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.

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20 episodes
Updated Wednesday

Episodes20

Newest first

Wednesday · 1 hr 2 min
RW6: Common Sense, Charleston, and Independence
In the first half of 1776, the Patriot cause gained momentum as Thomas Paine's Common Sense inspired thousands, Patriot forces repelled a British assault on Charleston, and the Continental Congress debated the question of independence. In this episode, James and Audrey follow the events that transformed thirteen rebellious colonies into the United States of America. Your hosts also examine the drafting and meaning of the Declaration of Independence. From Sullivan's Island to Philadelphia, this episode explores one of the most consequential periods in American history. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 29 · 48 min
RW5: Quebec and the Noble Train of Artillery
In the aftermath of Bunker Hill, both Britain and the Continental Congress took decisive steps that pushed the colonies closer to a complete break with the mother country. Meanwhile, American forces under Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold launched a daring invasion of Canada, only to suffer a devastating defeat before the walls of Quebec. As the northern campaign collapsed amid disease, hunger, and retreat, George Washington searched for a way to break the British hold on Boston. The answer came in the form of Henry Knox's remarkable "Noble Train of Artillery," which allowed the Americans to fortify Dorchester Heights and force the British evacuation of the city. Join James and Audrey as they discuss these exciting Revolutionary War events of late 1775 and early 1776. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 22 · 54 min
RW4: Bunker Hill; Washington Takes Command
In this episode, James and Audrey follow the American Revolution from the meeting of the Second Continental Congress to the bloody Battle of Bunker Hill. We explore the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, the growing siege of Boston, and the desperate struggle on Breed's Hill that proved colonial militiamen could stand against Britain's professional army. We also examine the staggering cost of Britain's victory and the profound impact the battle had on both sides of the conflict. Finally, we trace the creation of the Continental Army and the appointment of George Washington as commander-in-chief, setting the stage for the war's next chapter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 15 · 52 min
RW3: British and Continental Soldiers
What was life really like for the men who fought in the Revolutionary War? In this episode, James and Audrey step away from the battlefield narrative to explore the everyday experiences of British redcoats, Patriots, Loyalists, Hessians, Native Americans, and Black Americans who served in the war. From enlistment and training to uniforms, weapons, food, discipline, and camp life, they examine the realities of eighteenth-century military service. Along the way, they separate myth from fact and reveal the human stories behind the armies that fought for the future of North America. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 8 · 39 min
RW2: The Shot Heard Round the World: Lexington and Concord
In this episode, James and Audrey follow the mounting crisis in Massachusetts as General Thomas Gage attempts to crush growing colonial resistance. James and Audrey trace the dramatic events of April 18–19, 1775, from Paul Revere’s famous ride to the first shots fired at Lexington Green and the fierce fighting at Concord’s North Bridge. Your hosts also recount the brutal British retreat back to Boston, as thousands of Patriot militiamen attacked the exhausted redcoats along the road. By the end of the day, the political conflict between Britain and its colonies had exploded into open war — the beginning of the American Revolution itself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 4 · 58 min
RW1: The Roots of the Revolutionary War
In this premiere episode of The Revolutionary War, James Early and cohost Audrey Rogers explore the roots of the American Revolution, from the founding of Britain’s North American colonies to the growing tensions between Parliament and the colonies after the French and Indian War. The episode examines how new British taxes, including the Sugar Act and Stamp Act, sparked fierce resistance and ignited the debate over “taxation without representation.” James and Audrey also trace the escalating conflict through the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and the harsh Intolerable Acts imposed by Parliament. By the end of 1774, both Britain and the colonies were moving steadily toward a confrontation that would soon erupt into open war. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 1 · 27 min
Southern Unionists in the Civil War
During the American Civil War, around 100,000 southern Unionists served in the Union Army, with every southern state except South Carolina raising official organizations of white troops.In this episode. In addition, many thousands of southern civilians remained loyal to the Union. In this episode, frequent cohost Sean McIver returns to join James in discussing the fascinating story of southerners who remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 24 · 56 min
Been There, Done That with Greg Jackson
In this episode, James interviews noted author, podcaster, and history professor Greg Jackson about his recently released book Been There, Done That. In this excellent book, Jackson points out that our nation’s past is full of massive upheaval, disagreement, and departures from the moral high ground. The political gentlemanly conduct of yesteryear is no more than a myth. But that reality never allowed our worst historical selves to defeat our better angels. Jackson looks back in time to eight examples from our nation’s history and shows that some of the hottest issues of our day are, in fact, American traditions that stand firmly beside another deeply American trait: the will to push back on these demons, prevail, and overcome. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 17 · 55 min
Decisions, Discord and Diplomacy with Admiral William Fallon
In this episode, James interviews retired U. S. Navy Admiral William Fallon, former commander of U. S. Central Command (CENTCOM), about his recently published book Decisions, Discord, and Diplomacy: From Cairo to Kabul." In the interview, Fallon gives an overview of U. S. involvement in the Middle East from the 1980s to the present, including on his own involvement in actions that include the Lebanese Civil War, Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Provide Comfort, the 9/11 attacks on the U. S., and the subsequent U. S. wars against Iraq and Afghanistan. Fallon concludes with his own reflections on America's military campaigns in this volatile corner of the globe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 10 · 58 min
Guadalcanal's Longest Fight with Dave Holland
In this episode, James welcomes back Dave Holland, a U. S. Marine veteran and independent scholar who has spent much of his life studying the Guadalcanal Campaign of the Second World War, including several years walking the battlefields themselves. In his new book Guadalcanal's Longest Fight, Dave provides in-depth accounts of the oft-forgotten but critical Battles of the Matanikau River, which together comprise the campaign's longest and bloodiest ground fight. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 3 · 57 min
Soldier of the South with Edward Hagerty
In this episode, James interviews historian Edward Hagerty about his new book Soldier of the South: Lieutenant General Richard H. Anderson at War and Peace. Richard Anderson was one of the highest-ranking generals in the Confederate Army, but he is little known today. Despite this relative anonymity, Anderson's life and career are fascinating and merit a retelling. In this interview, Hagerty gives James a brief overview of Anderson's compelling story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 27 · 46 min
Japanese War Atrocities with Jenny Chan
In this episode of Key Battles of American History, James speaks with Jenny Chan, director of Pacific Atrocities Education, about the often-overlooked human dimension of the Pacific War. We explore how events like the Nanjing Massacre, the Bataan Death March, and atrocities in the Philippines and Okinawa complicate traditional narratives of American military victory by highlighting their humanitarian consequences. We discuss the challenges of combating denialism and how her organization uses education and digital archives to preserve these histories. Finally, Chan makes the case that the most urgent “battle” today is educational: ensuring these stories are remembered and understood in a way that informs present-day global tensions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 20 · 1 hr 11 min
GW24: Epilogue to the Great War
In this episode, Sean and James tell about the postwar lives and careers of the major political and military leaders on all sides of the Great War. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 13 · 1 hr 10 min
GW23: The Legacy of the Great War
In this episode, Sean and James examine the far-reaching legacy of the First World War, from its devastating human cost and psychological impact to the profound economic, political, and geographic changes it unleashed. They explore how the war reshaped nations and empires, altered the role of government and ideology, and set the conditions for continued violence, revolution, and instability across Europe and beyond. The episode concludes by grappling with the most difficult question of all: whether the Great War was worth the staggering price it demanded, and whether anything positive ultimately emerged from the conflict. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 9 · 1 hr 10 min
All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)
In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 2022 film adaptation of the classic novel All Quiet on the Western Front. The film depicts the Great War through the experience of a young German soldier on the Western Front, charting his rapid disillusionment as patriotic fervor gives way to mechanized slaughter. The film juxtaposes brutal front-line combat with detached armistice negotiations, underscoring the indifference of political leadership to human cost. Visceral and unsparing, the film presents the First World War as an industrialized process of annihilation rather than heroism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 6 · 30 min
GW22: The Paris Peace Settlement
In this episode, Sean and James discuss the Paris Peace Settlement and the series of treaties that formally ended the First World War. They explore the goals and clashing priorities of the “Big Four” leaders, the key terms of the Treaty of Versailles, and the dramatic territorial, military, and economic consequences imposed on the defeated powers. The discussion also covers the lesser-known treaties with Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire, as well as the creation—and inherent weaknesses—of the League of Nations. Together, the episode explains why the peace of 1919 reshaped the world while planting the seeds for future conflict. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 2 · 1 hr 11 min
The Lost Battalion (ENCORE)
James and Sean discuss the 2001 made-for-television movie The Lost Battalion, in which an American battalion becomes isolated and surrounded by German forces during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of 1918. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 29 · 1 hr
GW21: The Hundred Days’ Offensives and the End of the War
In this episode, Sean and James return to the Western Front to examine the Hundred Days’ Offensives—the relentless Allied campaign that finally broke the German Army in 1918. From the stunning combined-arms victory at Amiens to the grinding battles against the Hindenburg Line and the massive American-led offensives at St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne, the episode traces how coordinated Allied attacks shattered German resistance. The discussion highlights the decisive roles of tanks, airpower, unified command under Ferdinand Foch, and the growing impact of American forces. Together, these operations forced Germany to seek an armistice and brought the First World War to its dramatic conclusion. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 25 · 1 hr 38 min
Lawrence of Arabia (ENCORE)
James and Sean discuss the epic, multi award-winning 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia, based on British Colonel T. E. Lawrence’s autobiographical book The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Lawrence assists a group of Arab tribesmen in their effort to break free of Ottoman rule. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 22 · 35 min
GW20: The 1918 Middle Eastern Campaigns
In this episode, Sean and James examine the dramatic final campaigns of World War I in the Caucasus, the Balkans, and Italy before turning to the decisive 1918 Allied offensive in the Middle East. They focus on General Edmund Allenby’s brilliantly executed victory at the Battle of Megiddo, where British, Indian, Australian, and Arab forces shattered the Ottoman armies. The discussion explores the use of deception, airpower, and fast-moving cavalry that turned Megiddo into one of the war’s most complete operational victories. Finally, the hosts show how the fall of Damascus, the collapse of Ottoman resistance, and the Armistice of Mudros reshaped the political landscape of the modern Middle East. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.