Before Harry Potter was born what kind of war was raging?

I think Order of the Phoenix delved into it a bit, but there were never (that I remember) large chunks of any of the books that described in detail about the war. It's always mentioned in passing or terrified recounting.

The war between good and evil witches and wizards had it's roots in the rise of Tom as "Lord Voldemort." He attracted followers, mostly from his class at Hogwarts from Slytherin to form the Death Eaters. They were unafraid of dark magic and evil curses so they easily were able to take over parts of the Ministry of Magic. Their reign of terror subdued many good people from acting because they were scared of the retribution that would take place. The original Order of the Phoenix was formed by Dumbledore, Sirius Black, James Potter, Lupin, etc. to help ward off the Death Eaters and Voldemort. Unfortunately, the evil powers were too strong for the Order of the Phoenix who had key members such as the Longbottoms, cursed, their lives marred forever. Lilly and James Potter were of special interest to Voldemort because of the "prophecy" revealed in the Order of the Phoenix,

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"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches ... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies ... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not ... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives ... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies ..."

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Professor Trelawney said that to Dumbledore who realized it meant the Potters baby who was soon due. Voldemort found out about the prophecy and the baby thanks to Severus Snape. Again, the prophecy was basically this

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He was male.
He is born in the closing days of July of 1980, the year that the prophecy was made.
His parents had defied Voldemort three times and lived to tell about it.
He would have a power that Voldemort was unable or unwilling to comprehend.
If more than one person was born that met the requirements, Voldemort himself would choose to whom it would ultimately refer.

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Here are exact quotes referencing the attack on Harry

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"Voldemort tried to kill you when you were a child because of a prophecy made shortly before your birth. He knew the prophecy had been made, though he did not know its full contents. He set out to kill you when you were still a baby, believing he was fulfilling the terms of the prophecy. He discovered, to his cost, that he was mistaken, when the curse intended to kill you backfired. And so, since his return to his body, and particulalrly since your extraordinary escape from him last year, he has been determined to hear that prophecy in its entirety. This is the weapon he has been seeking so assiduously since his return: the knowledge of how to destroy you"

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As Snape was apprehended by Aberforth Dumbledore before the full prophecy could be made, only part of the prophecy was reported to Voldemort. Voldemort knew that there were two boys that met the requirements of the prophecy: Aside from Harry Potter, the other was Neville Longbottom, who was born on on July 30th, 1980, to a pair of Aurors who, like James and Lily Potter, had directly defied Voldemort on three separate occasions.
"He chose the boy he thought most likely to be a danger to him. He chose, not the pure-blood (which according to his creed, is the only kind of wizard worth being or knowing), but the half-blood like himself. He saw himself in you before he had ever seen you, and in marking you with that scar, he did not kill you, as he intended, but gave you powers, and a future, which have fitted you to escape him not once, but four times so far -- something that neither your parents, nor Neville's parents, ever achieved."
—Albus Dumbledore on Voldemort's decision to "mark Harry as his equal"[src]
However, Voldemort chose Harry as his target, who was, like himself, a half-blood, rather than the pure-blooded Neville. Voldemort chose Harry as he believed Harry was the most danger to him and he saw himself in Harry before even seeing him. He marked him with a lighting-bolt scar and did not kill him, but gave Harry powers, and a future, which have allowed Harry to escape Voldemort four times, something neither Harry's parents or Neville's parents ever achieved.
Shocked by Voldemort's decision, Snape hastened to Dumbledore and explained that Voldemort had come to the conclusion that the Potters' child was his would-be vanquisher, and had vowed to kill him. Snape also confessed his longtime love for Harry's mother, Lily, and offered Dumbledore his loyalty in exchange for her protection. Snape was now loyal to two masters, who were enemies.

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Quotes come from : LINK

I'm glad you posted it so I didn't have too

I think it would be awesome if she wrote some back story books from James potter or sirius's pov or even dumbledores starting when voldy started to gain power

Would be awesome. Unfortunately she seems set on staying away from Harry Potter universe themed books. It's like she wants to prove that's not all she has. She's been saying she is goint to write a Harry Potter encyclopedia type book that explains all the characters backgrounds; and even where a lot of them are now. But I dk if its ever gonna happen

Maybe they will make a prequel before harry was born

Not bad, not sure how I feel about all that Muggle interaction in their with magic. That's not really supposed to happen unless they're going to erase their memories

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No, it is 1980. She originally began writing the series in the early 90's and intended for Harry's first year at Hogwarts to be 1991, when he is 11. The Deathly Hallows takes place in 1997.

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Yup all the stories take place about ten years prior in real time from when they were released.