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01.08.2025
25 Minuten
We have done it! We have reached the end of the nineteenth
century with the beginning of the Spanish-American War. In the
first of a string of episodes, we will be exploring the country's
first overseas venture - war with Spain over its island
possessions in the Caribbean and the Pacific. In the
aftermath of the Civil War, the United States was already
thinking beyond its continental borders. With the purchase of
Alaska and new found influence in Samoa and the Hawaiian Islands,
the United States was already considering what was next. With
Spain's influence on a steep decline, there were an insurrection
in Cuba which captured the attention of public opinion and those
magnates who had invested heavily in the Cuban sugar industry.
Uncertain whether to negotiate of go to war, Presidents Cleveland
and McKinley proceeded carefully until events dictated their
actions.
Have a question, comment, concern, or compliment? Contact us at
americawarpodcast@gmail.com. You can also leave comments and your
questions on Facebook at
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listening!
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15.07.2025
27 Minuten
The second and final episode of this arc take the story of the
new steel navy to the beginning of the Spanish-American War. From
the mid-1880s to the 1890s, the necessary infrastructure was put
in place to expand the capabilities of the ships joining the
fleet. Moreover, there was a shift in ideas on how to use the
navy. Rather than focus on coastal defense and commerce raiding,
thanks to the writings of Alfred Thayer Mahan, there was an
interest in building larger ships that could wrestle the command
of the seas from regional adversaries. Rather than concentrate on
cruisers, there was growing interest in building what today we
would know as battleships. This will be the final episode of this
season before we move forward into thinking about the
Spanish-American War.
Have a question, comment, concern, or compliment? Contact us at
americawarpodcast@gmail.com. You can also leave comments and your
questions on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/americaatwarpodcast/. Thanks for
listening!
Mehr
30.05.2025
24 Minuten
Perhaps one of the most prominent aspects of this period is the
rise of the steel navy. After several decades of decline, the
navy made a bold move and built a small fleet of steel warships.
There was a growing, often fractious, political consensus that
the navy needed to move forward. The move toward steel ships
triggered the evolution of the American manufacturing base,
slowly building the capacity to cast and mold steel, as well as
build modern weapons made of the same material. We take the story
up to the creation of the first four steel ships and will
continue the expansion of the fleet in the next episode.
Have a question, comment, concern, or compliment? Contact us
at americawarpodcast@gmail.com. You can also leave comments
and your questions on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/americaatwarpodcast/. Thanks for
listening!
Mehr
05.05.2025
27 Minuten
In this episode we take a look at Harbor Defense in the late
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. One of the most
consistent missions of the US Army since the founding of the
republic was defending the nation's harbors. The Civil War
demonstrated that the granite of bricks of yore were outclassed
by modern weapons. After a period of stagnation in the years
after the Civil War, in 1886 Secretary of War Endicott released a
plan for modern fortifications. While it took more than a decade
to appropriate funding, these fortifications would defend the
nation's harbors well into the twentieth century.
Have a question, comment, concern, or compliment? Contact us
at americawarpodcast@gmail.com. You can also leave comments
and your questions on Facebook at
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listening!
Mehr
08.04.2025
30 Minuten
In this episode we will continue and conclude our discussion of
Emory Upton. We left off with the beginning of Upton's around the
world journey. Upton traveled overseas on a mission to observe
the armies of Asia and Europe. It was an important time for
Upton. His observations of some of the most modern and, in his
mind, backwards armies of the world, allowed him to work out his
own notions of how the United States should reform its Army.
Inspired by what he saw, Upton wanted a thoroughly professional
Army that met the needs of the country. While inspired by, in
particular, the German model, he fashioned a system that would
correspond to American traditions. Unfortunately, due to health
issues, he took his life in 1881. Upton's shadow continued to be
thrown across American military history. He is an important
bellwether for the degree of introspection that was occurring not
only in Upton's mind, but his peers as well.
Have a question, comment, concern, or compliment? Contact us at
americawarpodcast@gmail.com. You can also leave comments and your
questions on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/americaatwarpodcast/. Thanks for
listening!
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Über diesen Podcast
Explore the rich history of our past through the lens of our
military institutions. From the settlement of North America to the
present, this podcast encompasses traditional military history and
goes the extra step to address the evolution of ideas and
institutions. Join us!
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