American History Hit

American History Hit

Author: History Hit Language: English Episodes: 50
Dive into the stories that shaped a nation with American History Hit. Hosted by Don Wildman, this podcast from History Hit moves beyond textbook dates to explore the pivotal moments and forgotten figures that define the American experience. Each episode is a journey, whether it's into the tense world of wartime codebreakers intercepting Japanese plans or the complex political landscape where figures like Walt Disney leveled serious accusations. You'll encounter the perspectives of leaders like Chief Powhatan on the eve of conflict and dig into the layered past of landmarks like Central Park. The narrative stretches from pre-colonial times through the forming of the modern United States, connecting historical dots to contemporary understanding. By focusing on specific, often surprising events, this series provides a grounded and compelling look at how the past actively informs the present. Tune in for a thoughtful and detailed exploration of history, where every story adds depth to the ongoing American story.
Episodes
Reconstruction Era: Terror in the South [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:08
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 fad…
Civil War Battle Of The Ironclads [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:35
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 joine…
Reconstruction Era: A False Dawn of Freedom? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:39
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.…
Plessy v. Ferguson: The Supreme Court Case That Enshrined Jim Crow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:49
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 de…
What Happened to the Confederates? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:05
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 bac…
How Did the Supreme Court Claim Power? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:43
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 wh…
Life in Mobland Chicago [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:07
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…
Long Walk of the Navajo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:52
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…
The Robin Hood of the Wild West [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:19
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 t…
The Best Presidential Speeches [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:33
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 histo…