Ten Forgotten American Wars

American history is full of war stories. The United States has come out victorious in many wars, including its own Revolutionary War and fights like World War I and World War II. Other wars haven’t gone quite so well, though. Take the Vietnam War and the recent occupation of Afghanistan as examples of that. Yeah…

But the American experiment has seen many more conflicts than that. In fact, there are lots of military interventions that have been largely forgotten by the general public. In this list, you’ll learn about ten American incursions that are rarely discussed in history books. These forgotten wars represent military moves the U.S. made to maintain its power, defend its interests, or simply bully other countries. But for various reasons, their stories have faded from popular memory. Well, not anymore!

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10 First Barbary War (1801)

At the start of the 19th century, piracy was a major problem in southern Europe. The Mediterranean Sea was infested with pirate ships willing to prey on merchant vessels. European nations were incensed, but after years of attacks, it proved difficult to stamp the problem out. By 1800, the United States was feeling the pinch as well. American merchant vessels were attacked while sailing through the Mediterranean at alarming rates, prompting shipping interests to seek help from President Thomas Jefferson.

Historically, the Americans—and many European powers—had paid tribute to the Barbary states of Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli, and Morocco to avoid attacks. But the payments were failing to stop piracy, so Jefferson ended them. This infuriated the ruler of Tripoli, Yusuf Karamanli, who threatened and later declared war on the United States. Jefferson responded by dispatching a naval squadron to the region in May 1801.

Over the next several years, American warships engaged Tripoli and its allies along the North African coast. The conflict, known as the First Barbary War, lasted until June 1805, when Tripoli negotiated peace. The terms were favorable to the United States, and piracy in the region declined for a time, marking America’s first overseas military conflict.^[1]

9 Haiti (1915)

The United States has intervened in Haiti’s affairs multiple times, but its long occupation began in 1915. One major cause was Haiti’s crushing debt to France, imposed after the nation won independence in 1804. That obligation was financed through loans from American and German banks, placing Haiti’s economy under foreign control. After a century of stagnation, resentment boiled over.

Political instability worsened the situation. Between 1911 and 1915, seven Haitian presidents were deposed or assassinated. The crisis peaked in July 1915 when President Vilbrun Guillaume Sam was murdered by a mob. Fearing chaos and possible foreign intervention by Germany during World War I, President Woodrow Wilson ordered U.S. Marines into Haiti.

American forces remained for nearly two decades. During that time, thousands of Haitian insurgents were killed, and control of Haiti’s finances was transferred to U.S. banks. While the occupation brought some infrastructure development, it came at immense human and political cost, leaving a legacy of resentment that still shapes Haitian-American relations today.^[2]

8 Grenada (1983)

Grenada was a quiet Caribbean nation until a 1979 coup brought Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and a Marxist-Leninist government to power. Four years later, Bishop was executed by a more extreme communist faction, plunging the island into crisis. Alarmed by the violence and worried about regional instability, the United States intervened.

In October 1983, President Ronald Reagan launched Operation Urgent Fury, sending American troops to Grenada. Several Caribbean nations, including Jamaica, joined the effort. Once on the ground, U.S. forces encountered resistance from Grenadian troops and Cuban military personnel stationed on the island.

Reagan escalated the invasion, eventually deploying more than 7,000 American soldiers. The fighting was brief but intense, and within days the Marxist government was overthrown. A new parliamentary government was installed, a move Reagan praised as restoring order, though critics viewed the invasion as an overreach of American power.^[3]

7 Korea (1871)

Just a few years after the Civil War, the United States found itself fighting overseas. In 1871, American forces clashed with Korea in what became known as the Shinmiyangyo expedition. Tensions stemmed from the destruction of the American merchant ship General Sherman in 1866, after it entered Korean waters without permission.

The Joseon dynasty had grown hostile toward foreign vessels and hoped the incident would deter further intrusion. Instead, the United States demanded explanations and attempted negotiations. When diplomacy failed, five American naval vessels and about 1,200 troops were sent to Korea.

In June 1871, U.S. forces launched attacks on Korean forts along the Han River. After several days of fighting, more than 250 Korean soldiers had been killed, compared to just three Americans. Although no treaty was immediately signed, the conflict demonstrated America’s growing willingness to project military power in East Asia.^[4]

6 Somalia (2007)

One of America’s least-known modern conflicts began in Somalia in 2007. As part of the Global War on Terror, U.S. forces targeted al-Shabaab, an extremist group aligned with al-Qaeda. The group carried out bombings, piracy, and large-scale violence across Somalia and neighboring Kenya.

American involvement fluctuated over the years, with hundreds of troops deployed at various points alongside Kenyan and other East African forces. While U.S. casualties remained relatively low, the impact on Somali civilians was severe. Fighting displaced large populations, forcing refugees into neighboring countries.

After more than a decade of intermittent conflict, the United States scaled back its presence. Although al-Shabaab was weakened, the humanitarian toll remained devastating, and the true number of civilian deaths may never be known.^[5]

5 Lebanon (1958)

The 1958 Beirut Crisis marked America’s first major military intervention in the Middle East during the Cold War. Lebanon was gripped by a civil conflict between Muslim factions and the government of President Camille Chamoun. Concerned about Soviet influence and regional instability, President Dwight D. Eisenhower invoked the Eisenhower Doctrine.

In July 1958, Eisenhower sent 10,000 U.S. troops and several aircraft carriers to Lebanon as a show of force. While he did not rule out nuclear escalation in public statements, the deployment was intended primarily as a deterrent. The presence of American forces quickly stabilized the situation.

Actual combat was limited. There were sporadic sniper attacks, and one U.S. Marine was killed. After a political compromise was reached, American troops withdrew. The intervention set a precedent for future U.S. involvement in Middle Eastern affairs.^[6]

4 China (1900)

The Boxer Rebellion erupted in China at the end of the 19th century as a violent uprising against foreign influence. Tens of thousands of peasants and sympathizers targeted missionaries, diplomats, and Chinese Christians. The unrest escalated into a siege of foreign legations in Beijing.

In response, the United States joined an international coalition known as the Eight-Nation Alliance. American troops, many already stationed in the Philippines, were deployed alongside European and Japanese forces. In total, more than 19,000 allied soldiers entered northern China.

By August 1900, the coalition had relieved the besieged legations in Beijing. Fighting continued into 1901, ending with the Boxer Protocol, which imposed harsh penalties on China and increased foreign influence. The conflict marked a significant moment in America’s growing global military presence.^[7]

3 Dominican Republic (1916)

With World War I underway and the occupation of Haiti ongoing, the United States launched another Caribbean intervention in 1916. American forces occupied the Dominican Republic, citing economic instability and fears of German influence near the Panama Canal.

The occupation lasted eight years. Dominican resistance was gradually suppressed, and the U.S. military exerted control over the nation’s finances and governance. While deeply unpopular at home and abroad, the intervention continued largely unchallenged.

Before withdrawing in 1924, the United States implemented infrastructure projects, including road construction and administrative reforms. These changes came at the cost of Dominican sovereignty, leaving a mixed legacy that remains controversial today.^[8]

2 Guatemala (1954)

After Guatemala’s 1944 revolution, a series of democratic governments pursued land reforms and social programs. During the early Cold War, American officials viewed these policies as dangerously socialist. In 1954, the CIA backed a coup to overthrow President Jacobo Árbenz.

Insurgents led by Carlos Castillo Armas invaded from Honduras. Although the military campaign faltered, psychological warfare and diplomatic pressure caused Guatemala’s army to abandon Árbenz, who resigned in June 1954. Armas soon assumed power with U.S. support.

The coup triggered decades of instability and civil war. Between 1960 and 1996, more than 200,000 civilians were killed, many in massacres carried out by government forces and paramilitaries. American backing of anti-communist regimes played a significant role in prolonging the conflict.^[9]

1 Philippine-American War (1899)

After defeating Spain in 1898, the United States acquired the Philippines. Almost immediately, Filipino nationalists led by Emilio Aguinaldo rebelled against American rule. Fighting broke out before the U.S. Senate had even ratified the peace treaty ending the Spanish-American War.

By late 1899, American forces had inflicted heavy losses, prompting Filipino fighters to adopt guerrilla tactics. The war dragged on for three years, marked by brutal counterinsurgency campaigns.

More than 4,200 American soldiers were killed. Filipino losses were far greater: tens of thousands of combatants died, along with hundreds of thousands of civilians who perished from violence, famine, and disease. The war cemented America’s role as a colonial power and left scars that still resonate in Philippine history.^[10]