A history of Congress authorizing war

Matthew Rezab
February 19, 2015

Congress is currently debating President Obama’s request for an Authorization for the Use of Military Force against the terrorist group ISIS.

U.S. troops have fought and gone to war many times since America declared its independence from England in 1776, but Congress has only legally declared war a total of 11 times.

  • Declaration of war with Great Britain – Passed June 17, 1812

  • Declaration of war with Mexico – passed May 12, 1846 

  • Declaration of war with Spain – passed April 25, 1898

  • Declaration of war with Germany – passed April 6, 1917

  • Declaration of war with Austria-Hungary – passed Dec. 7, 1917

  • Declaration of war with Japan – passed Dec. 8, 1941

  • Declaration of war with Germany – passed Dec. 11, 1941

  • Declaration of war with Italy – passed Dec. 11, 1941

  • Declaration of war with Bulgaria – passed June 4, 1942

  • Declaration of war with Hungary – passed June 4, 1942

  • Declaration of war with Rumania – now Romania; passed June 4, 1942

  Read about the current debate in Congress