There have been some posts here in the Forum lately that claims the US Congress voted a declaration of war against the Confederacy in 1861. These claims are incorrect. The list that follows contains all declarations of war ever passed by the US Congress in the history of the nation against another nation:
War of 1812
06/18/1812 Senate: 19-13 House: 79-49 British Empire
Mexican-American War
05/11/1846 Senate: 40-2 House: 174-14 Mexico
Spanish-American War
05/24/1898 Senate: 42-35 House: 310-6 Spain
World War I
04/06/1917 Senate: 82-6 House: 373-50 Germany
12/07/1917 Senate: 74-0 House: 365-1 Austria-Hungary
World War II
12/08/1941 Senate: 82-0 House: 388-1 Japan
12/11/1941 Senate: 88-0 House: 393-0 Germany
12/11/1941 Senate: 90-0 House: 399-0 Italy
06/05/1942 Senate: 73-0 House: 357-0 Bulgaria
06/05/1942 Senate: 73-0 House: 360-0 Hungary
06/05/1942 Senate: 73-0 House: 361-0 Romania
There are also some 12 specific military engagements for which Congress has not declared war, but for which it has passed specific authorizing legislation These range from the Quasi-War with France in 1798 to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Civil War is not one of these.
The Korean War or Conflict was participated in as part of the United Nations and no specific act of Congress authorized it (although it might be claimed treaty obligations required our participation).
Beyond that, there are approximately 125 conflicts or struggles that have no specific declaration or other authorization from Congress. The longest of them would be the more than 40 year struggle with the Apaches (1840-86?); there are at least 28 conflicts generally refered to as "the Indian Wars".
Tim
War of 1812
06/18/1812 Senate: 19-13 House: 79-49 British Empire
Mexican-American War
05/11/1846 Senate: 40-2 House: 174-14 Mexico
Spanish-American War
05/24/1898 Senate: 42-35 House: 310-6 Spain
World War I
04/06/1917 Senate: 82-6 House: 373-50 Germany
12/07/1917 Senate: 74-0 House: 365-1 Austria-Hungary
World War II
12/08/1941 Senate: 82-0 House: 388-1 Japan
12/11/1941 Senate: 88-0 House: 393-0 Germany
12/11/1941 Senate: 90-0 House: 399-0 Italy
06/05/1942 Senate: 73-0 House: 357-0 Bulgaria
06/05/1942 Senate: 73-0 House: 360-0 Hungary
06/05/1942 Senate: 73-0 House: 361-0 Romania
There are also some 12 specific military engagements for which Congress has not declared war, but for which it has passed specific authorizing legislation These range from the Quasi-War with France in 1798 to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Civil War is not one of these.
The Korean War or Conflict was participated in as part of the United Nations and no specific act of Congress authorized it (although it might be claimed treaty obligations required our participation).
Beyond that, there are approximately 125 conflicts or struggles that have no specific declaration or other authorization from Congress. The longest of them would be the more than 40 year struggle with the Apaches (1840-86?); there are at least 28 conflicts generally refered to as "the Indian Wars".
Tim