Via The Atlantic: All the Previous Declarations of War – Congress has formally declared war only 11 times in U.S. history, and authorized the use of military force 11 times. “As we head into a period of vigorous congressional debate over whether to authorize the use of force against Syria, it’s instructive to look back at America’s history of congressional war declarations.  The Congressional Research Service put together a great mini-history in 2011, “Declarations of War and Authorizations for the Use of Military Force: Historical Background and Legal Implications,” by Jennifer Elsea and Richard Grimmett, which is worth a read at this juncture.”