1. American Revolution
   World War I
2. War of 1812

In early 1814, as the War of 1812 drew to a close, British ships attempted to capture New Orleans. They had the advantage in guns and men … but the Americans had a guy named Andrew Jackson.

1. They all wanted to die because they had malaria.
   They didn't know about the treaty.
2. Both sides had a grudge to settle.

The Treaty of Ghent was signed in Europe … and soldiers in New Orleans hadn't yet received word when they commenced fighting. The battle held major implications in the southeast.

1. Siege of Vicksburg
   Battle of Gettysburg
2. Battle of Bull Run

Months after the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln recalled the signing of the Declaration of Independence in his famous Gettysburg Address, which began: "Four score and seven years ago …"

1. Napoleonic Wars
   Crimean War
2. First Barbary War

In July 1804, the U.S. and its allies fought the Second Battle of Tripoli Harbor, part of the First Barbary War. A naval blockage sparked the fighting.

1. trained whale attack
   nuclear bombs
2. a suicide attack

The USS Intrepid loaded up huge amounts of explosives and sailed directly at enemy ships, intending to trigger a suicide bombing. But the ship was destroyed before it reached the enemy.

1. obliteration of the French army
   indecisive
2. utter destruction of U.S. troops

In June 1876, U.S. troops clashed with an alliance of Indian warriors in Montana. It is still regarded as one of the most famous Native American victories ever.

1. Davy Crockett
   George Custer
2. George Patton

George Armstrong Custer was a swashbuckling Army officer who underestimated his Native American foes at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. During a last, desperate stand, he was killed, and his men were wiped out.

1. Battle of the Alamo
   Battle of the Mississinewa
2. Battle of Antietam

On September 17, 1862, Union and Confederate forces met at the Battle of Antietam in Maryland. In just a day, there were more than 22,000 combined casualties -- making Antietam the bloodiest day of fighting U.S. history.

1. American Revolution
   War of 1812
2. Black Hawk War

On August 24, 1814, as part of the War of 1812, British troops invaded Washington, D.C. and set fire to many public buildings, including the White House. The troops then left the scene, leaving the city in flames.

1. a mighty storm
   an earthquake
2. The Four Horsemen arrived.

Just as the Burning of Washington got underway, a mighty storm swept the area. Whether it was a hurricane or just an enormous thunderstorm, its heavy rains helped to douse the fires.

1. Apache Wars
   American Civil War
2. Spanish-American War

On May 1, 1898, as part of the Spanish–American War, U.S. sailors engaged the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Manila Bay. It was a decisive victory for the Americans and made Commodore George Dewey an icon.

1. Australian mercenaries
   the British
2. Native Americans

On November 7, 1811, U.S. troops defeated Indian warrior at the Battle of Tippecanoe, which occurred near present-day Indiana. The Native Americans fled the area.

1. Mexican-American War
   American Civil War
2. World War I

In 1847, U.S. troops laid siege to Veracruz for 20 days as part of a campaign during the Mexican-American War. After nearly three weeks, Mexican troops surrendered.

1. a pincer attack
   a large amphibious assault
2. an atomic bombing

During the Siege of Veracruz, for the first time ever, U.S. troops used a large amphibious assault to land near enemy lines. The Mexican were greatly outnumbered and gave up -- but not before hundreds of civilians had been killed.

1. land
   air
2. naval

It was one of the biggest naval fights of the War of 1812. In September 1813, nine American ships confronted the Royal Navy … and won, helping the U.S. regain control of Detroit.

1. Ronald Reagan
   Theodore Roosevelt
2. Lyndon Johnson

Leading a unit nicknamed the Rough Riders, Theodore Roosevelt and his men charged up Kettle Hill at the Battle of San Juan Hill. In 2001, Roosevelt was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor there.

1. Battle for Mexico City
   Battle of Guayama
2. Battle of the Bulge

In September 1847, General Winfield Scott invaded Mexico City in hopes of ending the Mexican-American War. After a week of heavy fighting, Scott and his men won the battle … and the war.

1. Battle of the Bulge
   Burning of Washington
2. Battle of Baltimore

In the fall of 1814, British ships attacked the Americans at the Battle of Baltimore. Francis Scott Key was a witness to the fighting, and penned the words eventually became the nearly-impossible-to-sing national anthem.

1. Alabama
   Iowa
2. Montana

The Battle of Bear Paw was the end of the line for the Indians fleeing American troops as part of the Nez Perce War. The Native Americans were attempting to escape to Canada, but most of them were caught at this battle in Montana.

1. John Tyler
   Teddy Roosevelt
2. Andrew Jackson

The Battle of Horseshoe Bend featured General Andrew Jackson and his men fighting Indians doing to their best to stop American expansion into their territories. General Jackson forced the Native Americans to surrender and give up milions of acres of their land.

1. U.S.
   Spain
2. indecisive

At the Battle of San Juan Hill, the U.S. emerged triumphant. But the victory came at a steep cost, with three times as many casualties as the Spanish.

1. Victorio's War
   War of 1812
2. Great Sioux War

The Battle of the Little Bighorn was the most critical battle of the Great Sioux War of 1876. Custer's Last Stand probably only lasted about an hour, but it's become an iconic moment in U.S. military history.

1. about 4,500
   roughly 40,000
2. about 19,000

New Orleans locals tried to convince Andrew Jackson to surrender -- he had just 4,500 men against 10,000 redcoats. But Jackson insisted on standing firm against the invaders.

1. French
   Native Americans
2. extraterrestrials

During the Red River War of the Old West, U.S. forces defeated Native American warriors at the Battle of Palo Duro Canyon. The Americans confiscated or killed thousands of horses that the Indians relied on.

1. Union
   Confederacy
2. indecisive

It was the bloodiest day in American military history. But neither side really won the Battle of Antietam, although its outcome did benefit benefit the Union in the long run.

1. about 70
   perhaps 4,000
2. about 12,000

Thousands of British men fell to American guns at New Orleans. Just 70 U.S. troops became casualties … and the victory sent New Orleans citizens to dancing in the streets.

1. Florida
   Indiana Territory
2. California

From 1810 to 1813, the U.S. fought against a Native American alliance in Tecumseh's War. Much of the fighting took place in the Indiana Territory.

1. 1
   92
2. 732

It was a rout for the ages. U.S. commander George Dewey lost just one man -- to cardiac arrest -- in the Battle of Manila Bay. The Spanish, however, suffered hundreds of casualties.

1. The Spanish troops were on vacation.
   They used nukes.
2. It was a surprise attack.

The American ships approached from an unexpected location and achieved complete tactical surprise. The victory was shocking to Europeans, who perceived the Spanish navy as a juggernaut.

1. London
   Toronto
2. Mexico City

In September 1847, the Battle of Chapultepec was an important fight in the larger Battle for Mexico City. U.S. troops stormed a nearly impregnable hill and won the day -- and the following day, Mexico City fell.