippine–American War (1899–1902) Location: Philippines U.S. soldiers during the Battle of Manila.	1899–1902 United States Military government 1902-1906 United States Civil government	1899–1902 Philippine Republic Negros Republic Zamboanga Republic Limited Foreign Support: Empire of Japan Shishi 1902-1906 Tagalog Republic Irrenconcilables	US victory Occupation of the Philippines Establishment of the Insular Government of the Philippine Islands General Emilio Aguinaldo captured Dissolution of the First Philippine Republic	William McKinley (March 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901) Theodore Roosevelt (September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909)
Moro Rebellion (1899–1913) Location: Philippines American soldiers battling against Moro fighters.	United States	Moro Remnants of the Sulu Sultanate	US victory Total annexation of the Philippine Islands	William McKinley (March 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901) Theodore Roosevelt (September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909) William Howard Taft (March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913) Woodrow Wilson (March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921)
Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901) Location: China U.S. soldiers during the Boxer Rebellion in China.	Eight-Nation Alliance British Empire   Russia   Japan   France   Germany   United States   Italy   Austria-Hungary   Netherlands   Spain   Belgium Mutual Defence Pact of Southeast China (after 1900)	Boxer movement Qing dynasty (after 1900)	US-allied victory Signing of the Boxer Protocol Provisions for foreign troops to be stationed in Beijing	William McKinley

See also

• List of notable deployments of U.S. military forces overseas
• Timeline of United States military operations
• Military history of the United States
• United States Armed Forces
• List of American military installations
• List of United States drone bases
• Social history of soldiers and veterans in the United States
• Itata incident

Notes

1. The Baratarian only fought during the time of the Battle of New Orleans in exchange for pardons.
2. The Hualapai War and the Yavapai Wars were contemporaneous and overlapped each other, but were distinct conflicts.

References

1. "Tripolitan War | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
2. r2WPadmin. "First Barbary War". American History Central. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
3. "COVINGTON, Leonard 1768 – 1813". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. December 12, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
4. Davis, William C. (May 1, 2006). The Pirates Laffite: The Treacherous World of the Corsairs of the Gulf. Mariner Books. pp. 211–231. ISBN   978-0156032599.
5. Wombwell, A. James (2010). The Long War Against Piracy: Historical Trends. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas:
   Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 204. ISBN   978-0-9823283-6-1.
6. Monroe, James (1818). THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, OF THE TROOPS OF THE UNITED STATES HAVING TAKEN POSSESSION OF AMELIA ISLAND IN EAST FLORIDA.
7. Serial 89, 18th Congress, 1st Session, Senate Document No. 1, p. 95
8. "The Indians". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 12, 1884.
9. "Union and Confederate Indians in the Civil War". civilwarhome.com. February 16, 2002. Archived from the original on February 13, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
10. Roberts, Jerry A. (2020). U.S. Marines in Battle: Guantanamo Bay (PDF). Marine Corps University Press. pp. 2–4.

External links

• Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research (HIIK)
  • Conflict Barometer – Describes recent trends in conflict development, escalations, and settlements
• A Continent Divided: The U.S.-Mexico War ^{[ permanent dead link ]}, Center for Greater Southwestern Studies, the University of Texas at Arlington
• Timeline of wars involving the United States, Histropedia
• U.S. Periods of War and Dates of Recent Conflicts, Congressional Research Service