History That Doesn't Suck

“To be perfectly frank, the ways you and I look at the Chinese are fundamentally different. You seem to think of them as human, but I see them as pigs.” This is the origin story of the Empire of the Rising Sun.  After an uninvited visit from one Commodore Matthew Perry and his four black ships, Japan opens its doors to the wider world, ending seven centuries of isolation. Picking up the best and the worst from the West, a new ruling class implements changes in everything from government structure to the military, and embraces the power of both industrialization and imperialism. A modernized Japan quickly expands, conquering Korea, and taking on bigger neighbors like China, and even Russia. And after the Great War, when the military decides to go deeper into China … all that’s needed is an “incident” to justify that.  But as the empire grows and atrocities like the “Rape of Nanjing” shock the world, Japan’s alliances with European fascist powers cause the US to become wary of their former favored-nation-status trading partner. And when Uncle Sam halts the sale of industrially necessary supplies like oil, Japan’s leaders feel backed into a corner. What will a proud, military-led nation do when it is cornered? ____ Connect with us on ⁠HTDSpodcast.com⁠ and go deep into ⁠episode bibliographies⁠ and ⁠book recommendations⁠ join discussions in our ⁠Facebook community⁠ get news and discounts from ⁠The HTDS Gazette⁠  come ⁠see a live show⁠ get ⁠HTDS merch⁠ or become an ⁠HTDS premium⁠ member for bonus episodes and other perks. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join renowned documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, known for his influential historical series, and his collaborator Sarah Botstein as they dive into their latest work on the American Revolution. Ken argues its significance as a pivotal moment in history. They discuss conflicts between loyalists and patriots, the use of animation and CGI to depict battles, and their meticulous research process. Shifting gears, they also reflect on World War II, emphasizing the importance of personal stories and the fragility of democracy during tumultuous times.

Dive into the captivating world of Eleanor Roosevelt's radio show, where she shared heartfelt insights during a pivotal time in American history. Discover how she crafted her broadcasts like intimate cafe conversations, inviting diverse perspectives on pressing issues. Learn about her powerful messages defending democracy and unity, warning against divisive leaders, and clarifying crucial wartime concepts. This unique glimpse into her life reveals the profound impact of her words on a nation facing uncertainty.

Acclaimed actor and director Orson Welles reflects on his iconic 1938 radio dramatization of The War of the Worlds, which famously sparked mass panic among listeners. The discussion dives into the show’s realistic format and the contemporary anxieties that made it so believable, with Welles recounting the story’s adaptation to a 1938 American setting. They explore real-life reactions, including harrowing escape stories, and the aftermath of the broadcast, revealing the powerful impact this radio play had on American culture and the legacy it left behind.

Join Lindsay Cormack, an expert in political science, and historian Lynn Olson as they explore the critical yet underappreciated Americans influencing wartime diplomacy from London. They delve into the transformative relationships forged between FDR and Churchill, highlighting figures like Edward R. Murrow, whose compelling broadcasts during the Blitz changed public perception. Olson emphasizes how these unsung heroes negotiated complex political landscapes, shaping U.S. interventionist policy while countering isolationism and skepticism on both sides of the Atlantic.

The podcast delves into the critical second year of WWII and America's evolving role in the conflict. As Britain struggles against Germany, the Lend-Lease bill becomes a heated topic, with figures like Charles Lindbergh and Wendell Willkie passionately debating its implications. The backdrop of labor strikes and the push for an 'arsenal of democracy' highlight domestic tensions. FDR's secret meetings with Churchill and the development of the Atlantic Charter further explore strategic wartime preparations while rising threats from Japan complicate the landscape.

Professor Greg Jackson shares a personal message about our politically divided times and announces more tour dates for his live show: The Unlikely Union.  This show is not recorded for the podcast. Go to HTDSpodcast.com/live-shows for more information and dates.  Prof. Jackson’s national tour has already been to half of the 50 states, so-called red and blue states, big cities and small towns.  What he’s encountered is everyday people, regardless of their political stripe coming together to share in the telling of the extraordinary history of the first century of our nation. That period from fiery revolution through bloody civil war is– not despite of, but because of its ugly and all but insurmountable challenges– a consoling reminder that we have been through far, far worse times and much greater division than is even imaginable today.  And it's a cautionary tale. Our great strength is our union and our great peril is our division.  The words of the Republican candidate from Illinois for the US Senate spoken in 1858 ring true today:  "A house divided against itself cannot stand." You're damn right, Abe. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“I have said not once but many times that I have seen war and that I hate war. … I hope the United States will keep out of this war. I believe that it will.” This is the story of the first year of WWII in the European theater and the United States’ response.  Since the days of President George Washington, the United States has largely held to George Washington’s and Thomas Jefferson’s counsel to avoid “interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe,” and to have “entangling alliances with none.” The nation has dismantled its military built up during the Great War, and many regret ever being a part of it. Then Adolf Hitler invades Poland. Britain and France, realizing the Führer will never stop, declare war and brace for impact. President FDR reassures Americans: the US remains neutral.  That said, the “cash-and-carry” policy soon expands to allow the Allies to purchase US munitions, and as the brief pause known as the “Phoney War” gives way to Nazi Germany’s overrunning country after country—including France—Britain’s in trouble. The new Prime Minister Winston Churchill knows that his country needs American help if they’re to survive and win the war.  With the Old World getting bombarded and blitzkrieged, Franklin Delano Roosevelt becomes gravely concerned. He decides to run for a third term in the White House while trying to persuade Congress and the American people to help the Allies by building an “arsenal of democracy,” even as they hope to avoid war. It’s a tough sell though: can he overcome the United States’s long history of relative isolationism, so adamantly pushed by the new “America First” opposition? Have concerns that the last World War was waged for money left too much baggage to overcome? We’ll find out. ____ Connect with us on HTDSpodcast.com and go deep into episode bibliographies and book recommendations join discussions in our Facebook community get news and discounts from The HTDS Gazette  come see a live show get HTDS merch or become an HTDS premium member for bonus episodes and other perks. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Discover the turbulent rise of Nazi Germany as it embarks on a quest for territorial expansion prior to World War II. Dive into Jesse Owens' groundbreaking performance at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, challenging racial ideologies. Learn about the strategic annexation of Austria and the failure of European leaders to acknowledge Hitler’s ambitions. Explore Churchill's early warnings against appeasement and the tense prelude to war, culminating in the invasion of Poland. Tensions rise as Hitler's aggression reshapes Europe.

Explore the chilling execution of the Romanov family amid Russia's revolutionary chaos. Discover Joseph Stalin's journey from an unsuspecting choir boy to a ruthless revolutionary. Uncover the intense power struggles between Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin that paved the way for his rise. Dive into Stalin's ambitious First Five-Year Plan, aimed at industrializing the USSR. Learn about the devastating consequences of his policies, including famine and purges that marked his reign of terror and set the stage for future global conflicts.