Key Battles of the Barbary Wars, Episode 8: The Second Barbary War (1815)
The conclusion of the War of 1812 elevated America's naval reputation and marked the start of the "Era of Good Feelings," a period of national pride. With peace restored, President Madison redirected ...
5 Dec 202438min
How Much of a Nation’s Fate is Bound Up In Its Geography?
Napoleon Bonaparte is reported to have said. “The policies of all powers are inherent in their geography. Is he correct? How much does geography determine the character of a nation in its politics and...
3 Dec 202441min
Key Battles of the Barbary War, Episode 7: An Uneasy Peace -- The Interbellum Period and the War of 1812
The 1807 Treaty with Tripoli ended the First Barbary War, allowing American ships to sail freely in the Mediterranean without tribute payments. This victory spurred national pride, with many Americans...
28 Nov 202443min
The Scramble for More Aircraft Carriers in WW2 Meant Retrofitting Cruisers Into These Sorts of Ships
With the Japanese taking control around the Pacific in early 1941, it became apparent that more resources and ships would be needed if there was any hope to defend against and defeat those forces. It ...
26 Nov 202453min
Key Battles of the Barbary War, Episode 6: Swashbuckling Ship Battles and 500-Mile Desert Marches Won the First Barbary War
In Episode 6, we dive into two pivotal battles in the First Barbary War: Tripoli and Derne. It starts with Stephen Decatur's dramatic assault on Tripoli Harbor in August 1804, where he led American g...
21 Nov 202441min
Knights Could Still Be Found on English Battlefields in the 1640s. What Were They Doing There?
The 17th-century battlefield ushered in a new era, with formed musketeers and pistol-wielding cavalry gradually taking over from the knights and men-at-arms that had dominated the European battlefield...
19 Nov 202441min
Key Battles of the Barbary Wars, Episode 5: The Destruction of the USS Philadelphia
The USS Philadelphia, launched in 1799, played a crucial role in early American naval history but was captured by Tripolitan forces in 1803 after running aground near Tripoli during the Barbary Wars. ...
14 Nov 202436min
The Jewish Confederates
Over a 100,000 Jewish Americans lived in the Old South before the Civil War. They were active members of society, involved in farming, business, and politics (one Secretary of State of the Confederacy...
12 Nov 202456min
