Memorial Day: America’s 7 costliest wars

By Michael Gryboski, Editor Monday, May 25, 2026

Every Memorial Day, Americans pause to remember the service members who never returned home from war.

Originally known as Decoration Day and centered on honoring Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War, Memorial Day falls on the last Monday in May. Throughout its nearly 250-year history, the United States has been involved in numerous military conflicts in North America and around the world.

From the American Revolution to World War II, military conflicts have claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans. Some wars lasted only a few years, while others stretched across generations and reshaped the country politically, culturally and spiritually.

Here are the seven bloodiest wars in American history

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By Michael Gryboski, Editor Monday, May 25, 2026

7. War of 1812

Known by some as America’s “Second War of Independence,” the War of 1812 was fought between the young United States and the British Empire from 1812 to 1815.

The conflict stemmed from growing tensions between the United States and the United Kingdom, including Britain forcing American sailors into military service and supporting Native American attacks on American settlers along the western frontier.

Approximately 15,000 Americans died during the conflict. The war’s most notable battle — the American victory at New Orleans — occurred weeks after the treaty ending the war had been signed.

“The Treaty of Ghent was signed by British and United States delegates on December 24th, 1814, to be enacted when each side formally ratified the treaty,” noted the American Battlefield Trust.

“The British were able to ratify the treaty on December 27th, but it took several weeks for the treaty to reach the United States. It was ratified by the US Senate on February 17th, 1815.”