A Brief History of American Wars

“Observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all.” -George Washington (Farewell Address, 1796)

The years 1796 and 1797 were periods of relative peace for America to enjoy it’s new nation status after the conclusion of The American Revolutionary War and The Chickamauga Wars, but by 1798, The United States was involved in the ‘Quasi-Wars’, an international conflict with The French Republic.

In 1796, George Washington laid out a thoughtful and peaceful foreign policy vision in his Farewell Address, but Washington would not get see his peaceful international vision realized because #1, he died three years later, and #2, because America’s destiny had other plans.

In 1801, just two years after George Washington’s death, the United States became involved in First Barbary War, a Congressionally authorized international conflict, and while I could continue to list every major and minor conflict and war for the next 214 years, with a little research, anyone can quickly note that America has been in a state of near perpetual war since our founding in 1776.

Is the United States a force of good, or are we just an imperialist empire who can’t stop waging war globally? Maybe a little of both.

Truth is, for all the United States has become since 1776, we would not have grown to the size we are now (economic, and military) had we followed George Washington’s foreign policy vision, and the enduring force of good America is all about (human rights, dignity, freedom) cannot be sustained without our economic strength, our unique form of government, and our military.

A catch-22 at times, sure.