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American History Hit
30 episodes
Reconstruction Era: Terror in the South
Ep 411 · Aug 17, 2026 · 43 min
Reconstruction promised freedom and political equality, but how quickly did that promise begin to unravel? Why did white Southern resistance become so violent, and why did Northern support for Reconstruction begin to fade? In this episode, we explore the rise of Jim Crow, the retreat of federal protection, and the political choices that transformed the South for generations. Our returning guest today is Bradley Rebeiro, Associate Professor of Law at BYU Law School. He is the author of ‘Until the…
Civil War Battle Of The Ironclads
Ep 410 · Aug 13, 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
In March 1862, wooden warships had dominated global warfare for centuries. In less than 48 hours off the coast of Virginia, two experimental metal monsters made every Navy on Earth obsolete overnight. Don Wildman is joined by Dr Howard Fuller reader in war studies at University of Wolverhampton, UK. His first book was Clad in Iron: The American Civil War and the Challenge of British Naval Power. Edited by Tim Artstall. Produced by Freddy Chick and Tomos Delargy. Sign up to History Hit for hundre…
Reconstruction Era: A False Dawn of Freedom?
Ep 409 · Aug 10, 2026 · 43 min
With the end of the Civil War, four million formerly enslaved people in the South were now free. It was the beginning of a remarkable experiment: rebuilding the South on the foundations of freedom and equal citizenship. For a brief moment, the United States of America begins its first real attempt at establishing a multi-racial democracy. Our guest today is Bradley Rebeiro, Associate Professor of Law at BYU Law School. He is the author of ‘Until the Last Yoke is Broke: The Constitutional Vision…
Plessy v. Ferguson: The Supreme Court Case That Enshrined Jim Crow
Ep 408 · Aug 6, 2026 · 39 min
In 1896 the Supreme Court ruled that Jim Crow segregation laws were not unconstitutional in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson. This is the case that Brown v. Board of Education would eventually overturn but not until six decades of Jim Crow laws had been endured. Who was Plessy? Who was Ferguson? And how on earth did the Supreme Court reach its conclusions? Don Wildman's guest today is Dr Michael Ross, historian of constitutional history with a focus on Reconstruction era at the University of Maryl…
What Happened to the Confederates?
Ep 407 · Aug 3, 2026 · 41 min
Across the defeated Confederacy, there had been an expectation that those who had taken up arms against their citizens would be punished. This did not happen however and instead ex-Confederates were gradually brought back into the fold. Decades later, they managed to cultivate a dangerous mythology that obscured the truth about the nature of the Confederacy and the Civil War in general... Our guest today is Brigadier General Ty Seidule, Professor Emeritus of History at West Point and teaches at…
How Did the Supreme Court Claim Power?
Ep 406 · Jul 30, 2026 · 43 min
Can you think of a time in history when a law has been ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court? Having been used over 180 times, judicial review is one of the most important powers that the US Supreme Court has. So where did it come from? In this episode, Don and is joined by Professor Cliff Sloan to discuss the 1803 ruling of Marbury v. Madison. Cliff has served on all three branches of the Federal Government during his career. He now teaches at Georgetown Law, serves on the board of the Jo…
Life in Mobland Chicago
Ep 405 · Jul 27, 2026 · 37 min
Just how dangerous was it to live in Chicago during the 1920s? Was it all gangsters, tommy guns and spilt moonshine? Don is finding out what it was like to exist alongside the likes of Al Capone with Paul Durica, Director of Exhibitions at Chicago History Museum. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. Produced by Sophie Gee. Senior Producer was Freddy Chick. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.histo…
Long Walk of the Navajo
Ep 404 · Jul 23, 2026 · 45 min
Between 1863 and 1866, more than 10,000 Navajo (Diné) were forcibly removed from their lands by the U.S. Military and forced to marched hundreds of miles into present day New Mexico. Many died of starvation and exposure on the march and while in exile. Don is joined by Dr. Jennifer Nez Denetdale, professor and chair of American Studies at the University of New Mexico, and author of the books Reclaiming Diné History: The Legacies of Navajo Chief Manuelito and Juanita, as well as The Long Wal…
The Robin Hood of the Wild West
Ep 403 · Jul 20, 2026 · 44 min
Robbing from the rich to give to the poor and downtrodden - this is the legend of Joaquin Murrieta. But how true was it? Murder rates in 1850s California were 30 times higher than they are today, and Joaquin was part of this violence. Was he a social bandit, or was he fuelled by self-interest? Don is finding out today with historian John Boessenecker, author of ‘Bring Me the Head of Joaquin Murrieta'. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. Produced by Sophie Gee. Senior Producer was Freddy Chick. Sign up to…
The Best Presidential Speeches
Ep 402 · Jul 16, 2026 · 48 min
The words of an American president have often carried the power to shape not only public opinion, but the course of the nation itself. In this episode, we explore three landmark presidential speeches, examining the historical moments that inspired them, the ideas they advanced, and the lasting imprint they have left on American political culture. Our guest today is Professor Jeremi Suri, historian and Professor at the University of Texas at Austin. His works include ‘Civil War By Other Means: Am…
The Truth about Billy the Kid
Ep 401 · Jul 13, 2026 · 39 min
We're heading west again, this time looking for Billy the Kid. Who was he? What crimes did he really commit? Is there any chance he survived that final ambush? Don is joined by author George R. Matthews, who went back to the sources for his book 'Billy the Kid: The Life Behind the Legend'. Edited by Hannah Feodorov. Produced by Sophie Gee. Senior Producer was Freddy Chick. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts.…
Staten Island v. New York City | Revisionist History
Ep 400 · Jul 10, 2026 · 38 min
On the 250th anniversary of the United States, Revisionist History, bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast about things overlooked and misunderstood, investigates the story of what was, at the time, the biggest secession movement in the U.S. since the Civil War. The Staten Island Problem reconstructs the battle for New York City amidst the turbulent early 1990s — the rise of Rudy Giuliani, the peak of the homicide rate, the Wu-Tang Clan, young Donald Trump, and the first Black mayor of Ne…
America's Deadliest Battle: Gettysburg
Ep 399 · Jul 9, 2026 · 38 min
By July 1863, the American Civil War had reached a critical turning point. As Robert E. Lee led his army into the North, the two sides collided at Gettysburg in the deadliest battle of the war... How did three days of fighting at Gettysburg change the course of the Civil War? And how has the battle been remembered in the American consciousness since? Our guest today is award winning author Garry Adelman. He’s the Chief Historian at the American Battlefield Trust and has been a licensed battlefie…
What Made America? Birth Of A Superpower
Ep 398 · Jul 6, 2026 · 44 min
At the start of the 20th century after victory in the Spanish-American War, the US found itself as a colonial power. How did it decide NOT to follow down the same road as the imperial powers of Europe afterwards? Today Professor Christopher Nichols of the Ohio State University talks to Don Wildman about how the US defined a new world order at the start of the 20th century. Edited by Tim Arstall, produced by Freddy Chick. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, wit…
The Nazi Ship that Became a US Flagship
Ep 397 · Jul 2, 2026 · 36 min
Before boarding the USCGC Cutter Eagle for Sail4th 250's tall ship parade, Don is finding out more about this iconic ship. How did a Nazi ship end up in American hands? Find out in this episode with Will Sofrin, a master shipwright, former professional sailor, licensed captain and the author of 'USCG Cutter Eagle: The Legacy of the Coast Guard's Flagship'. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. Produced by Sophie Gee. Senior Producer was Freddy Chick. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original…
What Made America? The Abolitionists
Ep 396 · Jun 28, 2026 · 58 min
In 1831, it looked like enslavement in America would continue forever. 34 years later, it was permanently abolished under the 13th Amendment. How did that happen? And who made it so? We've been asking some of our favourite historians for their most important moment in these 250 years of the United States' History. In this episode, Kellie Carter Jackson returns to talk Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and all the other amazing people and groups who refused to accept enslavement. Kellie Carter…
Lewis & Clark & Sacagawea's Expedition
Ep 395 · Jun 25, 2026 · 48 min
Lewis and Clark's expedition is a foundational story of America and Sacagawea was more central to it than is remembered. We hear this incredible tale through Sacagawea's eyes with our guest Dr Margaret Huettl, from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh. Edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Hannah Feodorov and Tomos Delargy. Senior Producer is Freddy Chick. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://ww…
What Made America? Victory in the Civil War
Ep 394 · Jun 22, 2026 · 37 min
Was the Civil War a 'Second American Revolution', or was it a continued evolution of the nation set out by the Founding Fathers? How did Lincoln see it? We've asked some of our favourite historians for their most important moment in these 250 years of the United States' History. In this episode, Aaron Sheehan-Dean returns to discuss how winning the Civil War fits into the growth of American identity. Aaron is the Fred C. Freyer Professor of Southern Studies at Louisiana State University. He is a…
The Harlem Renaissance
Ep 393 · Jun 18, 2026 · 44 min
What was it like in Harlem during the decades of the Harlem Renaissance? Who were the key figures? What makes it so important? Don Wildman is joined once again by Professor Mark Anthony Neal, author of many acclaimed books and host of Left of Black. Edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Hannah Feodorov and Tomos Delargy. Senior Producer is Freddy Chick. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.…
What Made America? The Professional Military
Ep 392 · Jun 15, 2026 · 39 min
Today's United States of America boasts one of the largest and most expensive militaries in the world. But this wasn't always a guarantee. In this episode, we're hearing how the professional military was created despite it's existence being at odds with the Republican ideals the nation was founded on. Don is joined by friend of the podcast, Cecily Zander. Cecily is Assistant Professor of History at the University of Wyoming and author of “The Army under Fire: Antimilitarism in the Civil War Era”…
Eisenhower's Countdown to D-Day
Ep 391 · Jun 11, 2026 · 54 min
On June 6, 1944, a combined Allied force carried out the largest amphibious invasion in history. They were led by an American. What was General Eisenhower's role in D-Day? How was American officer training key to the strategy used? And how did the British weather change everything? Don's guest is John C. McManus, professor of military history at Missouri University of Science and Technology and host of the podcasts 'Someone Talked!' and 'World War 2 Live'. Edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Tomo…
What Made America: The Constitution & The Franklins
Ep 390 · Jun 8, 2026 · 34 min
We've asked some of our favorite historians for their number one moment from these 250 years of the United States' History. For this episode, we're honored to welcome Jill Lepore back to the show. How do the life and letters of Jane Franklin, beloved sister of THE Benjamin Franklin, reflect the nature and constitution of America? You can read more about this in Jill's book THESE TRUTHS: A History of the United States, the Jubilee Edition of which is out now. Jill is a Professor of American Histo…
Inside a Serial Killer's 'Murder Castle'
Ep 389 · Jun 4, 2026 · 45 min
He's one of the most famous serial killers in American history... but how much of H.H Holmes' gruesome crimes were sensationalised by the press at the time? Our guest today is Dr. Harold Schechter, professor at Queen’s College, City University of New York. He is the author of dozens of non-fiction books, including ‘Depraved: the Definitive True Story of H.H. Holmes, Whose Grotesque Crimes Shattered Turn-Of-The-Century Chicago.’ Edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Tomos Delargy. Senior Producer wa…
How 'New Amsterdam' Became 'New York'
Ep 388 · Jun 1, 2026 · 43 min
Have you ever wondered how Harlem got its name? There are countless remnants of the Dutch colony on Manhattan island. But when did it end? And why? Don is joined by best selling author Russell Shorto to discuss the British takeover of New Amsterdam. Russell is the author of 'The Island at the Center of the World’, and ‘Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America'. Edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Sophie Gee. Senior Producer was Freddy Chick. Sign up to H…
Worst Siege of the Civil War: Vicksburg
Ep 387 · May 28, 2026 · 51 min
The Siege of Vicksburg was a pivotal turning point in the Civil War. Should the Union capture the stronghold, the South's hold on the Mississippi would be broken forever... But what about the lives of those trapped inside the city? And what measures did they resort to to survive the bombardment? Our guest today is Dr. Lindsay Privette, Associate professor of history at Anderson University. She’s the author of The Surgeon’s Battle: How Medicine Won the Vicksburg Campaign and Changed the Civil War…
When Was the Revolutionary War Won?
Ep 386 · May 25, 2026 · 48 min
In 1775, revolutionaries went to war against the British. Seeking independence from colonial ties, they fought more than 150 battles over eight years. A relatively new nation of just 2.5 million people facing off against the greatest military power on the planet at that time, it seemed like a tall order. So when did the tide turn? When did it become certain that the revolutionaries would gain their independence? In this episode from the archive with podcast host Dan Snow and Major Jonathan Bratt…
America's War Against Pirates
Ep 385 · May 21, 2026 · 54 min
Just twenty years after independence, the United States fought a lesser-known war against the Barbary States of North Africa... some use the term 'Corsairs', others referred to them as 'Pirates'. But why was America there? How was diplomacy conducted during this time? And how did these conflicts help transform a fragile republic into an emerging naval power? Our guest today is Dr. Abby Mullen, professor at the United States Naval Academy. Her work includes hosting the ‘Consolation Prize’ podcast…
King Phillip's War
Ep 384 · May 18, 2026 · 48 min
This is one of the deadliest conflicts in North American History. But who was King Philip? What started the war? And how did it change history? Don is joined by Professor David Silverman from George Washington University to head back to the late 17th century. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. Produced by Sophie Gee. Senior Producer was Freddy Chick. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhi…
Annexation of Alaska
Ep 383 · May 14, 2026 · 45 min
In 1867, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia in a deal that reshaped the map of North America... but what did that moment mean for the people already living there? In this episode, we explore Alaska before European contact, the rise of Russian colonial settlement, and eventually the American takeover. Our guest today is Professor Thomas Swensen at the University of Utah. He’s the author of Where Next, Columbus?: A Native Punk Mixtape and his new book, The Great Land: An Indigenous His…
The Quaker Who Put Penn in Pennsylvania
Ep 382 · May 11, 2026 · 55 min
From being locked up in the Tower of London to founding the 5th most populous state in the country, and the city at the heart of the Revolution, today we are charting the unlikely rise of William Penn and the founding on Pennsylvania. Don is joined by Thomas Hamm, Emeritus Professor of History and Quaker Scholar in residence at Earlham College. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. Produced by Sophie Gee. Senior Producer was Freddy Chick. All music from Epidemic Sounds. American History Hit is a History Hit…
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