Historian Cecily Zander and host discuss Ulysses S. Grant's strategic brilliance in the Civil War, his role in battles like Fort Henry and Donaldson, and his relationship with Lincoln. They delve into Grant's rise to General, his tactics at the siege of Vicksburg, and debunk myths about his leadership.

Discover President Zachary Taylor's presidency and his involvement in the Mexican-American War. Explore the debate over the spread of enslavement in the newly won West and the relationship between government and the military. Delve into Taylor's mysterious death and the emergence of an informed and active American public in the mid-19th century. Reflect on American history and get ready for Cecily Zander's upcoming book on anti-militarism in the Civil War era.