| A | B |
|---|
| FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR | Symbolic of the rivalry in Europe, this war resulted in the temporary end to French land claims in North America |
| REVOLUTIONARY WAR | War when the Americans won their independence from Great Britain and based ideas of government on the Social Contract. |
| LEXINGTON AND CONCORD | The first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired here. |
| SARATOGA | The turning point of the Revolutionary, as this victory convinced France to become an ally. |
| YORKTOWN | The British surrender came here, as Cornwallis was trapped between American forces and the French fleet. |
| WAR OF 1812 | American victory in this war produced an American claim to the Oregon Territory and increased migration to Florida. |
| MEXICAN WAR | American victory in this war led to the acquisition of enormous territory, including California. |
| ALAMO | Battle; an American loss, became the focus of the Texas war for independence from Mexico. |
| CIVIL WAR | War fought to preserve the United States, as the Confederacy attempted to declare independence. |
| FORT SUMTER | The first shots of the Civil War were fired. |
| ANTIETEM | The Union victory in this Civil War battle prompted Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. |
| GETTYSBURG | The turning point in the Civil War as Lee lost so many troops he was forced back to protect Richmond |
| APPOMATTOX | Site where Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the Civil War. |
| SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR | War of imperialism resulted in gaining Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Cuba became a protectorate. |
| WORLD WAR 1 | The U.S. entered this war due to submarine warfare on American ships and to keep the world "safe for democracy". |
| WORLD WAR 2 | War began when Germany invaded Poland, but the U.S. did not get involved until a direct attack by Japan. The U.S. ended isolationist policies after this war. |
| STALINGRAD | The WW2 turning point on the Eastern Front, the Soviets repelled the Nazis forcing a retreat. |
| NORMANDY | D-day invasion of France by the Allies, opening a second front against Hitler in WW2. |
| PEARL HARBOR | The surprise attack on the U.S. Naval Base by Japan which prompted our entrance to WW2 |
| MIDWAY | The WW2 turning point in the Pacific which started the U.S. campaign of Island Hopping. |
| IWO JIMA AND OKINAWA | Winning these battles gave the U.S. air bases close enough to bomb the mainland of Japan in WW2. |
| HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI | Dropping Atomic Bombs on these cities caused the surrender of the Japanese, ending WW2 and saving American lives. |
| EL ALAMEIN | The Allied victory here in WW2 saved the Suez Canal and access to Middle East Oil! |
| COLD WAR | This was a war of ideas, western style democracy vs. eastern communism and dominated U.S. policies for nearly 50 years. |
| KOREAN WAR | This war of containment in Asia started when the Communists crossed the 38th parallel- ended in a stalemate. |
| VIETNAM WAR | This war of containment in Asia lasted from 1954 to 1973, ending in a U.S. withdrawal and the nation became communist |
| BAY OF PIGS | This was the failed attempt by Cuban exiles to overthrow Fidel Castro, the communist leader of Cuba |
| CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS | The U.S. and the Soviet Union nearly went to direct war as the U.S. felt threatened by Soviet arms in Cuba. |
| PERSIAN GULF WAR | Military action whery the U.S. and allies liberated Kuwait from Iraq |
| OPERATION DESERT STORM | Part of Persian Gulf War, the first time women used in combat |
| IRAQ WAR | American and allies ousted Sadam Hussein from power, to replace with a democracy |
| AFGHANISTAN WAR | Military engagement for U.S. to actively hunt and destroy terrorist groups |
