Key Battles of American History
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.
- Update frequency
- every 5 days
- Average duration
- 51 minutes
- Episodes
- 366
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
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 …
00:40:55 |
Wed 11 Jan 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 rep…
00:46:57 |
Wed 04 Jan 2023
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.
00:49:19 |
Wed 28 Dec 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 see…
00:18:59 |
Sat 24 Dec 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.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01:17:22 |
Wed 21 Dec 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 t…
00:47:28 |
Sat 17 Dec 2022
The Alamo (1960)
In this episode, Sean and James discuss the classic 1960 movie The Alamo, directed by and starring John Wayne.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01:05:45 |
Wed 14 Dec 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- an…
01:01:52 |
Wed 07 Dec 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…
00:55:49 |
Wed 30 Nov 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…
00:12:17 |
Sat 26 Nov 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 Texia…
00:49:40 |
Wed 23 Nov 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 t…
00:25:20 |
Sat 19 Nov 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 Tex…
00:42:06 |
Wed 16 Nov 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 …
00:52:58 |
Wed 09 Nov 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 …
00:46:58 |
Wed 02 Nov 2022
Introduction to the Texas Revolution
In this episode, cohost Sean McIver and James introduce the upcoming mini-series on the Texas Revolution. Sean and James make the case that all Americans, not just Texans, should study the Texas Revo…
00:19:41 |
Wed 26 Oct 2022
Bonus Episode - Sam Houston and Texas Secession
In 1860 and early 1861, desire for secession grew to a fever pitch in Texas. But there was one man who tried to stop it...Governor Sam Houston. Join James as he tells the story of Houston's heroic bu…
00:22:15 |
Sat 22 Oct 2022
The Buccaneer
In this joint Beyond the Big Screen and Key Battles of American History episode, Steve and James discuss the 1958 movie The Buccaneer, a highly fictionalized telling of the role of the pirate Jean La…
01:00:03 |
Wed 19 Oct 2022
Epilogue to the War of 1812
Many of the key figures of the War of 1812 went on to have long and distinguished careers, with no fewer than four becoming President of the United States. Others went into retirement, while still ot…
00:58:41 |
Wed 12 Oct 2022
The Treaty of Ghent and the War's Legacy
From the very beginning of the war, both sides expressed a desire to end it. Soon, each side reached out to the other to discuss terms of peace. But the British were in no hurry, and as a result, ser…
00:45:38 |
Wed 05 Oct 2022
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are the property of Key Battles of American History. This content is not affiliated with or endorsed by eachpod.com.