Depends what you mean by large. The US has been in debt since day 1 due to Revolutionary War Debts owed to probably France. The only time it's been zero was during Andrew Jackson's presidency about 1835. First major surge in debt was the war of Northern Aggression (aka Civil War). Pretty much every war created huge surges in the Public debt, especially World War I, World War II, Cold War, War on Terrorism.
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debt and bankruptcy
Trillions
deficit financing adds to public debt because it is regularly spending more than it takes in each year-and then borrows to make up the difference.
pay civil war debt
Pay off the national debt