From the American Revolution in the 18th century to the Iraq War in the 21st century, wars have had a profound impact on U.S. history. Each of the 12 major conflicts since 1775 has generated impassioned debate on vital issues, from independence, liberty, and emancipation to national security, imperialism, and democracy. These debates and controversies have transformed both American society and international relations.

American Wars focuses on one overarching controversy underlying each war in which Americans have fought, enabling students to understand the fundamental forces and disputes that have shaped these conflicts and their impact on the nation. This volume examines controversies sparked by the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Cold War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, and the Iraq War. The book features black-and-white illustrations, maps, chronologies, primary sources, and much more to get students interested in this fascinating topic.