When we think of American soldiers fighting for freedom, we usually picture foreign battlefields. But in nineteen forty-six, a group of World War Two veterans had to fight a war on their own front porch. In McMinn County, Tennessee, a corrupt political machine led by a tyrannical sheriff had been rigging elections and intimidating voters for years.

In this episode of Monday Madness, Stephen and Leah tell the explosive true story of the Battle of Athens. Discover how thousands of returning veterans refused to be bullied by local deputies. Learn how a dispute over ballot boxes on election day escalated into a full blown siege of the county jail, involving rifles, machine guns, and dynamite. It is a rare and incredible instance where American citizens took up arms against their own local government to ensure their votes were counted.

American Heritage | The Battle of Athens | https://www.americanheritage.com/battle-athens

Vox | The Battle of Athens | https://www.vox.com/2016/8/1/12341234/battle-of-athens-tennessee-1946

Tennessee Encyclopedia | Battle of Athens | https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/battle-of-athens/