World War I
In Europe, the First World War began on July 28, 1914. There were many causes for this war to begin. During this time, many conflicts were occurring between many great powers in Europe
Countries in Europe wanted to expand their wealth and power at this time. Many countries were clashing by trying to take over different parts of Africa. While the need to increase their empire rises, a great arms race had begun. During this war, Great Britain and Germany were increasing the navies significantly. By increasing their military, help pushed many of the countries in the war. This allowed for the United States to get into the war. Throughout the war, the United States gave supplies to France and Great Britain. The United State came into the war because a US Submarine was attacked by a German U-boat in 1917.
The United States tried to remain neutral under the leadership of Woodrow Wilson. At the time of war, Wilson wanted to push for peace because he wanted the Progressive movement to thrive. After the Germans attacked, the citizens of the United States called for action and forced Wilson to enter the war. Then Wilson tried to create the League of Nations. This league was an alliance between the big three: the US, Britain, and France. Along with this, the treat of Paris was drafted at the conference. At home, the United States did not suffer greatly from World War I. It ultimately helped the Progressive Era thrive. This was because it allowed for many jobs to be created. Approximately 500,000 to 1,000,000 new employees had taken jobs in a variety of production areas necessary to help supply the war.
As the war came to an end, Britain, France, and Italy proposed the Treaty of Versailles. In this treaty, Germany was greatly punished for all the damage that had been done. However, the United States did not ratify the treaty. This is because Wilson felt that the League of Nation was vital for peace. (Thompson)
Countries in Europe wanted to expand their wealth and power at this time. Many countries were clashing by trying to take over different parts of Africa. While the need to increase their empire rises, a great arms race had begun. During this war, Great Britain and Germany were increasing the navies significantly. By increasing their military, help pushed many of the countries in the war. This allowed for the United States to get into the war. Throughout the war, the United States gave supplies to France and Great Britain. The United State came into the war because a US Submarine was attacked by a German U-boat in 1917.
The United States tried to remain neutral under the leadership of Woodrow Wilson. At the time of war, Wilson wanted to push for peace because he wanted the Progressive movement to thrive. After the Germans attacked, the citizens of the United States called for action and forced Wilson to enter the war. Then Wilson tried to create the League of Nations. This league was an alliance between the big three: the US, Britain, and France. Along with this, the treat of Paris was drafted at the conference. At home, the United States did not suffer greatly from World War I. It ultimately helped the Progressive Era thrive. This was because it allowed for many jobs to be created. Approximately 500,000 to 1,000,000 new employees had taken jobs in a variety of production areas necessary to help supply the war.
As the war came to an end, Britain, France, and Italy proposed the Treaty of Versailles. In this treaty, Germany was greatly punished for all the damage that had been done. However, the United States did not ratify the treaty. This is because Wilson felt that the League of Nation was vital for peace. (Thompson)
World War II
The Second World War began in 1939 and the war lasted until 1945. The main cause of World War II was Adolf Hitler’s desire to take control of Nazi Germany. It involved many nations throughout Europe. The two main sides were the Allies and Axis powers. On the side of the Allies, the United States, France, and Great Britain fought against the Axis power. The Axis powers consisted of Germany, Japan, and Italy. This great war began with Germany invading Poland because the Germans felt that the Polish were committing unjustified attacks against them. Three days later, the Allies united and declared war against Germany. After that, Germany launched a full attack on France and Great Britain.
Throughout the war, the German empire also had unlimited discrimination against the Jewish population. In Europe, there were about nine million Jews. During World War II, about six million Jews were affected by the reign of Hitler and the Nazi Party. Because of the hatred toward the Jews, Hitler passed numerous laws excluding them from society. Concentration camps were also established throughout Germany. These camps caused the inmates to become slaves and work until they died of disease or exhaustion. Also, Germany sent out specialized units to kill Jews and other opponents seen as "threats."
The United States increased involvement began when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. According to the Japanese, the attack was made to try to prevent the U.S. Pacific Fleet from getting into the Japanese Empire. After this, the United States was in full war mode. The United States began fighting the war in two fronts, Germany and Japan. At this time, the economy in the United States boomed. Industry was at an all-time high to keep supplies ready when it was needed in battles. While young, able-bodied men went to fight in the war, millions of other citizens dropped what they were doing and moved into the labor force. The unemployment rate dropped significantly during World War II.
Finally, on May 7, 1945 the German government was forced to surrender. This day is now known at V-E Day. A few days later, the United States launched a firebomb raid on Tokyo. This bomb destroyed 250,000 building and killed approximately 83,000 people. However, Japan was still a threat on the sea. The United States fleet then decided to land on a Philippine Island to launch a final raid on Japan. After that, leaders of the Allies came together at the Potsdam Conference. At the conference the Allies gave the Japanese an ultimatum: surrender or die. Then on September 2, 1945 official ceremonies of surrender were conducted ultimately causing V-J Day. (Thompson)
Throughout the war, the German empire also had unlimited discrimination against the Jewish population. In Europe, there were about nine million Jews. During World War II, about six million Jews were affected by the reign of Hitler and the Nazi Party. Because of the hatred toward the Jews, Hitler passed numerous laws excluding them from society. Concentration camps were also established throughout Germany. These camps caused the inmates to become slaves and work until they died of disease or exhaustion. Also, Germany sent out specialized units to kill Jews and other opponents seen as "threats."
The United States increased involvement began when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. According to the Japanese, the attack was made to try to prevent the U.S. Pacific Fleet from getting into the Japanese Empire. After this, the United States was in full war mode. The United States began fighting the war in two fronts, Germany and Japan. At this time, the economy in the United States boomed. Industry was at an all-time high to keep supplies ready when it was needed in battles. While young, able-bodied men went to fight in the war, millions of other citizens dropped what they were doing and moved into the labor force. The unemployment rate dropped significantly during World War II.
Finally, on May 7, 1945 the German government was forced to surrender. This day is now known at V-E Day. A few days later, the United States launched a firebomb raid on Tokyo. This bomb destroyed 250,000 building and killed approximately 83,000 people. However, Japan was still a threat on the sea. The United States fleet then decided to land on a Philippine Island to launch a final raid on Japan. After that, leaders of the Allies came together at the Potsdam Conference. At the conference the Allies gave the Japanese an ultimatum: surrender or die. Then on September 2, 1945 official ceremonies of surrender were conducted ultimately causing V-J Day. (Thompson)
Korean War
June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953
The Korean War started on June 25, 1950. The War was fought between South Korea- The Republic of Korea, and North Korea- The Democratic People Republic of Korea. The Korean War was the first Military Action of the Cold War Era.
The United States Involvement started when North Korea crossed over the 38th parallel and invaded the South. Harry S. Truman was the President of the United States at the time and made the decision along with the United Nations to send troops to help fight the North. the reasoning behind the U.S. getting involved was because they were afraid of communism spreading. The North however also had help from China and the Soviet Union.
The Korean War went on for three years. The war came to a stalemate with the signing of the Korean Armistice agreement. This agreement was sign by United States Army Lieutenant General William Harrison Jr. and Nam II on July 27, 1953.
The Korean War started on June 25, 1950. The War was fought between South Korea- The Republic of Korea, and North Korea- The Democratic People Republic of Korea. The Korean War was the first Military Action of the Cold War Era.
The United States Involvement started when North Korea crossed over the 38th parallel and invaded the South. Harry S. Truman was the President of the United States at the time and made the decision along with the United Nations to send troops to help fight the North. the reasoning behind the U.S. getting involved was because they were afraid of communism spreading. The North however also had help from China and the Soviet Union.
The Korean War went on for three years. The war came to a stalemate with the signing of the Korean Armistice agreement. This agreement was sign by United States Army Lieutenant General William Harrison Jr. and Nam II on July 27, 1953.
With every war, the casualties and injuries come with hard impact. Although this war was short, the causalities were far from minor. Nearly 5 million deaths were recorded with 10 percent of them being civilians. 40,000 Americans were killed while 100,000 were injured.
Vietnam War
Although there is not
an exact date of the official start of the Vietnam War, It was sometime during
the Kennedy administration. Vietnam has come to be
known as the longest war in American History and the only "loss" the United States had ever seen. Vietnam itself is still having been affected by the war ,for example, the
rivers and forest are still poisoned by Agent Orange-a poison sprayed on
Vietnam in the 1960’s- and farmers are still being killed by unexploded
bombs when they plow their fields.
Just like any War casualties need to be taken into account. In the south, Vietnams’ casualty number are around 200,000 while the north is somewhere around 1 million. The casualties on the American side are around 57,000 and also 300,000 injured. The civilian deaths in Vietnam are also around 1 million.
Just like any War casualties need to be taken into account. In the south, Vietnams’ casualty number are around 200,000 while the north is somewhere around 1 million. The casualties on the American side are around 57,000 and also 300,000 injured. The civilian deaths in Vietnam are also around 1 million.
This War also took a huge toll on the American home front. Many people did not believe we should have anything to do with the war and protests were very common all over the nation. one of the biggest protests was a shooting at Kent State.
Gulf War
On November 29, 1990, the U.N. Security Council authorized the
use of “all necessary means” of force against Iraq if it did not withdraw from
Kuwait by the following January 15. By January, the coalition forces prepared
to face off against Iraq numbered some 750,000, including 540,000 U.S.
personnel and smaller forces from Britain, France, Germany, the Soviet Union,
Japan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, among other nations. Iraq, for its part, had the
support of Jordan, Algeria, the Sudan, Yemen, Tunisia and the Palestinian
Liberation Organization (PLO).
Early on the morning of January 17, 1991, a massive U.S.-led air
offensive hit Iraq’s air defenses, moving swiftly on to its communications
networks, weapons plants, oil refineries and more. The coalition effort, known
as Operation Desert Storm, benefited from the latest military technology,
including Stealth bombers, Cruise missiles, so-called “Smart” bombs with
laser-guidance systems and infrared night-bombing equipment. The Iraqi air
force was either destroyed early on or opted out of combat under the relentless
attack, the objective of which was to win the war in the air and minimize
combat on the ground as much as possible.
By mid-February, the coalition forces had shifted the focus of their air attacks toward Iraqi ground forces in Kuwait and southern Iraq. A massive allied ground offensive, Operation Desert Sabre, was launched on February 24, with troops heading from northeastern Saudi Arabia into Kuwait and southern Iraq. Over the next four days, coalition forces encircled and defeated the Iraqis and liberated Kuwait. At the same time, U.S. forces stormed into Iraq some 120 miles west of Kuwait, attacking Iraq’s armored reserves from the rear. The elite Iraqi Republican Guard mounted a defense south of Al-Basrah in southeastern Iraq, but most were defeated by February 27.
With Iraqi resistance nearing collapse, Bush declared a ceasefire on February 28, ending the Persian Gulf War. According to the peace terms that Hussein subsequently accepted, Iraq would recognize Kuwait’s sovereignty and get rid of all its weapons of mass destruction (including nuclear, biological and chemical weapons). In all, an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 Iraqi forces were killed, in comparison with only 300 coalition troops.
Though the Gulf War was recognized as a decisive victory for the coalition, Kuwait and Iraq suffered enormous damage, and Saddam Hussein was not forced from power. Intended by coalition leaders to be a “limited” war fought at minimum cost, it would have lingering effects for years to come, both in the Persian Gulf region and around the world. In the immediate aftermath of the war, Hussein’s forces brutally suppressed uprisings by Kurds in the north of Iraq and Shi’ites in the south. The United States-led coalition failed to support the uprisings, afraid that the Iraqi state would be dissolved if they succeeded. In the years that followed, U.S. and British aircraft continued to patrol skies and mandate a no-fly zone over Iraq, while Iraqi authorities made every effort to frustrate the carrying out of the peace terms, especially United Nations weapons inspections. This resulted in a brief resumption of hostilities in 1998, after which Iraq steadfastly refused to admit weapons inspectors. In addition, Iraqi force regularly exchanged fire with U.S. and British aircraft over the no-fly zone.
In 2002, the United States sponsored a new U.N. resolution calling for the return of weapons inspectors to Iraq; U.N. inspectors reentered Iraq that November. Amid differences between Security Council member states over how well Iraq had complied with those inspections, the United States and Britain began amassing forces on Iraq’s border. Bush (without further U.N. approval) issued an ultimatum on March 17, 2003, demanding that Saddam Hussein step down from power and leave Iraq within 48 hours, under threat of war. Hussein refused, and the second Persian Gulf War–more generally known as the Iraq War–began three days later.
By mid-February, the coalition forces had shifted the focus of their air attacks toward Iraqi ground forces in Kuwait and southern Iraq. A massive allied ground offensive, Operation Desert Sabre, was launched on February 24, with troops heading from northeastern Saudi Arabia into Kuwait and southern Iraq. Over the next four days, coalition forces encircled and defeated the Iraqis and liberated Kuwait. At the same time, U.S. forces stormed into Iraq some 120 miles west of Kuwait, attacking Iraq’s armored reserves from the rear. The elite Iraqi Republican Guard mounted a defense south of Al-Basrah in southeastern Iraq, but most were defeated by February 27.
With Iraqi resistance nearing collapse, Bush declared a ceasefire on February 28, ending the Persian Gulf War. According to the peace terms that Hussein subsequently accepted, Iraq would recognize Kuwait’s sovereignty and get rid of all its weapons of mass destruction (including nuclear, biological and chemical weapons). In all, an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 Iraqi forces were killed, in comparison with only 300 coalition troops.
Though the Gulf War was recognized as a decisive victory for the coalition, Kuwait and Iraq suffered enormous damage, and Saddam Hussein was not forced from power. Intended by coalition leaders to be a “limited” war fought at minimum cost, it would have lingering effects for years to come, both in the Persian Gulf region and around the world. In the immediate aftermath of the war, Hussein’s forces brutally suppressed uprisings by Kurds in the north of Iraq and Shi’ites in the south. The United States-led coalition failed to support the uprisings, afraid that the Iraqi state would be dissolved if they succeeded. In the years that followed, U.S. and British aircraft continued to patrol skies and mandate a no-fly zone over Iraq, while Iraqi authorities made every effort to frustrate the carrying out of the peace terms, especially United Nations weapons inspections. This resulted in a brief resumption of hostilities in 1998, after which Iraq steadfastly refused to admit weapons inspectors. In addition, Iraqi force regularly exchanged fire with U.S. and British aircraft over the no-fly zone.
In 2002, the United States sponsored a new U.N. resolution calling for the return of weapons inspectors to Iraq; U.N. inspectors reentered Iraq that November. Amid differences between Security Council member states over how well Iraq had complied with those inspections, the United States and Britain began amassing forces on Iraq’s border. Bush (without further U.N. approval) issued an ultimatum on March 17, 2003, demanding that Saddam Hussein step down from power and leave Iraq within 48 hours, under threat of war. Hussein refused, and the second Persian Gulf War–more generally known as the Iraq War–began three days later.
Iraq/ Afghanistan
The Second Persian Gulf War, also known as the Iraq War, March–April, 2003, was a largely U.S.-British invasion of Iraq. In many ways the final, delayed campaign of the First Persian Gulf War, it arose in part because the Iraqi government failed to cooperate fully with UN weapons inspections in the years following the first conflict.
The election of George W. Bush to the U.S. presidency returned to government many officials from his father's administration who had favored removing Saddam Hussein from power in the first war. After the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, the United States moved toward a doctrine of first-strike, pre-emptive war to eliminate threats to national security. As early as October, 2001, U.S. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld publicly suggested that military action against Iraq was possible, and in November President Bush asked Rumsfeld to undertake a war-plan review. In January, 2002, President Bush accused Iraq along with North Korea and Iran, as being part of "an axis of evil," and with the Taliban forced from power in Afghanistan in early 2002, the administration's attention turned to Iraq.
Accusing Iraq of failing to abide by the terms of the 1991 cease-fire (by developing and possessing weapons of mass destruction and by refusing to cooperate with UN weapons inspections) and of supporting terrorism, the president and other officials suggested that the "war on terrorism" might be expanded to include Iraq and became more forceful in their denunciations of Iraq for resisting UN arms inspections, called for "regime change" in Iraq, and leaked news of military planning for war. President Bush also called on the United Nations to act forcefully against Iraq or risk becoming "irrelevant." As a result, Iraq announced in Sept., 2002, that UN inspectors could return, but Iraqi slowness to agree on inspection terms and U.S. insistence on stricter conditions for Iraqi compliance stalled the inspectors' return.
In October, Congress approved the use of force against Iraq, and in November the Security Council passed a resolution offering Iraq a "final opportunity" to cooperate on arms inspections. A strict inspections timetable was established, and active Iraqi compliance insisted on. Inspections resumed in late November. A December declaration by Iraq that it had no weapons of mass destruction was generally regarded as incomplete and uninformative, but by January, 2003, UN inspectors had found no evidence of forbidden weapons programs. However, they also indicated that Iraq was not actively cooperating with their efforts to determine if previously known or suspected weapons had been destroyed and weapons programs had been ended.
Despite much international opposition, including increasingly rancorous objections from France, Germany, and Russia, the United States and Britain continued their military buildup in areas near Iraq, insisting that Iraq was hiding weapons of mass destruction. Turkey, which the allies hoped to use as a base for a northern front in Iraq, refused to allow use of its territory, but most Anglo-American forces were in place in Kuwait and other locations by March. After failing to win the explicit UN Security Council approval desired by Britain (because Britons were otherwise largely opposed to war), President Bush issued an ultimatum to Iraqi president Hussein on March 17, and two days later the war began with an airstrike against Hussein and the Iraqi leadership. Ground forces (almost exclusively Anglo-American and significantly smaller than the large international force assembled in the first war) began invading the following day, surging primarily toward Baghdad, the southern oil fields, and port facilities; a northern front was opened by Kurdish and airborne Anglo-American forces late in March.
By mid-April, 2003, Hussein's army and government had collapsed, he himself had disappeared, and the allies were largely in control of the major Iraqi cities. The allies gradually turned their attention to the rebuilding of Iraq and the establishment of a new Iraqi government, but progress toward that end was hampered by lawlessness, especially in Baghdad, where widespread looting initially had been tolerated by U.S. forces.
On May 1, President Bush declared victory in the war against Iraq. No weapons of mass destruction were found, leading to charges that U.S. and British leaders had exaggerated the Iraqi biological and chemical threat in order to justify the war. Much of the intelligence used to justify the war subsequently was criticized as faulty by U.S. and British investigative bodies. Hussein finally was captured in December, 2003. In 2004, he was transferred to Iraqi legal custody; tried and convicted of crimes against humanity, he was executed in 2006. In the aftermath of the war, U.S.-led occupation forces and, later, Iraqi security forces, struggled for several years with Iraqi and Islamic insurgencies and sectarian violence that military and civilian planners had failed to foresee. In August, 2010, U.S. combat operations in Iraq officially ended; the last U.S. troops, which had remained mainly in support and training capacities, were withdrawn in December, 2011.
4,266 people were dead as of April 6, 2009. As of April 6, 2009 there were 31,102 wounded in action. Of these 9,477 required medical air transport. There were 36,106 non-hostile-related medical air transports (9,452 for non-hostile injuries, and 26,654 for diseases or other medical reasons).
Resources
Wikipedia contributors. "Causes of World War I" Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causes_of_World_War_I (accessed April 8 2014)
Wikipedia contributors. "World War II" Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II (accessed April 10 2014)
Military Advantage. "The Gulf War" Monster Company. http://www.military.com/Resources/HistorySubmittedFileView?file=history_gulfwar.htm (accessed April 10 2014)
The Few Good Men. "The Second Gulf War 2003-2010" XenForo. http://www.thefewgoodmen.com/thefgmforum/threads/the-second-gulf-war-2003-2010.416/ (accessed April 10 2014)
The following sources are not correctly fomatted:
http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=85
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War
http://www.history.com/topics/korean-war
http://www.historycentral.com/korea/index.html
Wikipedia contributors. "Causes of World War I" Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causes_of_World_War_I (accessed April 8 2014)
Wikipedia contributors. "World War II" Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II (accessed April 10 2014)
Military Advantage. "The Gulf War" Monster Company. http://www.military.com/Resources/HistorySubmittedFileView?file=history_gulfwar.htm (accessed April 10 2014)
The Few Good Men. "The Second Gulf War 2003-2010" XenForo. http://www.thefewgoodmen.com/thefgmforum/threads/the-second-gulf-war-2003-2010.416/ (accessed April 10 2014)
The following sources are not correctly fomatted:
http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=85
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War
http://www.history.com/topics/korean-war
http://www.historycentral.com/korea/index.html