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.
In the early hours of December 16, the pre-dawn stillness experienced by the thinly held American line at the eastern edge of the Ardennes Forest was shattered by a massive German offensive. After a summer of rapid advance, and a frustrating fall of dogged resistance to their advance towards the German border, American troops and leaders expected a period of winter quiet from an army that was thought to be nearly beaten. Instead, the German military offensive intended to turn the course of the war created a massive Bulge in the Allied line and became the largest, costliest land battle in American history. In this episode, Sean and James discuss the epic battle that came to be known as the Battle of the Bulge.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 1977 epic film A Bridge Too Far, which dramatizes Operation Market Garden. The movie had a big budget and an all-star cast, but does it live up to the hype? Listen and find out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the fall of 1944, the Allied push toward Germany began to slow down due to supply and logistical problems. The daring September offensive codenamed Operation Market Garden, designed to break the logjam, failed miserably. By the end of November, the Allied armies had settled in near the German border, hoping to soon resume offensive operations and drive into Germany. Join Sean and James as they discuss the Allies’ fall 1944 attempt to bring the war in Europe to a close.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Generally considered the one of the greatest–if not THE greatest–war movies ever made, Steven Spielberg’s 1998 film Saving Private Ryan revolutionized the genre of war movies. In this episode, Sean and James present an in-depth discussion of this modern-day classic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After eight weeks of grinding, grueling combat that expanded the Normandy beachhead, the Allies conducted a remarkable series of offensives that led to one of the great breakthroughs of the war, carrying the Allies to Paris and beyond to the defenses of Germany itself. Join Sean and James as they discuss the critical Allied advances from July to September 1944.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In The History of North America Podcast, historian Mark Vinet takes us on an exciting and fascinating journey through time, exploring and focusing on the interesting, compelling, wonderful, tragic, intriguing, and inspiring stories of North America. In this episode, Mark explores one of the most glorious Mesoamerican societies and encounters the Pre-Hispanic Mexico ancient culture & civilization that was the Aztec Empire.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, James interviews foreign policy expert Sean Mirski about his recently published book We May Dominate the World: Ambition, Anxiety, and the Rise of the American Colossus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The 1962 docudrama movie The Longest Day was a groundbreaking war film. Join Sean and James as they discuss this classic film, with its all-star cast and realistic depiction of the 1944 Normandy Invasion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On June 6, 1944, a massive Allied land, sea, and air force crossed the English Channel and conducted the largest amphibious attack in world history, hitting Normandy at five different beaches. The German defenders were well-trained, well-armed, and dug in. Would the attack succeed? Join Sean and James as they discuss Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy, often popularly referred to as simply “D-Day.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 2007 film Valkyrie, which deals with the “July Plot,” an attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler which came very close to succeeding. Tom Cruise stars as Klaus von Stauffenberg, the leader of the conspiracy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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.
