Home Podcasts Key Battles of American History
Key Battles of American History

Key Battles of American History

Key Battles of American History 424 Episodes Oct 14, 2026

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.

Episodes

RW16: The Revolutionary War at Sea (Part Three)
RW16: The Revolutionary War at Sea (Part Three) Oct 14, 2026 2755 In this concluding episode of their mini- series on the Revolutionary War at sea, Audrey and James explore how the conflict expanded into a global struggle involving France, Spain, and the Dutch Republic, stretching British naval power to its limits. We examine the decisive French victory at the Battle of the Chesapeake, which trapped Cornwallis at Yorktown and made the American triumph possible.
RW15: The Revolutionary War at Sea (Part Two)
RW15: The Revolutionary War at Sea (Part Two) Oct 7, 2026 2650 In this episode, the second of a three-part miniseries on the naval war, James and Audrey examine how the Continental Navy and hundreds of American privateers waged a relentless campaign against British commerce, forcing the Royal Navy to divert valuable ships to protect merchant convoys. We then explore the dramatic impact of the American victory at Saratoga, which persuaded France to enter the w
RW14: The Revolutionary War at Sea (Part One)
RW14: The Revolutionary War at Sea (Part One) Sep 30, 2026 2559 The Revolutionary War was fought not only on the battlefields of North America but also across the world's oceans, where Britain's mighty Royal Navy faced an unlikely challenge from a fledgling American naval force. In this first installment of a three-part series, James and Audrey explore the harsh realities of life aboard British and American warships, the rise of privateering, and the birth of
Saavedra's Revolution with James Giesler
Saavedra's Revolution with James Giesler Sep 26, 2026 2730 In this episode, James interviews author James Giesler about his book Francisco de Saavedra’s American Revolutionary War: The Spanish Contribution to the Battle of Yorktown. Saavedra is little-known among twenty-first century Americans, in spite of the fact that he played an outsized role in helping the Patriots win the Battle of Yorktown. You will almost certainly enjoy listening to this ca
RW13: Yorktown and the End of the War
RW13: Yorktown and the End of the War Sep 23, 2026 2972 Nathanael Greene's brilliant campaign in the Carolinas left Charles Cornwallis with little choice but to carry the war into Virginia, setting in motion the chain of events that would decide the American Revolution. As George Washington, the Comte de Rochambeau, Admiral de Grasse, and the Comte de Barras coordinated one of the war's most daring and complex campaigns, the Franco-American allies trap
The Patriot with Michael Troy
The Patriot with Michael Troy Sep 19, 2026 4777 In this episode, Michael Troy, host of the American Revolution Podcast, joins James to discuss and review the controversial 2000 film The Patriot. Is The Patriot so historically inaccurate that it is not worth watching? Or does it have enough positive traits to merit a viewing? Join Mike and James as they discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of this much talked about film.See omnystudio.com/lis
RW12: The War Moves South
RW12: The War Moves South Sep 16, 2026 3547 In this episode, James and Audrey follow the British Southern Campaign from its stunning victories at Savannah, Charleston, and Camden to the beginning of its dramatic unraveling. Your hosts then take a brief detour to examine Benedict Arnold's infamous treason, and then they introduce the brilliant commanders who would shape the fighting in the South, while also discussing the brutal civil war th
RW11: The Rhode Island Campaign
RW11: The Rhode Island Campaign Sep 9, 2026 2772 The British occupation of Newport, Rhode Island, in late 1776 set the stage for one of the Revolutionary War's most important—and most overlooked—campaigns. In this episode, James and Audrey examine the American attempts to recapture the strategic port, culminating in the first major combined military operation between the United States and its new French ally under Admiral d'Estaing.
RW10: The Philadelphia Campaign
RW10: The Philadelphia Campaign Sep 2, 2026 3319 In this episode, James and Audrey examine the Philadelphia Campaign of 1777–78, as British General William Howe captured the American capital but failed to destroy George Washington's army. We follow the campaign through the Battles of Brandywine, Germantown, White Marsh, and Monmouth, while also exploring the dramatic defense of Forts Mifflin and Mercer and the Marquis de Lafayette's daring
RW9: The Tide Turns: Saratoga
RW9: The Tide Turns: Saratoga Aug 26, 2026 2901 In this episode, James and Audrey examine the Saratoga campaign of 1777, in which British General John Burgoyne led an army south from Canada in an effort to cut New England off from the rest of the rebelling colonies. As Burgoyne’s supply problems mounted and the promised support from Barry St. Leger, William Howe, and Henry Clinton failed to materialize in time, American forces under Horat
The Crossing with Michael Troy
The Crossing with Michael Troy Aug 22, 2026 4125 In this special episode, James is joined by Michael Troy, host of the American Revolution Podcast, to review the 2000 film The Crossing, starring Jeff Daniels as George Washington. Together, we discuss the film's historical accuracy, memorable performances, and its portrayal of one of the most pivotal moments of the American Revolution, separating cinematic drama from the historical record.See omn
RW8: Ten Crucial Days: Trenton and Princeton
RW8: Ten Crucial Days: Trenton and Princeton Aug 19, 2026 2431 By Christmas 1776, the American Revolution stood on the brink of collapse. In this episode, we follow George Washington's daring crossing of the ice-choked Delaware River, his stunning victory over the Hessians at Trenton, and his masterful escape from Cornwallis before delivering another decisive blow at Princeton. Along the way, we separate fact from legend, explore the courage and hardships end

Recommended