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 Bridges at Toko-Ri
Based on the 1953 James Michener novel of the same name, the 1954 film The Bridges at Toko-Ri tells the story of Lt. Harry Brubaker, a fighter-bomber pilot on the aircraft carrier USS Savo Island. A …
KW7: The 1951 Chinese Spring Offenses
In April 1951, the Chinese army in Korea launched a fifth major offensive against the UN forces deployed along the Kansas and Utah lines. The fiercest attack was against the western part of the line,…
Somewhere Toward Freedom
In the fall of 1864, General William Tecumseh Sherman led his army through Atlanta, Georgia, burning most of the city along the way. From Atlanta, they marched across the state to its most important …
Devotion
In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 2022 film Devotion, which tells the story of Ensign Jesse Brown, the first Black US Navy fighter pilot, including his struggle against racism within the Na…
KW6: The Allies Rebound
In this episode, Evan and James take a quick break from the military narrative to discuss the management of the war by President Harry Truman and his top advisors. Your faithful cohosts also discuss…
Fixed Bayonets!
Another classic Korean War film directed by Samuel Fuller, Fixed Bayonets! (1951) takes place In the first winter of the Korean War, during the Chinese intervention. A 48-man platoon is left to defen…
KW5: The Chinese Onslaught
In late November, 1950, the Allied Eighth Army resumed their march northward to the Yalu River. To their great surprise, both units were ambushed by large Chinese forces who inflicted great casualtie…
Retreat, Hell!
In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 1952 film Retreat, Hell!, which presents a sweeping overview of the legendary First Marine Division’s actions in the Korean War, from training camp, to the…
KW4: The Allied Invasion of North Korea
The successful Allied capture of Inchon and Seoul, together with the Eighth Army’s breakout from the Pusan Perimeter, forced the North Korean army to rapidly retreat northward and brought the Allied …
The Battle of Jang-Sari
On September 14–15, 1950, a battalion of student volunteer soldiers led by Republic of Korea Army officers staged a small diversionary operation at Jangsari beach in Yeongdeok, on the east coast of K…
KW3: The Allies Strike Back: Inchon, Seoul, and the Breakout
Soon after the North Korean invasion of the South, Allied Supreme Military Commander General Dougas MacArthur began planning a surprise amphibious assault on the key port city of Inchon, which was mo…
71: Into the Fire
In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 2010 South Korean film 71: Into the Fire. This film is based on a true story of a group of 71 undertrained, underarmed, and outgunned student volunteer sol…
KW2: The Invasion of South Korea
On June 25, 1950, 150,000 soldiers of the North Korean People’s Army launched an attack across the 38th Parallel into South Korea. They quickly pushed the outnumbered, outgunned, and demoralized Sout…
The Steel Helmet
This week, James brings back his friend and long-time collaborator Sean McIver to kick off a nine-part series on Korean War films. In this first film episode, Sean and James discuss a mostly-forgotte…
KW1: Background to the Korean War
In this episode, James and new cohost Evan Muxen (an army veteran and military historian) begin a new series on the Korean War. Evan and James give a brief overview of Korean history through the end …
ENCORE: Truman and the Atomic Bomb (with Richard Lim)
Was President Harry Truman’s decision to use atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary and justified? In this episode, James is joined by Richard Lim, host of the This American President podc…
ENCORE: Longstreet with Elizabeth Varon
In this episode, James interviews Elizabeth Varon, the Langbourne M. Williams Professor of American History and Associate Director of the John L. Nau III Center for Civil War History at the Universit…
The Pacific Episode 10
Following the Japanese surrender, the Marines return home. Leckie resumes working at the newspaper he worked for before the war. He also starts a relationship with Vera, revealing that he never sent …
ENCORE: Marine Raiders
In this episode, James tells the fascinating history of America’s first Special Forces unit: the Marine Raiders. Formed in 1942, the Raiders played a key role in several Pacific Theater battles, incl…
The Pacific Episode 9
Sledge and the 1st Marine Division land at Okinawa. Cynical and exhausted, Sledge and "Snafu" Shelton show no compassion for the Japanese troops and struggle to lead new replacement Marines fresh out…