American Wars
Should the casuality table below shape or influence, at least a little bit,
the curriculum we teach for all ages in all classes?
If so, |
//// |
If not, |
Why? |
//// | Why not? |
How? |
//// |
How could you keep it out? |
Name |
Dates |
Duration |
Casualities |
|
Revolutionary War |
1775 – 1783 |
8 years |
4,435 |
|
War of 1812 |
1812 – 1815 |
3 years |
2,260 |
|
Mexican-American War |
1846 – 1848 |
2 years |
1,733 |
|
Civil War |
1861 – 1865 |
4 years |
184,594 |
|
Spanish-American War |
1893 |
6 weeks |
385 |
|
World War I |
1917 – 1918 |
2 years |
53,513 |
|
World War II |
1941 – 1945 |
4 years |
292,131 |
|
Korean War |
1950 – 1953 |
3 years |
33,651 |
|
Vietnam War |
1964 – 1972 |
8 years |
47,369 |
|
Gulf War |
1990 -- 1991 |
1 month |
148 |
Iraq Invasion/ Occupation:
Dates Casualties Injuries Iraqiis 2003-
5 years so far*
US Casualties
4209*
Counting the number of soldiers wounded is very difficult because the criteria for what counts as injured is not clear. Should we count flesh wounds that completely heal after several months rest? Do we count flesh wounds that heal after several months of rest? Self-inflected injuries? Many injuries are never officially reported. Est. Iraqi Casualties:
1,000,000*
Date of Latest US Casualty:
12/4//08
We are quickly catching up to the number of fatalities in the 8 years of the Revolutionary War
US Injured
Official: 30333*
Notice that so far this war has lasted longer than the Civil War and longer than WWII
Estimated:
Only the Vietnam war lasted longer. Do we count mental problems as injuries? How about mental problems that don't arise until 10 years from now. Are these injuries?
*as of September 12, 2008
Source: Casualties in Iraq:
The Human Cost of Occupation
Checked against these sites: icasualties and Department of Defense
Send comments regarding this page to: Pillsbury@wmich.edu
Last revised:
December 9, 2008