American Revolution 1775-1783 - Successful revolt of the Thirteen English Colonies in America against British rule; Bunker Hill, Saratoga, Yorktown; independence recognized by Great Britain.
Saratoga 1777 - Surrender of Burgoyne and his British army to American general Gates; turning point in American Revolution.
Waterloo 1815 - English, Prussians and allies under Wellington and Blucher effected final overthrow of Napoleon.
Armada, Spanish 1588 - Flotilla of maneuverable English ships defeated great Spanish war fleet in the English Channel; deathblow to Spain's mastery of the seas.
Austerlitz 1805 - Battle of Three Emperors; Napoleon defeated the united forces of Russia and Austria under Alexander I and Francis II.
Austrian Succession 1740-1748 - Concerted action of continental powers to appropriate desirable pieces of Hapsburg lands from Maria Theresa, whose cause was championed by Great Britain; waged between Austria and its allies on one side and France and its allies on the other; the war ended with mutual restoration of conquests, except Silesia, which was retained by Prussia. In North America called King George's War in which English fought the French.
Bannockburn 1314 - Robert Bruce of Scotland defeated the English in a decisive battle, making his throne and Scotland's independence secure.
Bataan 1942 - American troops under Generals MacArthur and Wainwright defended Bataan Peninsula near Manila for three months until forced to surrender to numerically superior Japanese soldiers.
Blenheim 1704 - English and Austrians under Marlborough and Eugene defeated French and Bavarians under Tallard in War of Spanish Succession; dissipated Louis XIV's dreams of universal conquest.
Bosworth Field 1485 - Final battle of the War of the Roses. Henry,earl of Richmond, defeated Richard III. Henry became Henry VII and established Tudor line.
Bouvines 1214 - French under Philip Augutus defeated allied English, German, Flemish and Lotharingian forces. Strengthened growth of French national spirit.
Boyne 1690 - William of Orange defeated Stuart forces under James II. Ended any substantial prospect of restoration of the Stuart rule.
Britain 1940 - German bombers assaulted Great Britain for 58 days in an effort to crush the nation from the air. Heroic defense by Royal Air Force made Nazis give up costly day raids.
Bulge 1944 - Germans under General von Rundstedt counterattacked and smashed wedge in Allied lines in France and Luxemburg. American troops forced "bulge" back and then drove into Germany.
Bunker Hill 1775 - American colonist, though forced to retreat, won a practical victory over the British; first real battle of the American Revolution.
Civil War in England 1642-1649 - Struggle between the Crown and Puritan Parliament over distribution of ecclesiastical and civil jurisdiction; Marston Moor and Naseby; execution of Charles I and establishment of commonwealth.
Civil War in the United States 1861-1865 - Between Union government and Southern Confederacy over latter's attempt to secede from Union; Vicksburg, Gettysburg; Union preserved.
Coral Sea 1942 - In May, planes from U.S. aircraft carriers attacked and destroyed many Japanese warships making an apparent attack on Australia. This air-naval battle was the first major Allied success against Japanese in World War II.
Crecy 1346 - Edward III and English longbowmen won victory over a vastly superior French army of cavalry; greatly strengthened England's position in England.
Culloden Moor 1746 - duke of Cumberland defeated Charles Edward, the Young Pretender. Last attempt of the Stuarts to regain the English throne.
Dutch Independence 1568-1648 - Led by William of Orange; Dutch threw off oppressive Spanish rule and established independent government; siege of Leyden.
El Alamein 1942 - British 8th Army under General Montgomery counterattacked and pursued famed German Afrika Korps across North Africa, thus saving Egypt from German conquest.
French Revolution & Napoleonic Wars 1789- 1815 - Great Britain headed coalition of Prussia, Austria and other countries against France in contest that was last phase of long wars between England and France for colonial and maritime supremacy and a clash between two political systems; Valmy, Italian campaign; Egyptian expedition. Determined resistance of allied European powers to aggressions of Napoleon ended in his downfall; Austerlitz, Leipzig, Trafalgar, Waterloo.
Gettysburg 1863 - Union troops under Meade sharply defeated Lee, forcing his retreat from Northern soil; one of decisive battles of Civil War.
Great Northern 1700-1721 - Undertaken by Russia aided by Denmark and Poland to secure Baltic port at expense of Sweden; siege of Narva, Poltava; Russia secured provinces about Gulf of Finland and Sweden sank to second-rate power.
Guadalcanal 1942-43 - U.S. Marines wrested Guadalcanal Island in Solomons from Japanese in bitterly fought six-month engagement. With this battle, Americans went on offensive against Japanese in World War II.
Gulf War 1990-1991 - Operation Desert Shield & Operation Desert Storm American and allies response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.
Hasting 1066 - William, duke of Normandy, defeated English, their king, Harold, falling in battle; established Norman rule over England.
Hundred Years' War 1337-1453 - Series of conflicts between rulers of France and England over disputed titles to French throne and territories; Crecy, Poitiers, Agincourt, Orleans; England lost all French possessions except Calais; French monarchy firmly established.
Invasion of Grenada 1983 - Operation Urgent Fury, removal of Maurice Bishop and establishment of Hudson Austin's government.
Invasion of Panama 1989-1990 - Operation Just Cause, Manuel Noriega deposed, the Panamanian Defense Force dissolved and the Guillermo Endara's government put in place.
Iwo Jima 1945 - U.S. Marines, under Admiral Nimitz, invaded Iwo Jima, 700 miles from Japanese homeland. In savage 26-day fight, Americans won the strategic island.
Jutland 1916 - Most important naval conflict of World War I, in North Sea; after heavy losses on both sides, British fleet, under Jellicoe and Beatty, forced retreat of German vessels.
Korean Conflict 1950-1953 - War between North Korean and Chinese Communist forces and United Nations troops; arising from advance of North Koreans over 38th parallel into South Korea; truce signed 1953.
Lake Erie 1813 - Naval battle at Put-in-Bay, Ohio, Americans under Commodore Perry defeated the British fleet. Secured the Northwest for U.S. in Treaty of Ghent.
Leipzig 1631 - Swedes and Saxons under Gustavus Adolphus won brilliant victory over Catholic Imperialists and saved Protestant cause in Thirty Years' War; also called Breitenfeld.
Leipzig 1813 - Battle of the Nations; overwhelming defeat inflicted upon Napoleon by allied forces; marked end of French rule in Germany; turning point in Napoleonic wars.
Manila Bay 1898 - Dewey, American admiral, destroyed Spanish fleet in harbor and took forts and city without loss.
Marne, First Battle of the 1914 - French and British forces under Joffre and French checked German invasion in four-day battle and drove them back to Aisne River, where battle line remained nearly stationary for three years.
Marne, Second Battle of the 1918 - Counteroffensive launched by Foch with French and American troops; placed Germans permanently on defensive.
Marston Moor 1644 - Cromwell's Ironsides defeated the Royalists and gained the north of England for Parliament.
Meuse-Argonne 1918 - In battle lasting 47 days, Americans under Pershing fought through Argonne Forest, broke through German lines, and crossed the Meuse River. Considered by Germans the decisive factor in their defeat in World War I.
Mexican War 1846-1848 - Arose from annexation by the United States of former Mexican territory of Texas and ensuing boundary disputes; resulted in complete American victory, establishment of the Rio Grande as the boundary and cession of upper California and New Mexico to United States.
Midway 1942 - In two-day battle American and Japanese naval air power in June. American planes inflicted severe losses in warships and planes on enemy.
Nile 1798 - Naval battle in Aboukir Bay, Egypt; Nelson destroyed French fleet, cutting off Napoleon from France.
Normandy 1944 - On June 6, Allied troops under American General Eisenhower crossed English Channel and stormed beaches of Normandy, France. From beachheads, Allies drove through France into Germany.
Orleans 1429 - Joan of Arc raised English siege; turning point in Hundred Years' War.
Poitiers 1356 - Victory of Black Prince over King John of France; many prisoners taken, including John; ended first period of Hundred Years' War.
Poltava 1709 - Peter the Great of Russia completely defeated Charles XII of Sweden, annihilating his army; Russia succeeded Sweden as the leading power of the north at conclusion of the Great Northern War.
Quebec 1759 - British under Wolfe stormed and took Quebec after gallant defense by French general, Montcalm, securing British domination of North America.
Salamanca 1812 - English under Wellington completely defeated the French. Ended Napoleon's Peninsular Campaign.
Salerno 1943 - British troops invaded Italy at the toe of the boot. American troops landed at Salerno, south of Naples. The two Allied forces joined to liberate southern Italy and capture Naples.
Santiago 1898 - American fleet commanded by Sampson destroyed Spain's Atlantic fleet under Cervera, forcing surrender of Spanish army in Cuba.
Saratoga 1777 - Surrender of Burgoyne and his British army to American general Gates; turning point in American Revolution.
Sempach 1386 - Swiss defeated Austrians under Duke Leopold. Broke Austrian power over Swiss Confederacy.
Seven Years' War 1756-1763 - Resulted from alliance formed against rapidly expanding Prussia by Austria, Russia, France and other powers; Great Britain allied with Prussia; battles of Rossbach, Leuthen, Quebec; Prussia established as great nation and foundation of British Empire laid. France expelled from North America by Great Britain. Called French and Indian War in America.
Sluys 1340 - English and Flemish fleets under Edward III of England defeated the French and won command of the English Channel.
Somme 1916 - English and French took offensive for five months; made small gain in territory at enormous cost, but relieved Verdun and aided Russia in gaining eastern victory.
Spanish-American War 1898 - Outcome of American sympathy for Cuban revolutionists; established Cuban independence and practically ended Spain's colonial empire, remnants of which were ceded to United States; Manila Bay and Santiago.
Spanish Succession 1701-1713 - Attempt of England, Austria and allies to prevent establishment of French prince on Spanish throne; Blenheim, Bourbon House established in Spain, but Austria and England gained extensive French and Spanish possessions. Called Queen Anne's War in North America.
Stalingrad 1942-43 - Germans drove deep into Russia. But at Stalingrad on Volga River, Russians first stopped German drive, then counterattacked with great ferocity.
Tannenberg 1914 - Hindenburg stopped the Russian invasion of East Prussia.
Tarawa 1943 - U.S. Marines under Admiral Nimitz stormed Tarawa Island in Gilberts. In desperate 76-hour fight, Marines won island but suffered casualties of about 3,000 killed and wounded. One of bloodiest battles in Marine Corps history.
Thirty Years' War 1618-1648 - Struggle between Catholics and Protestants in Germany in which Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden played a brilliant part; Leipzig, Lutzen; religious and territorial differences settled at price of utter devastation of Germany.
Trafalgar 1805 - Nelson destroyed the combined French and Spanish fleets, firmly securing England's sea power, the chief menace to French conquests.
Tunisia 1943 - American, British and Free French forces pushed through Tunisia and forced German and Italian soldiers to surrender. Victory freed North Africa from Axis.
Valmy 1792 - French commanded by Dumouriez defeated troops of First Coalition under Brunswick, saving revolutionary government from destruction at hands of invaders.
Verdun 1916 - General Petain retained fort in spite of supreme effort by Germans, thus keeping barred the road to Paris and increasing the confidence of the Allied forces.
Vietnam War 1955-1975 - civil war in Vietnam between the northern communist government supported by China and Russia against southern Vietnam and American allies.
Wagram 1809 - Napoleon crushingly defeated the Austrians.
War in Afghanistan 2001-2014 - American invasion of Afghanistan to dismantle al-Quaeda and the Taliban.
War of 1812 1812-1814 - Between United States and Great Britain, caused by Great Britain's claims to right of search of American vessels on high seas and impressment of seamen; treaty adjusted boundaries, etc., leaving main cause of war unmentioned.
Wars of the Roses 1455-1485 - Waged by Houses of Lancaster and York, rival claimants to English throne until royal marriage united the two lines; Bosworth Field.
Waterloo 1815 - English, Prussians and allies under Wellington and Blucher effected final overthrow of Napoleon.
World War I 1914-1918 - A struggle between Central Powers and Allied and Associated Powers, arising indirectly from clash between two rival systems of commercial imperialism and directly from diplomatic tangle following assassination of archduke of Austria by a Serb; Central Powers crushed; end of German and Austro-Hungarian empires.
World War II 1939-1945 - A conflict between Allied nations (chiefly United States, Great Britain, Russia, France and China) and Axis Powers (Germany, Italy and Japan) wherein Allies - after six years of strife on continents of Europe, Africa and Asia and in Pacific Ocean - halted aggression of Axis countries and finally defeated them.
Yorktown 1781 - Americans and French under Washington forced surrender of Lord Cornwallis with 7,000 men, practically ending Revolutionary War.
Ypres, First Battle of 1914 - British prevented Germans from reaching Calais and occupying channel ports.
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