When did the US Congress last declare war on another country?
The US Congress has formally declared war only 11 times in U.S. history.
The first declaration of war was on Great Britain in 1812. Also called the "second war for independence", this conflict lasted for two and a half years and ended with the Treaty of Ghent, ratified by the Senate on the 17th of February, 1815. The end of this war was the beginning of the peaceful American-British relationships .
The 11th and last declaration was on Rumania in June 1942, during WW2. Since World War II the Congress hasn't officially declared war on any country of the world.
More Info:
www.theatlantic.com
What are your thoughts on this subject?
26 Comments
Darryl Harris
Ever since WWII every fight the U.S. has been in was either a police action or a peace keeping mission. The big question is why so many die in wars when we have not declared one. So make it official or stop sticking or assess on the firing line.
Keith Murray
Freedom isnt free.
Romulus Sorin Ivan-Papu
There is no such country named Rumania, but Romania.
Bill Coe
I thought 1941 was the correct answer and that the author made a mistake or was trying to trick us. 1942 is correct as the year that US, with congress and senate approval, declared war on Hungary and Romania. Good question
Joanne Serin
Romulus Sorin Ivan-Papu, that was one spelling.
Robin Heckler
Romulus Sorin Ivan-Papu, It use to be spelled with a U, but was changed to an O as the country switched from Crylic spelling to Latin. Romania became the predominate spelling worldwide in the mid 1970's.
Shirley Dutt
Nina Kamwene, It's not just America. It's a world leader phenomenon. They all send people to die because of money. It's been that way since man invented money.
Shirley Dutt
Mic Fenst, The French were already there, being the ?losers they are. Kennedy sent advisors. Johnson escalated it. And you are right. A total waste of human lives.
Mic Fenst
The "conflict" in Vietnam was a total waste. Initially to protect rubber plantation interests of US companies. It "blossomed" from there.
Carroll Price
WW2 taught the United States how much money can be made fighting declared wars that never end. .
Howard Groopman
Good question. Although presidents have sent troops into battle many times, only Congress can declare war, something they've not done in 80 years.
Edie Koller
WW2 before my time I was a baby boomer. My brothers were war babies. I was first year of the baby boomers. I use to live next door to the Boomers in Ohio.
Robert Oldenburg
A major problem with wars since then is that they weren’t declared. Congress needs to have the debate.
mkrash
Korea and The Persian Golf were both United Nations Conflicts and really the last Legal War was WWII and the Military Industrail Complex needs to have a place to test thier equipment sad to say but true and war by any other name is still nasty as homes, citys and countrys are layed to waste .
Nina Kamwene
War is America's biggest and most profitable industry. It is business not 'war', as such; the congress has nothing to declare. Aweful loss of life.
June Abramowitz
Bush declared war in 2001 not congress
Sharon Flanagan
Vietnam was also a police action. All those Americans who died were consultants.
Bill Coe
Read Cheeky Panda's explanation. I think you will see that he is correct. In 1942, with the approval of congress and the senate, the US declared war on Hungary and Romania.