A very brief history of the US army – in 150 wordspublished at 03:14 British Summer Time
Image source, Getty ImagesUS soldiers dressed in period uniform march in Washington DC
The US army is widely considered to be the most powerful military in the world.
Formed in 1775, it traces its origins to the American Revolution when it was formed by the Continental Congress to fight British forces under the leadership of George Washington.
In the 19th century, it fought a number of wars, including the War of 1812, the Seminole Wars and the Mexican-American war, which led to the expansion of US territory.
The American Civil War (1861-1865) was a defining period in the country’s history – it saw the Union Army fight the Confederate forces led by former US officers and the end of slavery.
In the 20th century, the army played a major role in World War One and World War Two, where it fought alongside allies it still counts today such as Britain and France as well as the then-Soviet Union.
During the Cold War, US troops fought communist forces in Korea and Vietnam, where the use of drafted personnel became a polarising issue in domestic politics.
After the Cold War, the US launched its “war on terror” following the 11 September 2001 attacks, which led to the invasion of Afghanistan in the same year and the combined US and allied invasion of Iraq in 2003.
