The American History Podcast

Shawn Warswick

The American History Podcast presents the history of the United States in an engaging, scholarly and entertaining way. Each season we take a topic in American history and dive deep to discover the roots of the issue, and provide our listeners with a lot of history they don't know. Follow the American History Podcast on Twitter: @americanhiscast. Feel free to email me with questions and comments: shawn@theamericanhistorypodcast.com read less

Our Editor's Take

The American History Podcast is a fascinating and informative program. As the title indicates, this show explores the history of the United States. Shawn Warswick hosts the podcast. He has a doctorate degree in history and teaches in a top high school. His podcast discusses various topics throughout American history. The show provides listeners with engaging insights into events they may not have known about before. Events like the American Revolution come to life on this show.

Each season of The American History Podcast has a theme. It focuses on a specific topic or theme within US history. For example, the host explains World War II in a detailed fashion. He does episodes leading up to the war, then discusses the major and minor battles. The show devotes several episodes to the Battle of Guadalcanal. Other battles get analyzed. The host also talks to historians and authors. Guest Matthew Delmont talks about his book about African Americans serving in World War II. Additional guests share their expertise. Warwick does extensive research for each episode. He provides his audience with scholarly yet entertaining discussions on these subjects.

Warswick started the program in 2017. Since the host is a teacher, he knows how to captivate his audience. The American History Podcast is suitable for listeners of all ages. Fans can expect to learn new information about familiar historical figures. Franklin Delano Roosevelt is one of the presidents discussed on the show. Listeners will also learn about lesser-known individuals. The show explains how many people played significant roles in shaping America.

The American History Podcast presents multiple sides of controversial issues without bias. This approach allows for critical thinking among listeners. They can form their own opinions based on facts presented during each episode. Listeners who want to learn more about US history may appreciate this program. New episodes come out on a regular basis.

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Episodes

Bonus Episode: Quagmire in the Middle East
03-06-2024
Bonus Episode: Quagmire in the Middle East
Send us a textIt was January 16, 1991. Your humble host was an undergraduate in college, and like others in the dorms, watching events unfold live on TV. US media had begun broadcasting the start of the air campaign to “free Kuwait” from the clutches of the evil Saddam Hussein. Looking back on these events 3 decades later, I have to admit, it made for compelling, if disgusting, television. Why do I say disgusting? People were dying in front of our very eyes, and we were treating it like it was just some video game. But, at the age of 20, I was enthralled by all of this. And, embarrassingly enough now, I was for it.But how did the US get to that point? If you learn nothing else from this episode, you should come to realize that American foreign policy, at least when it comes to the Middle east over the last few decades, was characterized by incoherence and confusion. And believe it or not, this bouncing back and forth started with, of all presidents Ronald Reagan. You might find that hard to believe, as even his detractors tend to see him as consistent. Since Reagan, the US has been neither consistent nor has it been guided, when it comes to Iraq and the surrounding area, by shortsighted opportunism. However, he isn’t the only guilty president. Carter, as we shall see, also bears some responsibility for the mess that is American policy in the Middle East.Before we go forward, let’s discuss what was the purpose of all of this. Guided by opportunism, the purpose of our policy in the Middle East was twofold. First, it was to exercise dominion over the core of the Islamic World. But there was more. It was also about cheap oil and gas. In 1970, the year I was born, it was $.36 (or about $1.70 in 2015 dollars). By 1980 it was $1.18 or 2.95 in 2015 dollars. By today’s standard that doesn’t seem too awful, but in 1980, when you are a somewhat unpopular president, and you are facing reelection? That would not do. In fact, by 1984, in real dollars, the price of gas had decreased from $2.95/gal (in 2015 dollars) to $2.23/gallon. Plus, unemployment in the US, as well as inflation had declined. Inflation was 12.5% in 1980, but by 1983 it was down to less than 4%. Needless to say, the last thing Carter wanted in 1980 was increasing fuel costs.Great Business StoriesA great business story thoroughly researched and brought to life by Caemin &...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show