Relevant History

In 1780, the American War for Independence is at a stalemate. The British, eager to crush the rebellion once and for all, decide to change strategies and invade the American south. There, they will face not just the Continental Army, but also the backwoods militia who dominate the inland United States.

Meanwhile, the French and the Spanish will deal blow after blow to the British Empire, threatening not just Britain’s status in North America, but her dominance over world trade. With few friends on the world stage, Parliament faces a bitter truth: to save the Empire, they must sacrifice the Thirteen Colonies.

Map of the southern campaign of the American Revolutionary War: https://www.battlefields.org/sites/default/files/styles/wysiwyg_original/public/thumbnails/image/Southern-Campaign-Map-%28June-2020%29.jpg?itok=BHGUi5Z5

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Episode transcript (90% accurate): https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR_3pYtLMjmaO6VOaFPuVsoXKJZ1Rv71vxXrxbdM_xVoOAYweMlT7BmPdvOaEvO-r9QRlTzTKFgMZjY/pub

Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan

PARTIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Spain and the Independence of the United States: An Intrinsic Gift by Thomas E. Chavez: https://amzn.to/40V0XN1

The American Revolution: A Global War by Richard Ernest Dupuy: https://amzn.to/3K8K8at

Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution by Dan L. Morrill: https://amzn.to/3KOJtwJ

100 Decisive Battles from Ancient Times to the Present, by Paul K Davis: https://amzn.to/3BBx1Ld

George Washington – A Military Life by Edward G Lengel: https://amzn.to/3Jc5kMs

General George Washington: A Military Life by Edward G. Lengel: https://amzn.to/3lowoQB

Valiant ambition : George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick: https://amzn.to/3yLXmoe

The Ascent of George Washington: The Hidden Political Genius of an American Icon by John Ferling: https://amzn.to/3JOdJXJ

Washington: The Indispensable Man by James Thomas Flexner: https://amzn.to/3Lv5bqb

In this bonus episode, Dan discusses the trend of historical presentism – judging past figures by present-day standards. Should we hold yesterday’s figures to today’s ethical norms? Or does history require a broader approach? Dan breaks down the case against presentism, along with a few points in its favor.

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Is History History? - https://www.historians.org/research-and-publications/perspectives-on-history/september-2022/is-history-history-identity-politics-and-teleologies-of-the-present

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Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan

In the years 1778 and 1779, the American revolutionaries work to keep the British army bottled up in New York City. At the same time, the British open a second offensive in the southern states, and encourage their Native American allies to open up a series of small frontier wars in the American West.

The American revolutionaries are also aided by new friends. For the first time, the French take an active role against the British. Sensing opportunity, Spain jumps on the bandwagon, hoping to retake their lost territory of Gibraltar. What began as a local uprising in the colonies is now an international war that threatens to bring the British Empire to its knees.

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Official website: https://bit.ly/3btvha4

Episode transcript (90% accurate): https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRzzs6to_BPTh0nNQ3VJlhjg4VW4R8tEHcA5ZS17YhHvmBM03v7aYitMponUurYQFg-vEFfyyN8rtuS/pub

Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan

PARTIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY:

George Washington – A Military Life by Edward G Lengel: https://amzn.to/3Jc5kMs

Navies and the American Revolution 1775-1783 by Robert Gardiner: https://amzn.to/3yth7AW

The Conquest of the Illinois by George Rogers Clark: https://amzn.to/3l51NY6

General George Washington: A Military Life by Edward G. Lengel: https://amzn.to/3lowoQB

Valiant ambition : George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution

by Nathaniel Philbrick: https://amzn.to/3yLXmoe

Portrait of a General: Sir Henry Clinton in the War of Independence by William Bradford Willcox: https://amzn.to/3lhVKjf

The Ascent of George Washington: The Hidden Political Genius of an American Icon by John Ferling: https://amzn.to/3JOdJXJ

The Royal Navy in European Waters During the American Revolutionary War by David Syrett: https://amzn.to/3LBVKoP

Washington: The Indispensable Man by James Thomas Flexner: https://amzn.to/3Lv5bqb

Gibraltar and its Sieges, with a Description of its Natural Features by Frederic George Stephens: https://amzn.to/3Lt5AcG

In July of 1776, even as the ink on the Declaration of Independence is still drying, a British invasion force invades New York, forcing George Washington and the Continental Army to retreat into New Jersey and leave America’s largest port in British hands. By winter, the cause of the United Colonies appears lost.

But 1777 is a new year, and brings with it new opportunities. Will the colonists be able to turn things around and beat back the British? And if they win, what kind of country will they have created?

MAP OF NEW YORK CITY (MODERN): https://ontheworldmap.com/usa/city/new-york-city/

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Official website: https://bit.ly/3btvha4

Episode transcript (90% accurate): https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRzzs6to_BPTh0nNQ3VJlhjg4VW4R8tEHcA5ZS17YhHvmBM03v7aYitMponUurYQFg-vEFfyyN8rtuS/pub

Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan

In the aftermath of the French and Indian War, Great Britain struggles to manage her enlarged North American holdings. In an effort to fund necessary garrison troops, Parliament levies a series of taxes on the 13 Colonies, who have previously held the right to manage their own taxes.

This leads to a series of protests and back-and-forth exchanges that culminates in an organized group of angry Bostonians pitching thousands of pounds worth of tea into Boston Harbor. When King George suspends the government of Massachusetts, it’s only a matter of time before violence breaks out.

In this episode, Dan delves into the origins and causes of the American Revolution, and how a trade protest turns into a full-blown war for independence.

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Official website: https://bit.ly/3btvha4

Episode transcript (90% accurate): https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR4RpvNWlKbI1Lo4hVVlsDs1mTc0gLvJ1qd5YyjHy59d297xt7_4cMhdbU9rxENDcUXv7zgBe2aTdCg/pub

Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan

Dan dives into current events once again, with an update on the war in Ukraine. Here’s where things stand in December 2022, along with some warnings for the future.

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Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan

At the dawn of 1761, Frederick the Great’s Kingdom of Prussia is on the brink of collapse. Under attack by the Russians and Swedish in the north and the Austrians in the south, it would take a miracle for Prussia to survive. Meanwhile, the war in the west spreads to the Iberian peninsula, where Spain joins France in a surprise attack on British-allied Portugal.

In the conclusion of World War Zero, Dan talks about the final stages of the Seven Years’ War, and the political fallout around the globe. From Europe to North America to the Indian Subcontinent, the ripple effects will spread to the present day.

MAP OF EUROPE IN 1759: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Europe_1748-1766_en.png/1280px-Europe_1748-1766_en.png

FRONTENAC WITH NATIVE ALLIES:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Frontenac_with_the_Indians.jpg

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Episode transcript (90% accurate): https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSeKxq__lnUgyCzwIzrZGdnfgWsyfoVJSu3M_hTSQP1UyL51kNFXcv_jSsvYQmxrTGmiD1qX_KoTR6K/pub 

Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan

In 1759, Europe is in its fourth year of war. North America is in its sixth. There, a new British commander named Jeffery Amherst partners with Native American allies to take the fight to the French. If successful, Amherst can force the French out of Canada altogether.

In Europe, France and Britain fight to a stalemate. But British-allied Prussia is in grave danger as Frederick the Great tries to fight off the combined might of Austria, Russia, France, and Sweden. Will Prussia survive and maintain its position in Central Europe? Or will Austria regain her supremacy in Germany?

CORRECTION: At one point, I said that Gen. Wolfe led an attack on Montreal. Since I said “Quebec” every other time, I hope the error is obvious.

MAP OF EUROPE IN 1759: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Europe_1748-1766_en.png/1280px-Europe_1748-1766_en.png

PARTIAL MAP OF NORTH AMERICA: MAP: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/French_and_Indian_War_map.png

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Official website: https://bit.ly/3btvha4

Episode transcript (90% accurate): https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTIvrQA45QmvijAZazSi3O27aTVyW5Aaj97oB0gVwx4oJKtXzq30syUBX4tMqRzWnIfSmOmeHl-dwg9/pub

Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan

In 1756, the French and British war over North America spills over to Europe. Prussian leader Frederick the Great, a British ally, takes the opportunity to make a pre-emptive attack on French-allied Austria, Poland, Saxony, and Russia. Soon, Sweden joins the counterattack against Prussia, and virtually all of Europe is at war.

But the Seven Years’ War will continue to spread. The French and British fight battles in West Africa, and the French and British East India Companies struggle for dominance in India. In North America, fighting goes on, with the British assaulting key French forts along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, to cut them off from their inland colonies.

But who will dominate? The French alliance and their overwhelming land power in Europe - or the British alliance, with their sea power and financial might? At this phase of the war, it remains an open question.

MAP OF EUROPE IN 1756: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Europe_1748-1766_en.png/1280px-Europe_1748-1766_en.png

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Official website: https://bit.ly/3btvha4

Episode transcript (90% accurate): https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTjito9Cf2Fhm4gRuJE_3pYDC9blnCJrEh6PmhB0SBKZF1s8FXrlUwK2B2KbgrZqfZGWOZfg99BrVk-/pub

Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan

In this episode, Dan traces the origins of the Seven Years’ War, starting with a seemingly-insignificant skirmish commanded by a young George Washington. This 1754 clash between British and French colonial forces will eventually turn into a global conflict.

But what are the stakes in North America? Why are the French and the British willing to risk a world war? And why will these far-flung events lead to a global war? Here’s how it all got started.

MAP: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/French_and_Indian_War_map.png

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Official website: https://bit.ly/3btvha4

Episode transcript (90% accurate): https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTjito9Cf2Fhm4gRuJE_3pYDC9blnCJrEh6PmhB0SBKZF1s8FXrlUwK2B2KbgrZqfZGWOZfg99BrVk-/pub

Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan