Death Counts "Good guys" "Good guys" "Enemy" "Enemy" Source Comments Sources
Killed Killed Killed Killed
Low High Low High
1492-1900? Native Americans 50,000,000 Various wars against Native Americans Green VP Candidate Winona LaDuke (?).  Her source?
1798-1800 France USN Undeclared Naval War with France. This contest included land actions, such as that in the Dominican Republic, city of Puerto Plata, where marines captured a French privateer under the guns of the forts.
1801-1805 Tripoli USN The First Barbary War included the USS George Washington and USS Philadelphia affairs and the Eaton expedition, during which a few marines landed with United States Agent William Eaton to raise a force against Tripoli in an effort to free the crew of the Philadelphia. Tripoli declared war but not the United States
1806 Mexico (Spanish Territory) USN Capt. Z. M. Pike, with a platoon of troops, invaded Spanish territory at the headwaters of the Rio Grande on orders from Gen. James Wilkinson. He was made prisoner without resistance at a fort he constructed in present day Colorado, taken to Mexico, and later released after seizure of his papers
1806-1810 Gulf of Mexico USN American gunboats operated from New Orleans against Spanish and French privateers off the Mississippi Delta, chiefly under Capt. John Shaw and Master Commandant David Porter.
1810 West Florida (Spanish Territory) USN Gov. Claiborne of Louisiana, on orders of the President, occupied with troops territory in dispute east of Mississippi as far as the Pearl River, later the eastern boundary of Louisiana. He was authorized to seize as far east as the Perdido River
1812 Amelia Island and other - parts of east Florida, then under Spain USN Temporary possession was authorized by President Madison and by Congress, to prevent occupation by any other power; but possession was obtained by Gen. George Matthews in so irregular a manner that his measures were disavowed by the President.
1812-1815 War of 1812 USN On June 18, 1812, the United States declared war between the United States and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Among the issues leading to the war were British interception of neutral ships and blockades of the United States during British hostilities with France.
included invasion of Canada (then UK)
1813 West Florida (Spanish Territory) USN On authority given by Congress, General Wilkinson seized Mobile Bay in April with 600 soldiers. A small Spanish garrison gave way. Thus U.S. advanced into disputed territory to the Perdido River, as projected in 1810. No fighting
1813-1814 Marguesas Islands USN U.S. forces built a fort on the island of Nukahiva to protect three prize ships which had been captured from the British.
1814 Spanish Florida USN Gen. Andrew Jackson took Pensacola and drove out the British with whom the United States was at war
1814-1825 Caribbean USN Engagements between pirates and American ships or squadrons took place repeatedly especially ashore and offshore about Cuba, Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo, and Yucatan. Three thousand pirate attacks on merchantmen were reported between 1815 and 1823. In 1822 Commodore James Biddle employed a squadron of two frigates, four sloops of war, two brigs, four schooners, and two gunboats in the West Indies
1815 Tripoli USN After securing an agreement from Algiers, Decatur demonstrated with his squadron at Tunis and Tripoli, where he secured indemnities for offenses during the War of 1812.
1816 Spanish Florida USN United States forces destroyed Nicholls Fort, called also Negro Fort, which harbored raiders making forays into United States territory.
1816-1818 Spanish Florida - First Seminole War USN The Seminole Indians, whose area was a resort for escaped slaves and border ruffians, were attacked by troops under Generals Jackson and Gaines and pursued into northern Florida. Spanish posts were attacked and occupied, British citizens executed. In 1819 the Floridas were ceded to the United States.
1817 Amelia Island (Spanish Territory) USN Under orders of President Monroe, United States forces landed and expelled a group of smugglers, adventurers, and freebooters.
1818 Oregon
1820-1823 Africa USN Naval units raided the slave traffic pursuant to the 1819 act of Congress
1822 Cuba USN United States naval forces suppressing piracy landed on the northwest coast of Cuba and burned a pirate station
1823 Cuba USN Brief landings in pursuit of pirates occurred April 8 near Escondido; April 16 near Cayo Blanco; July 11 at Siquapa Bay; July 21 at Cape Cruz; and October 23 at Camrioca.
1824 Cuba USN In October the USS Porpoise landed bluejackets near Matanzas in pursuit of pirates. This was during the cruise authorized in 1822.
1824 Puerto Rico (Spanish Territory) USN Commodore David Porter with a landing party attacked the town of Fajardo which had sheltered pirates and insulted American naval officers. He landed with 200 men in November and forced an apology. Commodore Porter was later court-martialed for overstepping his powers.
1861-1865 700,000 “Framed Up: What the U.S. Constitution Gets Wrong,” Hendrik Hertzberg, New Yorker, July 29, 2002.