Key Battles of American History

By James Early

History

What's Key Battles of American History about?

War has played a key role in the history of the United States from the nation’s founding right down to the present. Wars made the U. S. independent, kept it together, increased its size, and established it as a global superpower. Understanding America’s wars is essential for understanding American history. In the Key Battles of American History, host James Early discusses American history through the lens of the most important battles of America’s wars. James is an Adjunct Professor of History at San Jacinto College in Pasadena, TX. He has published one book and two scholarly articles. He is also the cohost (with Scott Rank) of the Presidential Fight Club, Key Battles of the Civil War, Key Battles of the Revolutionary War, and Key Battles of World War I podcasts.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/4747725/advertisement

Download our free app to listen on your phone

LAST EPISODE

Twelve O’Clock High

06.03.2023

World War II pilots were often pushed to the limit of human endurance, especially in the early years of the war. The classic 1948 film Twelve O’Clock High tells the story of a fictional air group based in the UK ...

Key Battles of American History episodes:

06.03.2023 Twelve O’Clock High World War II pilots were often pushed to the limit of human endurance, especially in the early years of the war. The classic 1948 film Twelve O’Clock High tells the story of a fictional air group based in the UK ...
05.31.2023 The Desert Fox and the Desert Rats: North Africa 1941-1943 At the beginning of 1941, Italian forces had suffered a catastrophic defeat in North Africa at the hands of the British Army in Egypt. Il Duce’s fortunes were on the wane, but the arrival of a capable German commander and ...
05.27.2023 Stalingrad The epic Battle of Stalingrad was one of the most horrific and bloody battles of the Second World War. Several movies have tried to capture the horror of the war, but none does so better than the 1993 German-Russian production. ...
05.24.2023 The Soviets Stand Firm: Stalingrad and Kursk Before the German Army Group South could capture the oil fields of the Caucasus, it needed to secure the key city of Stalingrad. The fight for Stalingrad turned into one of the most brutal and nasty battles of the war. ...
05.20.2023 Eyewitness History - Feed Drop (Nick Sanza) In this clip from the Eyewitness History Podcast, former Vietnam War veteran & "tunnel rat" Nick Sanza discusses his experience overseas, what it's like coming from a long lineage of military service, and what he learned from the tunnels in ...
05.17.2023 Hitler Turns East: Operations Barbarossa and Typhoon In June 1941, Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa, the largest invasion in world history. Three massive German armies targeted Leningrad, Moscow, and the Caucasus oil fields. One army put Leningrad under siege, another swept through Ukraine, and the third another reached ...
05.13.2023 The Big Red One The US First Infantry Division is one of the US Army’s most storied units, due largely to the crucial role it played in World War II. The 1980 film The Big Red One, Starring Lee Marvin and Mark Hamill, follows ...
05.10.2023 Securing Hitler's Flank: The Balkans, 1940-1941 Prior to launching his massive attack on the Soviet Union, Hitler wanted to make sure his flanks were secure. He secured his “left flank” (Finland) and part of his “right flank” (the Balkans) through a combination of threats and diplomacy. ...
05.03.2023 Il Duce’s Gamble: Italy’s Struggles, 1938-1941 Italian dictator Benito Mussolini desired to create a “New Roman Empire.” In the 1920s, he strengthened Italy’s control over Libya, and in 1935, he ordered the invasion of Ethiopia, adding it to his empire the next year. Between 1939 and ...
04.29.2023 Sink the Bismarck! Naval combat played a major role throughout the European Theater of the Second World War. Without constant supply convoys from the United States to Great Britain and the Soviet Union, the Allies could not have defeated Hitler. But those convoys ...
04.26.2023 Command the Sea: The Naval War Through 1941 Naval combat played a major role throughout the European Theater of the Second World War. Without constant supply convoys from the United States to Great Britain and the Soviet Union, the Allies could not have defeated Hitler. But those convoys ...
04.22.2023 Battle of Britain In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 1969 movie Battle of Britain, which tells the gripping story of the fight for air supremacy over the United Kingdom.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested ...
04.19.2023 Their Finest Hour: The Battle of Britain Having conquered most of Western Europe, Hitler was determined to invade the United Kingdom and bring it to its knees. But before the Germans could launch the invasion, they needed to crush the Royal Air Force. Accordingly, the Fuhrer ordered ...
04.15.2023 Dunkirk As German forces swept through the Low Countries and France, about half a million Allied soldiers became trapped near the port city of Dunkirk. Between May 26 and June 4, the overwhelming majority were evacuated to Britain by British military ...
04.12.2023 Disaster in the West: The Fall of the Low Countries and France In May 1940, over three million German soldiers crossed Germany’s western border and quickly conquered the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Germany implemented direct rule over part of France, while setting up the puppet regime of Vichy France to govern the ...
04.08.2023 Das Boot The life of a German submarine crewman was filled with challenges, including cramped and dank quarters, poor food, and the constant threat of being spotted and attacked by Allied ships. 75% of German submarine crews eventually met their doom. The ...
04.05.2023 Blitzkrieg, Sitzkrieg, and the Winter War In the fall of 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, a peace treaty in which the two nations also agreed to divide Poland. Soon afterward, the German army invaded Poland, unveiling a new type of warfare ...
04.01.2023 Darkest Hour Upon becoming Prime Minister of the UK in 1940, Winston Churchill’s first and greatest challenge was how to deal with the growing threat posed by Nazi Germany. Many key British leaders urged Churchill to make a peace deal with Germany, ...
03.29.2023 Peace in Our Time: German Aggression and the Failure of Appeasement In March 1938, Germany declared its annexation of Austria. Soon after, Hitler demanded that the Sudetenland, an area of Czechoslovakia with a heavy German population, also be added to the Reich. On 15 September, Hitler met with the leaders of ...
03.25.2023 The Gathering Storm In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 2002 BBC made-for-TV movie The Gathering Storm, which tells the story of Winston Churchill’s return to power after several years in the political “wilderness” and his efforts to warn Parliament and the ...
03.22.2023 The Gathering Storm: The Rise of Fascism and Militarism in Europe In 1923, Benito Mussolini became Prime Minister of Italy and the first fascist leader in Europe. He would not be the last. In less than two decades, many more nations in Europe would be taken over by fascist or semi-fascist ...
03.18.2023 Armageddon in the Arctic Ocean Paul Gill, Sr. was the Third Mate on the Liberty Ship SS Nathanael Greene which sailed to Archangel, Russia, with Convoy PQ18 in September 1942. Armageddon in the Arctic Ocean is Gill’s memoir chronicling his life from the Great Depression ...
03.15.2023 An Unsettled World: Germany and the Allies 1918-1930 The roots of the Second World War in Europe lie within the First World War. The 1919 Treaty of Versailles formally ended the war between Germany and the western Allies, but the geopolitical situation it created was far from stable. ...
03.08.2023 Introduction to Key Battles of World War II in Europe In this episode, James and co-host Sean McIver introduce their massive new series, “Key Battles of World War II in Europe.” Get ready for a lot of massive battles!This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are ...
03.04.2023 History of the Papacy Preview - The Italian Risorgimento The Risorgimento was a period of political and social upheaval in Italy that lasted from the early 19th century to the mid-20th century. The movement aimed to unite the various states and regions of Italy into one unified nation. Pinocchio, ...
03.01.2023 Half American with Matthew Delmont In this episode, James interviews Dartmouth College professor and best-selling author Matthew F. Delmont about his recently-relased (and excellent) book Half American: The Epic Story of African-Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad.This show is part of the ...
02.22.2023 The Legacy of the Mexican-American War In another venerable KBAH tradition, Sean and James reflect on the short-term and long-term impact of the Mexican-American War and tell “the rest of the story” about the key leaders of the war, both Mexican and American.This show is part ...
02.18.2023 This American President Preview - Eisenhower Some remember Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidency as a time of peace and prosperity, but in reality, it was an era of constant global crises. In this episode preview from This American President, host Richard Lim explores how Eisenhower skillfully navigated ...
02.15.2023 The Fall of Mexico City and the End of the War (1847-1848) After the fight at Churubusco, the two armies rested for a couple of weeks, after which the Americans resumed the attack at Molino del Rey and Chapultepec. Eventually, Scott and his army fought their way into Mexico City as Santa ...
02.08.2023 Winfield Scott’s War (1847) In March, 1847, an American army of 12,000 under the command of General Winfied Scott landed on the eastern coast of Mexico and laid siege to the city of Veracruz. After the city’s surrender, Scott marched his army westward toward ...
02.01.2023 Mexican and American Soldiers In a time-honored tradition in the Key Battles of American History Podcast, Sean and James push “pause” on the military and political narrative to give you a “ground up” view of the war. In this episode, you will find out ...
01.28.2023 Taking Berlin with Martin Dugard In this special episode, James interviews best-selling author Martin Dugard about his new book Taking Berlin, which tells the fascinating story of the 1944-45 Allied drive to destroy the Third ReichThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if ...
01.25.2023 Buena Vista; New Mexico and California (1846-1847) After the Mexican loss at Monterrey, Santa Anna took command of the Mexican army and marched a large force north to get revenge against Taylor and his army. The result was the bloody and consequential Battle of Buena Vista, the ...
01.18.2023 Zachary Taylor’s War (1845-1846) In April 1846, the army of General Zachary Taylor, which President Polk had sent to the Rio Grande River, clashed with a Mexican force sent to drive the Americans away. Soon after, Taylor fought two brief battles (Palo Alto and ...
01.14.2023 Vlogging Through History Teaser - Executions During the Great War Over 300 men were executed by the British Army for desertion and cowardice during the First World War. In this episode preview from Vlogging Through History, host Chris Mowery explores the process for executions and the stories of the men ...
01.11.2023 The Texas Annexation Crisis (1844-1845) By 1844, the United States government had resisted the urge to annex the Republic of Texas for several years, but in 1844 that changed as President John Tyler and his successor James K. Polk brought Texas into the U. S. ...
01.04.2023 Mexico and Texas (1836-1844) For the entire history of the Republic of Texas, relations between Mexico and Texas remained tense. Both sides raided the other’s territory. Comanches and other Native American tribes raided both republics. Both republics experienced political and financial instability. And both ...
12.28.2022 Devil Dogs (with Saul David) In this episode, James interviews prolific author Saul David about his new book Devil Dogs: King Company, Third Battalion, 5th Marines: From Guadalcanal to the Shores of Japan.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested ...
12.24.2022 Bonus Episode - Alexander's Postwar Plans Alexander the Great’s death at 323 BC in Babylon marked the end of the most consequential military campaign in antiquity. He left behind an empire that stretched from Greece to India, planted the seeds of the Silk Road, and made ...
12.21.2022 The Alamo (2004) In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 2004 movie The Alamo, starring Dennis Quaid, Billy Bob Thornton, Jason Patric, and Patrick Wilson.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, ...
12.17.2022 Who Is History's Most Underrated Figure? (Parthenon Roundtable) The history of the world is full of unsung heroes and misunderstood figures who have shaped our lives in profound ways. Their contributions to history are, simply put, underrated. Recently, four of the guys from the Parthenon Podcast Network (Josh ...
12.14.2022 The Alamo (1960) In this episode, Sean and James discuss the classic 1960 movie The Alamo, directed by and starring John Wayne.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/4747725/advertisement
12.07.2022 The Legacy of the Texas Revolution The Texas Revolution cast a long shadow not just over Texas history, but over United States history. In this final episode of Key Battles of the Texas Revolution, Sean and James discuss the short- and long-term effects of the Texas ...
11.30.2022 Goliad, the Runaway Scrape, and San Jacinto Two weeks after the fall of the Alamo, the Texian garrison at Goliad surrendered to another Mexican force, and a week after that, the garrison was executed on the orders of Santa Anna. Santa Anna and his army began marching ...
11.26.2022 Bonus Episode - Eyewitness History - Feed Drop In this episode of the Eyewitness History Podcast, Host Josh Cohen speaks with the former principal of Columbine High School, Frank DeAngelis. Frank and Josh discuss the events of the tragic shooting, what the police were doing at the time ...
11.23.2022 The Alamo and Independence In early 1836, Santa Anna personally led an army into Texas to put down the rebellion. His first target was San Antonio, particularly the fortified mission called the Alamo, in which nearly 200 Texians and Tejanos were holding out. After ...
11.19.2022 Bonus Episode - The New Mexico Campaign in the Civil War In early 1862, a Confederate force consisting mainly of Texans launched an invasion of the New Mexico territory. After a quick and largely unopposed march, they ran into a Union force defending the territory. Would the Confederates succeed in their ...
11.16.2022 The Revolution Begins Further restrictive measures passed by Santa Anna’s government motivated many Texians to mount a full-scale rebellion in October 1835 at the town of Gonzales. For some, the goal was statehood for Texas within the Mexican republic, but for others, the ...
11.09.2022 The Road to Revolution By 1830, immigration of Americans to Texas had become a flood, and the Mexican authorities became alarmed. To stop the rapid growth of Anglo settlers, the Mexican government passed a law that banned further Anglo immigration to Texas. Three years, ...
11.02.2022 Spanish Texas, Mexican Independence, and American Settlement Long before Texas was a U. S. state, it was a part of Mexico, which in turn was part of the massive Spanish Empire. When Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821, it became the northeastern most province of ...

Older episodes