Jenel Virden outlines the causes, courses and consequences of the four major wars of the 20th century in American history, examining how the United States became involved, how the wars were fought; and what the domestic consequences of the wars were. Virden discusses the foreign policy as well as civil liberty implications of American involvement in the First World War, Second World War, Korean War and Vietnam War.

2First World War -- 8 -- Pre-war Period -- 8 -- Beginnings -- 10 -- How the War was Fought -- 19 -- US Home Front -- 27 -- Consequences -- 38 -- 3 Second World War -- 43 -- Interwar Period -- 43 -- Beginnings -- 45 -- How the War was Fought -- 53 -- US Home Front -- 62 -- Consequences -- 76 -- 4 Korean War -- 80 -- Interwar Period -- 80 -- Beginnings -- 81 -- How the War was Fought -- 85 -- US Home Front -- 93 -- Consequences -- 107 -- 5 Vietnam War -- 111 -- Interwar Period -- 111 -- Beginnings -- 115 -- How the War was Fought -- 119 -- US Home Front -- 128 -- Consequences -- 148 -- How the Wars Began - Justice of War -- 150 -- How the Wars were Fought - Justice in War -- 153 -- How the Wars Ended - Justice after the War -- 159 -- US Home Front - Justice at Home -- 162.