Updated April 2013

 The United States Armed Forces Definition and Branches

  Definitions  Armed forces – A country's military forces  Military – Consisting of soldiers  What is the purpose of the military?  To protect us from other countries  To fight in wars in other countries What Are Armed Forces?

  Army  Navy  Marine Corps  Air Force  Coast Guard Branches of the Armed Forces

 Army  The Army is responsible for land- based military operations.  It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military.  The U.S. Army has 1,129,275 soldiers. “This We’ll Defend”

 Navy  The Navy is responsible for sea-based operations.  The US Navy is the largest navy in the world, with a battle fleet tonnage that is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined.  The U.S. Navy also has the world's largest carrier fleet.  The U.S. Navy has 317,054 people, 288 ships, and 3,700 aircraft. “Strength and Honor”

 Marine Corps  The Marine Corps is responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to rapidly deliver combined- arms task forces.  The Marine Corps works closely with the Navy.  The U.S. Marine Corps has about 203,000 active duty Marines. “Always Loyal”

 Air Force  The Air Force is responsible for aerial operations.  It is the newest U.S. military branch, and is the largest and one of the world's most technologically advanced air forces.  The U.S. Air Force has 332,854 active personnel, 5,484 aircraft, 450 intercontinental ballistic missiles, and 63 satellites.  The U.S. Air Force provides air support to ground troops and aids in the recovery of troops in the field. “Aim High… Fly, Fight, Win”

 Coast Guard  The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi- mission service.  The U.S. Coast Guard has about 42,000 men and women on active duty.  The Coast Guard's enduring roles are maritime safety, security, and stewardship. “Always Ready”

 American Wars A Short History

 American War Timeline 1775 Revolutionary War 1812 War of 1812 War of Mexican- American War 1861 Civil War 1914 World War I World War I 1939 World War II World War II 1950 Korean War 1954 Vietnam War 2001 War in Afghanistan 2003 Iraq War

 Revolutionary War America VS British Empire  1775 – 1783  4,435 American deaths  Americans wanted to gain independence from the British Empire so they no longer had to pay taxes to the British Empire.  The Americans won and claimed their independence.

 War of 1812 America VS Great Britain  1812 – 1815  2,260 American deaths  America wanted to expand its territory on the American continent and its trade with other countries. Americans battled with British, Canadian, and Native American troops.  Successful battles boosted national confidence and patriotism.  The U.S. and Great Britain eventually signed a peace treaty called the “Treaty of Ghent.”

 Mexican-American War America VS Mexico  1846 – 1848  1,733 American deaths  America wanted to expand its territory across the continent to the Pacific Ocean.  The U.S. was successful and took the territories of California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico from Mexico.

 Civil War Union Americans VS Confederate Americans  1861 – 1865  140,414 Union deaths and 74,524 Confederate deaths  When anti-slavery President Abraham Lincoln was elected, Southern states in the U.S. wanted to form their own country and became the “Confederates.”  They eventually surrendered.  Most Americans deaths in a war in history.

 World War I Central Powers VS Allies  1914 – 1918  53,402 American deaths  Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire  Allies: Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Japan, and the U.S.  Russians assassinated an Austrian prince, starting the war. (more on next page)

 World War I The Central Powers VS The Allies  This was the first war to have modern weapons such as machine guns, tanks and chemical weapons.  In all, more than 9 million soldiers were killed and 21 million more wounded.  The war ended with the Treaty of Versailles, which changed the borders of the countries involved, established the League of Nations as an international peace organization, and punished Germany for its aggression.

 World War II Axis VS Allies  1939 – 1945  291,557 American deaths  Axis: Germany and their allies ( Italy, Japan, Hungary )  Allies: U.S. and everyone else  Adolf Hitler and the Nazis took over Germany and began killing all Jewish people. When he invaded Poland, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany.  More deaths and destruction of land and property than any war in history (45-60 million total deaths).  Hitler committed suicide when it became clear he was going to lose the war.

 Korean War America VS Korea  1950 – 1953  33,741 American deaths  North Korea invaded South Korea, and the U.S. joined in the war to aid South Korea. They wanted to make peace with N. Korea as quickly as possible because they feared N. Korea’s allies would join in and cause World War III.

 Vietnam War America & South Vietnam VS North Vietnam  1954 – 1975  58,220 American deaths  Americans wanted to keep North Vietnam, a communist country, from taking over South Vietnam.  The U.S. was very unsuccessful and eventually pulled out of the war after many American and Vietnamese deaths. N. Vietnam then took over S. Vietnam.  Many people in America disagreed with the war, causing much anger and fighting within the U.S.

 War in Afghanistan America VS Afghanistan  2001 – present  More than 1,800 American deaths as of June 2012  U.S. President George W. Bush declared war on Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks by the al- Qaeda.  The intent was to dismantle the al-Qaeda (a terrorist group) and the Taliban (a government group known for brutal treatment and suppression of women).

 Iraq War America VS Iraq  2003 – present  More than 4,400 American deaths as of June 2012  U.S. President George W. Bush declared war on Iraq for the following reasons:  Suspected weapons of mass destruction (there were none)  Suspected alliance between the Iraq President Saddam Hussein with al-Qaeda (there is no evidence that this is true)  Suspected support of suicide bombers (there is no evidence)

steampwrd.tumblr.com