What is supposed to be the first war America waged on foreign country?

[v0031]

What is supposed to be the first war America waged on foreign country?

[The Mikado]

Probably the Barbary Wars in the early 1800s, though technically you could count the Quasi-War against Revolutionary France in the 1790s.

[v0031]

Probably the Barbary Wars in the early 1800s, though technically you could count the Quasi-War against Revolutionary France in the 1790s.

Wasn't it Spanish-American War?

[Cincinnatus]

Probably the Barbary Wars in the early 1800s, though technically you could count the Quasi-War against Revolutionary France in the 1790s.

Wasn't it Spanish-American War?

Spanish-American was in 1898.  Certainly quite a bit after.

[republicanism]

Do you count Indian nations as "foreign countries"?

[minionofmidas]

War of Independence?

Yeah, I think the official answer is the Barbary War.

[WillK]

Probably the Barbary Wars in the early 1800s, though technically you could count the Quasi-War against Revolutionary France in the 1790s.

Wasn't it Spanish-American War?

No, there had been several wars prior to that.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Probably the Barbary Wars in the early 1800s, though technically you could count the Quasi-War against Revolutionary France in the 1790s.

Wasn't it Spanish-American War?

Are you thinking of the Mexican-American War? That would be the first war where the US took territory from another nation (apart from the Indian Wars).

[I Am Feeblepizza.]

I believe that the correct answer is the "Quasi War" with France during the late 1790s. I wouldn't count Indian nations as foreign countries because they existed entirely within the confines of the European colonies and weren't really recognized as actual nations anyway.

[dead0man]

So, depending on how one defines the various terms, the answers are:
1.The "Quasi War" with the French (wasn't really a war)
2.The fights with the pirates (were wars, but were defensive in nature)
3.The Indian Wars (were not really "foreign")
4.The Mexican-American War

[I Am Feeblepizza.]

So, depending on how one defines the various terms, the answers are:
1.The "Quasi War" with the French (wasn't really a war)
2.The fights with the pirates (were wars, but were defensive in nature)
3.The Indian Wars (were not really "foreign")
4.The Mexican-American War

Somebody answered with the Spanish-American War as well.

[dead0man]

The Mexican-American War happened first and met all the possible definitions.

[I Am Feeblepizza.]

The Mexican-American War happened first and met all the possible definitions.

If the "Quasi War" and the Indian Wars don't count, then the one that happened first would be the Barbary Wars (the fights with the pirates).

[Filuwaúrdjan]

because they existed entirely within the confines of the European colonies

Not from their point of view.

[J. J.]

because they existed entirely within the confines of the European colonies

Not from their point of view.

Or, at some points from the US standpoint.

Arguably, the War of 1812 was the first "foreign war" as the US declared war first and invaded a foreign county (British Canada).

[I Am Feeblepizza.]

because they existed entirely within the confines of the European colonies

Not from their point of view.

That doesn't change the fact that, in reality, they did.

[WillK]

...
2.The fights with the pirates (were wars, but were defensive in nature)
...

Defensive in nature?     Sending the navy across the ocean to attack another country hardly seems defensive in nature.

[patrick1]

...
2.The fights with the pirates (were wars, but were defensive in nature)
...

Defensive in nature?     Sending the navy across the ocean to attack another country hardly seems defensive in nature.

Then as now, you should have freedom to navigate the seas without fear of kidnap or payments of ransom/tribute.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The Quasi-War (1798-1800) was the first use of the American military against a foreign power, but the battles were all on the high seas. It did have Congressional approval, but was not a formally declared war.

The First Barbary War (1801-1805) saw the first use of American troops on foreign soil, altho the vaunted use of the Marines on "the shores of Tripoli" consisted of 10 Americans leading a force of 500 mercenaries. While again there was no formal declaration of war, the action did have Congressional approval.

The War of 1812 (1812-1815) was the first formally declared war.

[Vosem]

The Quasi-War (1798-1800) was the first use of the American military against a foreign power, but the battles were all on the high seas. It did have Congressional approval, but was not a formally declared war.

The First Barbary War (1801-1805) saw the first use of American troops on foreign soil, altho the vaunted use of the Marines on "the shores of Tripoli" consisted of 10 Americans leading a force of 500 mercenaries. While again there was no formal declaration of war, the action did have Congressional approval.

The War of 1812 (1812-1815) was the first formally declared war.

Quasi wasn't a war. First Barbary was a formal military action; just because war was never declared doesn't mean we weren't at war with, let's say, the Taliban. If that doesn't suit you, 1812 really does fit all criteria.