Infographic of the Week: The Cost of U.S. Wars Then and Now

Though it lasted fewer than four years, World War II was the most expensive war in United States history. Adjusted for inflation to today’s dollars, the war cost over $4 trillion and in 1945, the war’s last year, defense spending comprised about 40% of GDP. During that time, the government used new methods to raise the required funds and succeeded in accomplishing its goal. While the wars waged in today’s world are significant and costly, they still pale in comparison to the size and financial impact of World War II.

The following infographic, created by Norwich University’s Online Master of Arts in History Program, takes a closer look at the wars of the 21st Century and how they stack up to the wars of our past.