Ongoing armed conflicts in 2018; updated April 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
North America . 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 ), and eastward to the
Caribbean (
Cuba ,
Haiti ,
Jamaica ,
Grenada ,
Saint Martin , the
Dominican Republic , and the
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago ). 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 CE – Present
[update] ). 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 .
Territorial evolution of North America of non-native nation states from 1750 to 2008.
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 .
11th century
16th century
17th century
18th century
19th century
20th century
21st century
This includes all conflicts that have taken place within the modern territory of the United States.
See also
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 .
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.
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.
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
Was fought within both
Canada and the
United States
May 28, 1754
Battle of Jumonville Glen
July 3, 1754
Battle of Fort Necessity
June 16, 1755
Battle of Fort Beauséjour
July 9, 1755
Braddock Expedition
1755
Battle of Lake George
April 18, 1756
Battle of Great Cacapon
August, 1756
Battle of Fort Oswego
September 8, 1756
Kittanning Expedition
January 21, 1757
Battle on Snowshoes
July 26, 1757
Battle of Sabbath Day Point
August 9, 1757
Battle of Fort William Henry
March 23, 1758
Battle on Snowshoes
July 27, 1758
Battle of Louisburg
August, 1758
Battle of Fort Frontenac
July 8, 1758
Battle of Carillon
September 14, 1758
Battle of Fort Duquesne
October 12, 1758
Battle of Fort Ligonier
November 25, 1758
Forbes Expedition
1759
Battle of Ticonderoga
1759
Battle of Fort Niagara
July 31, 1759
Battle of Beauport
1762
Battle of Signal Hill
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.
April 19, 1775
Battle of Lexington and Concord
April 20, 1775 – March 17, 1776
Siege of Boston
May 10, 1775
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
June 11–12, 1775
Battle of Machias
June 17, 1775
Battle of Bunker Hill
August 8, 1775
Battle of Gloucester
August 23 – November 3, 1775
Siege of Fort St. Jean
September 24, 1775
Battle of Longue-Pointe
November 14, 1775
Battle of Kemp's Landing
November 28 – December 9, 1775
Battle of Great Bridge
February 27, 1776
Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge
March 2–4, 1776
Fortification of Dorchester Heights
March 2–3, 1776
Battle of the Rice Boats
May 15–26, 1776
Battle of the Cedars
June 8, 1776
Battle of Trois-Rivières
August 27, 1776
Battle of Long Island
September 15, 1776
Landing at Kip's Bay
September 16, 1776
Battle of Harlem Heights
October 11, 1776
Battle of Valcour Bay
October 28, 1776
Battle of White Plains
December 26, 1776
Battle of Trenton
January 3, 1777
Battle of Princeton
July 5–6, 1777
Siege of Fort Ticonderoga
August 6, 1777
Battle of Oriskany
August 16, 1777
Battle of Bennington
September 11, 1777
Battle of Brandywine
September 19, 1777
Battle of Freeman's Farm
October 2, 1777
Battle of Germantown
October 7, 1777
Battle of Bemis Heights
October 17, 1777
Battle of Saratoga
May 25, 1778
Battle of Freetown
June 28, 1778
Battle of Monmouth
June 30, 1778
Battle of Alligator Bridge
July 27, 1778
First Battle of Ushant
August 29, 1778
Battle of Rhode Island
February 23–25, 1779
Battle of Vincennes
July 16, 1779
Battle of Stony Point
July 24 – August 12, 1779
Penobscot Expedition
August 29, 1779
Battle of Newtown
October 9, 1779
Siege of Savannah
January 16, 1780
Battle of Cape St. Vincent
March 29, 1780
Siege of Charleston
August 8, 1780
Battle of Piqua
August 16, 1780
Battle of Camden
October 7, 1780
Battle of King's Mountain
January 17, 1781
Battle of Cowpens
March 15, 1781
Battle of Guilford Court House
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
October 2, 1835
Battle of Gonzales
October 10, 1835
Battle of Goliad
November 4, 1835
Battle of Lipantitlán
October 28, 1835
Battle of Concepción
November 26, 1835
Grass Fight
October 12 – December 11, 1835
Siege of Béxar
February 27, 1836
Battle of San Patricio
March 2, 1836
Battle of Agua Dulce
February 23 – March 6, 1836
Battle of the Alamo
March 12–15, 1836
Battle of Refugio
March 19–20, 1836
Battle of Coleto
April 21, 1836
Battle of San Jacinto
*1846–1848
Mexican–American War
*1861–1865
American Civil War
February 11–16, 1862
Battle of Fort Donelson
April 6–7, 1862
Battle of Shiloh
August 28–30, 1862
Second Battle of Bull Run
September 17, 1862
Battle of Antietam
December 31, 1862 – January 2, 1863
Battle of Stones River
April 30 – May 6, 1863
Battle of Chancellorsville
July 1–3, 1863
Battle of Gettysburg
July 13–16, 1863
New York City draft riots
September 19–20, 1863
Battle of Chickamauga
May 5–7, 1864
Battle of the Wilderness
May 8–21, 1864
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
April 7, 1864
Battle of Appomattox Court House
November 15, 1864 - December 21, 1865
Sherman's March to the Sea
June 9, 1864 - March 25, 1865
Siege of Petersburg
1865–1866
Fenian Raids
1878
Lincoln County War
1881
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
1887-1894
Hatfield-McCoy Feud
1892
Homestead Strike
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 .
October 16, 1940 – May 21, 1941
Machita Incident
December 7, 1941
Attack on Pearl Harbor (Not in North America)
February 23, 1942
Bombardment of Ellwood
February 24–25, 1942
Battle of Los Angeles
June 3, 1942 – August 15, 1943
Battle of the Aleutian Islands
June 21, 1942
Bombardment of Fort Stevens
July 27, 1942
Lordsburg Killings
September 9–29, 1942
Lookout Air Raids
May 30, 1943
Zoot Suit Riots
August 14, 1944
Fort Lawton Riot
March 12, 1945
Santa Fe Riot
April 16, – September 17, 1945
Project Hula
July 8, 1945
Midnight Massacre
May 2–4, 1946
Battle of Alcatraz
August 1–3
Battle of Athens (1946)
August 11–17, 1965
Watts Rebellion
July 23–27, 1967
1967 Detroit riot
May 4, 1970
Kent State shootings
September 9, 1971
Attica Prison riot
May 13,
1985 MOVE bombing in Philadelphia
April 29,
1992 Los Angeles riots
August 21–31, 1992
Ruby Ridge standoff
February 28 – April 19, 1993
Waco siege
April 11–21, 1993
Lucasville Prison Riot
April 19, 1995
Oklahoma City bombing
February 28, 1997
North Hollywood shootout
March 19 – 20, 1997
Heaven's Gate mass suicide
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.
Pre-Columbian
Map depicting the Maya area within the larger Mesoamerican region. View full size for details.
537 – 838
Tikal-Calakmul wars
circa 1250–1325 Conflict between the city-states of Tizaapan and
Culhuacán ending with the
Mexica driven away from Tizaapan to form
Tenochtitlan in
Lake Texcoco in 1325
circa 1325–1426 Conflict between the alliance of
Tenochtitlan and
Azcapotzalco against the city-state of
Texcoco , ending in victory for the
Tepanec empire
1376–1395
Acamapichtli , the first
tlatoani of
Tenochtitlan , sent expeditions to fight for
Azcapotzalco against various city states, notably
Chalco , Cuahnahuac,
Xochimilco
1396–1417
Huitzilihuitl , the second
tlatoani of
Tenochtitlan , assisted in the conquest and sacking of the cities of
Tultitlan ,
Cuauhtitlan ,
Chalco , Tollantzingo,
Xaltocan , Otompa and
Acolman
1418
Tezozomoc 's war with
Ixtlilxochitl I of
Texcoco
1426
Tepanec Civil War
1480 – 1510
Saltpeter War
1428–1521 Formation and expansion of the
Aztec Triple Alliance .
16th century
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
20th century
21st century
1898–1934
Banana Wars
September 19, 1912
Battle of Masaya
October 3–4, 1912
Battle of Coyotepe Hill
May 16, 1927
Battle of La Paz Centro
July 16, 1927
Battle of Ocotal
July 25, 1927
Battle of San Fernando
July 27, 1927
Battle of Santa Clara
September 19, 1927
Battle of Telpaneca
October 9, 1927
Battle of Sapotillal
January 1, 1928
Battle of Las Cruces
February 27–28, 1928
Battle of El Bramadero
May 13–14, 1928
Battle of La Flor
December 31, 1930
Battle of Achuapa
September 16, 1932
Battle of Agua Carta
December 26, 1932
Battle of El Sauce
1926–1927
Nicaraguan civil war
1960–1996
Central American crisis
2014–present
2014–2020 Nicaraguan protests
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.
1524–1530
Guamá led a rebellion against
Spanish rule in
Cuba
1568–1648
Eighty Years' War
October 10, 1868 – 1878
Ten Years' War
April 25 – August 12, 1898
Spanish–American War
April 25, 1898
Action of 25 April 1898
May 8, 1898
First Battle of Cárdenas
May 11, 1898
Battle of Cárdenas
May 11, 1898
Battle of Cienfuegos
June 6–10, 1898
Battle of Guantánamo Bay
June 13, 1898
Action of 13 June 1898
June 24, 1898
Battle of Las Guasimas
June 30, 1898
First Battle of Manzanillo
June 30, 1898
Battle of Tayacoba
July 1, 1898
Battle of the Aguadores
July 1, 1898
Battle of El Caney
July 1, 1898
Battle of San Juan Hill
July 1, 1898
Second Battle of Manzanillo
July 3, 1898
Battle of Santiago de Cuba
July 3–17, 1898
Siege of Santiago
July 18, 1898
Third Battle of Manzanillo
July 21, 1898
Battle of Nipe Bay
July 23, 1898
Battle of Rio Manimani
1898–1934
Banana Wars
1906–1909
United States occupation of Cuba
1912
Negro Rebellion
1917–1922
Sugar Intervention
1953
1952 Cuban coup d'état
1953–1959
Cuban Revolutionary War
1959-1965
Escambray Rebellion
April 17–19, 1961
Bay of Pigs Invasion
October 16–29, 1962
Cuban Missile Crisis
1994
Maleconazo
2021 – present
2021 Cuban protests
Saint Martin
Political evolution of Central America and the Caribbean
See also
References
Sovereign states Dependencies and other territories
Post–
Cold War conflicts in the Americas
North America Central America South America Related topics