Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.

Why This Matters

This question asks you to name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s. The accepted answers are: the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, or the Spanish-American War. You only need to name one.

The 1800s were a century of major change and conflict for the United States. The War of 1812 was fought against Britain again, partly because the British were interfering with American shipping and forcing American sailors to serve in the British navy. This war confirmed American independence and boosted national pride. The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) resulted in the United States gaining a huge amount of land, including what is now California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.

The Civil War (1861-1865) was the deadliest war in American history. It was fought between the Northern states (the Union) and the Southern states (the Confederacy) over slavery and states' rights. More than 600,000 soldiers died. The Union won, slavery was abolished, and the country stayed together. Finally, the Spanish-American War (1898) was a short conflict that made the United States a world power. America gained control of territories including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. Each of these wars shaped the country in important ways, and the USCIS test expects you to know at least one of them.

Key Facts

• The War of 1812 was fought against Britain over shipping rights and national sovereignty
• The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) added vast territory in the Southwest
• The Civil War (1861-1865) ended slavery and preserved the Union
• The Spanish-American War (1898) made the U.S. a global power
• You only need to name one war on the test

Common Mistakes

• Naming a war from a different century, World War I (1914) and the Revolutionary War (1775) are not from the 1800s
• Saying "the Vietnam War" or "the Korean War", these were fought in the 1900s
• Giving only a description like "the war about slavery", try to use the actual name, "the Civil War"

Study Tip

The easiest war to remember is the Civil War because it connects to several other test questions (Questions 73, 74, 75, and 76). If you study the Civil War, you can answer multiple questions at once. But any of the four wars is a correct answer, pick the one you find easiest to say.