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PODCAST

Key Battles of American History

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

history

All Episodes

65:29

The Grand Illusion

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/12/27

In this episode, Sean and James explore Jean Renoir’s The Grand Illusion (1937), a World War I masterpiece that examines class, nationalism, and the bonds that form even among enemies. They discuss the film’s unforgettable characters—from working-class Maréchal and aristocratic Boeldieu to the dignified German officer Rauffenstein—and the ways their relationships reveal a fading old order. Finally, they reflect on the film’s themes of humanity, hope, and the

en-US

56:45

GW3: The German Onslaught and the Miracle at the Marne

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/12/24

In August 1914, the German army launched an invasion of Belgium as a first step to their planned march through France and capture of Paris. As the Germans swept through Belgium and advanced on the French capital, the Allies made a desperate stand along the Marne River. The resulting “Miracle on the Marne” halted the German advance and ended hopes of a quick war. What followed was the grim birth of trench warfare and a conflict that would grind on for years. In this episode, James and

en-US

99:30

All Quiet on the Western Front (1930 - ENCORE)

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/12/20

In this episode, James and special guest Sean McIver discuss the classic 1930 anti-war film All Quiet on the Western Front. Based on the novel of the same name, All Quiet on the Western Front set the standard for all future war movies, especially those which present war in a negative light.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

54:41

GW2: Descent into War

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/12/17

In this episode, Sean and James explore how Europe’s fragile balance of power unraveled in 1914 — from rival alliances and Balkan tensions to the assassination in Sarajevo that sparked a global catastrophe. Join us as we discuss how in just six weeks, the Great Powers turned a regional crisis into the First World War.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

57:33

GW1: Europe in 1914

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/12/10

In this kickoff to our new series on The Great War, James and Sean take a sweeping look at the state of Europe in 1914—just before the world changed forever. They explore the continent’s dominant empires, their military might, political tensions, and the fragile balance of power that had kept peace for nearly a century. From rising nationalism and colonial rivalries to the tangled web of alliances and Balkan unrest, this episode sets the stage for the regional conflict that mushroomed

en-US

47:13

The Top Axis WW2 Fighters

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/12/03

In this episode, Sean and James rank the top World War II fighter planes used by the Axis powers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

21:45

World War II Chaplains

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/11/26

In this episode, suggested by Early’s Raiders member Mark Porter, James discusses American military chaplains in the Second World War and the many important roles that they fulfilled.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

54:49

The American Revolution and the Fate of the World...

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/11/19

In this episode, James interviews historian Richard Bell about hisbookThe American Revolution and the Fate of the World. Bell argues that the American Revolution was much more than a fight between Great Britain and 13 of its North American colonies. Instead, Bell asserts, the Revolution was part of a worldwide struggle, influencing the histories of many nations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

64:31

The Rise of the Kwantung Army with Quin Cho

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/11/15

Ten Years before Japan attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor, a powerful and increasingly autonomous military force had already pushed Japan down the path to war. That force was the Kwantung Army. In this episode, James interviews author Quin Cho about his new bookThe Rise of the Kwantung Army: Japan's Empire in Manchuria to 1932. In this excellent work, Cho provides in-depth insights into the motivations, strategies, and often rogue actions of the force that propelled Japan down its disastrous

en-US

36:07

The Philippines Under American Domination

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/11/12

In this topical episode, written by Sean McIver and commissioned by Early's Raiders Major Alisha-Smith Arthur, James tells the story of the American presence in the Philippines from 1898 to the granting of Philippine independence in 1946.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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59:05

VW20: Epilogue to the Vietnam War

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/11/05

In this episode, the last of the Vietnam War series, Sean and James discuss the postwar lives and careers of top American and Vietnamese leaders.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

49:17

Born on the Fourth of July

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/11/01

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 1989 film Born on the Fourth of July, directed by Oliver Stone and based on the autobiography of Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic. Tom Cruise stars as Kovic, a patriotic young man who enlists in the U.S. Marine Corps, only to be paralyzed in combat and deeply disillusioned by the war and its aftermath. The film follows Kovic’s journey from idealistic soldier to anti-war activist, chronicling his physical and emotional struggles, his alienation upon

en-US

53:52

VW19: The Legacy of the Vietnam War

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/10/29

In this episode, Sean and James reflect on the long-term consequences of the war for the Vietnamese people, the United States, and the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

53:00

90 with Bruce Wasser

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/10/22

In this episode, James interviews author Bruce Jay Wasser about his book90: A Conscientious Objector’s Journey of Quiet Resistance. In this book, Wasser tells the story of his struggle to gain Conscientious Objector status during the Vietnam War.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

71:28

The Trial of the Chicago Seven

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/10/18

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 2020 film The Trial of the Chicago Seven, a historical legal drama written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. Based on true events, the film dramatizes the trial of seven anti–Vietnam War activists charged with conspiracy and inciting riots during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

39:20

VW18: The Antiwar Movement

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/10/15

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the complex and multifaceted anti-Vietnam War movement in the United States and around the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

46:32

The Hanoi Hilton

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/10/11

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 1987 film The Hanoi Hilton, which portrays the harrowing experiences of American prisoners of war held in North Vietnam’s infamous Hoa Lo Prison—nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton"—during the 1960s and 1970s.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

40:53

VW17: Casualties, POWs and MIAs

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/10/08

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the horrific human costs of the Vietnam War, including the nature and number of casualties on each side, the specific number of people that each side had killed and wounded, and the experience of those who were captured and made prisoners of war. Take back your personal data with Incogni! Use codebattlesat the link below and get 60% off annual plans:https://incogni.com/battlesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

47:01

VW16: The Vietnamese Combat Soldier

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/10/01

In this episode, a companion to the previous one, Sean and James discuss the experience of Vietnamese front-line combat troops in the Vietnam War, including members of the North Vietnamese Army, the Viet Cong, and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

53:06

Good Morning Vietnam

Key Battles of American History ·

2025/09/27

In this episode, Sean and James discuss the 1987 film Good Morning Vietnam, a war-comedy film starring Robin Williams as Airman First Class Adrian Cronauer, a charismatic and irreverent DJ assigned to the Armed Forces Radio Service in Saigon during the Vietnam War. Set in 1965, the film follows Cronauer as he energizes the troops with his unfiltered humor, rock music, and offbeat broadcasts—much to the dismay of his rigid superiors. Loosely based on a true story, the film was a critical and

en-US

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