Actually talesin anybody that actually knows something about US History will tell you that the revolution was about being denied our rights as British citizens. If we weren't going to be treated as citizens then we refused to be treated as subjects.
My best friend has BA w/Honours in AMerican History, and we were discussing this very subject last week. He said the only two times America has invaded a sovereign nation (before Iraq) were Canada and Vietnam.
I take it doesn't take much to get a BA with Honors whereever your friend went to college. The following is from wikipedia.
1801–1805 – First Barbary War – USS George Washington and USS Philadelphia affairs result in actions against the Barbary pirates responsible. In the Eaton expedition, a few Marines and soldiers landed with United States Agent William Eaton to raise a force against Tripoli in an effort to free the crew of the Philadelphia. Tripoli declared war; the United States did not, although Congress authorized military action by statute. [ 1 ]
1806 – Spanish Mexico – A platoon under Captain Zebulon Pike invaded Spanish territory at the headwaters of the Rio Grande on orders from GeneralJames Wilkinson. He was made prisoner without resistance at a fort he constructed in present-day Colorado, taken to Mexico, and later released after seizure of his papers. [RL30172]
edited to add: The War of 1812 was a bad idea - we may have been right, impressment was terrible, but if the Brits hadn't been busy with Napoleon they would have handed us our heads. Some of the New England states very nearly suceeded when war was declared because it did so much damage to their economies.
1806–10 – Gulf of Mexico. American gunboats operated from New Orleans against Spanish and French privateers off the Mississippi Delta, chiefly under Captain John Shaw and Master Commandant David Porter. [ 1 ]
1810 – West Florida (Spanish territory). GovernorWilliam C.C. Claiborne of Louisiana, on orders of President James Madison, occupied with troops territory in dispute east of the Mississippi as far as the Pearl River, later the eastern boundary of Louisiana. He was authorized to seize as far east as the Perdido River. [RL30172]
1812 – Amelia Island and other parts of east Florida, then under Spain. Temporary possession was authorized by President James Madison and by Congress, to prevent occupation by any other power; but possession was obtained by General George Mathews in so irregular a manner that his measures were disavowed by the President. [RL30172]
1815 – Algiers. The Second Barbary War was declared against the United States by the Dey of Algiers of the Barbary states, an act not reciprocated by the United States. Congress did authorize a military expedition by statute. A large fleet under Captain Stephen Decatur attacked Algiers and obtained indemnities.[RL30172
1815 – Tripoli. After securing an agreement from Algiers, Captain Decatur demonstrated with his squadron at Tunis and Tripoli, where he secured indemnities for offenses during the War of 1812. [RL30172]
1822 – Cuba. United States naval forces suppressing piracy landed on the northwest coast of Cuba and burned a pirate station. [RL30172]
1823 – Cuba. Brief landings in pursuit of pirates occurred April 8 near Escondido; April 16 near Cayo Blanco; July 11 at Siquapa Bay; July 21 at Cape Cruz; and October 23 at Camrioca. [RL30172]
1824 – Cuba. In October the USS Porpoise landed bluejackets near Matanzas in pursuit of pirates. This was during the cruise authorized in 1822. [RL30172]
1824 – Puerto Rico (Spanish territory). Commodore David Porter with a landing party attacked the town of Fajardo which had sheltered pirates and insulted American naval officers. He landed with 200 men in November and forced an apology. Commodore Porter was later court-martialed for overstepping his powers. [RL30172]
1825 – Cuba. In March cooperating American and British forces landed at Sagua La Grande to capture pirates. [RL30172]
1827 – Greece. In October and November landing parties hunted pirates on the Mediterranean islands of Argenteire, Myconos, and Andros. [RL30172]
1833 – Argentina. October 31 to November 15. A force was sent ashore at Buenos Aires to protect the interests of the United States and other countries during an insurrection. [RL30172]
1835–36 – Peru. December 10, 1835, to January 24, 1836, and August 31 to December 7, 1836. Marines protected American interests in Callao and Lima during an attempted revolution.[RL301
This brings us up to the Mexican American War. There's more
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_United_States_military_operations#1800.E2.80.931809
