America: The Story of the USA

It's been a pivotal week in US politics, beginning with the death of Alexander Butterfield, the Nixon aide whose quiet revelation of Oval Office recordings changed American history. There's also the meteoric rise of Texas Democrat James Talarico, whose record‑breaking primary turnout and cross‑party appeal have sparked talk of flipping Texas blue and even future presidential ambitions. And Donald Trump’s escalating war in Iran, the spiraling oil crisis, and the geopolitical fallout of a conflict the administration appears unable to control. Joining the show today is Andrew Moran, the Head of Criminology, Sociology, Politics and International Relations at London Met University . Stories Mentioned: The death of Alexander Butterfield (01:24) The rise of James Talarico (05:32) The legacy of Donald Trump (15:00) The downfall of Keir Starmer (40:47) The Girl Scouts' munchies cure (43:25) . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/americathestoryoftheusa Get in touch: america@podcastsbyliam.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

American cinema has always been a mirror, reflecting the nation’s ambitions, anxieties, and appetite for spectacle. In today's episode, we trace the evolution of movie‑going from the travelling roadshows of Gone with the Wind to the streaming‑dominated landscape of today, where Netflix is king. We unpack how Hollywood scaled up, how the blockbuster was born, why the multiplex became a cultural institution, and what ultimately destabilised the movie star system. So in this episode, I’m asking… who killed the movie star? . Special Guest: Van Connor, a film critic, writer, and broadcaster. He is the host of acclaimed movie podcast OffScreen and a regular on TV and radio, but if long film analysis isn’t quite your thing, check out Fifteen Second Cinema on his social channels. . Highlights: 02:25 - Gone with the Wind and the Roadshow Era 11:18 - The Netflix of the 1950s 18:53 - Counterculture 22:36 - Lucas, Spielberg and the Hollywood Blockbuster 32:34 - Cocaine 43:31 - Generation PG-13 53:44 - SFX vs Movie Stars 58:55 - The Netflix Era . For an extended reading list and to learn more, join our Patreon community now: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠ . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. This week, How Does the US Government Work? I’m gonna explain the three branches. The different levels of government and how they all interrelate. . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Join the community: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠⁠ - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're discussing the rapidly escalating conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, including: Trump’s “large‑scale combat operation” and the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei Iran’s retaliation across the Middle East The failed Democratic attempt to restrict Trump’s war powers The absence of a clear US strategy, exit plan, or defined objectives The risk of regional destabilisation and global economic fallout Whether this could spiral into a wider conflict Joining the show today is Stefan Grobe, a former American history professor, now political editor and host at Euronews. . Stories Mentioned: The Clintons testify on Epstein: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/26/hillary-bill-clinton-testify-about-jeffrey-epstein-files-will-it-be-filmed/88883149007/ Georgia Man Convicted for Second Degree Murder: https://apnews.com/article/georgia-school-shooting-trial-colin-gray-e9afe6e8289f474aa474242ee4bdca67 The War in Iran: https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/timeline-us-israeli-strikes-on-iran-as-war-breaks-out-in-middle-east/ar-AA1XgxMq?ocid=BingNewsSerp . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠Mercury⁠, in partnership with the ⁠British Association for American Studies⁠. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/americathestoryoftheusa Get in touch: america@podcastsbyliam.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we journey into the life and legacy of one of the most influential and controversial figures of the Black Power era. From the streets of Oakland to the halls of academia, he co-founded the Black Panther Party and became a symbol of resistance, community empowerment, and revolutionary thought. We’re going to explore his early influences, the rise and philosophy of the Panthers, his confrontations with law enforcement, his intellectual contributions, his decline and tragic death, and the enduring impact of his vision on both American political thought and today’s movements for racial justice. So in this episode, I’m asking… who is Huey P. Newton? . Special Guest: Joe Street, an Associate Professor of American History at Northumbria University. He specializes in twentieth-century American and African American history, with a particular focus on the intersections of race, politics, and popular culture in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is the author of Black Revolutionaries: A History of the Black Panther Party, which was shortlisted for the 2025 British Association for American Studies book prize . Highlights: 03:52 - Early life and the angry black man 10:53 - Faith, family and the Black Panthers 20:40 - Panthers in the community 28:08 - Systemic inequality 42:35 - Huey's later tragic years 47:52 - Newton's legacy . For an extended reading list and to learn more, join our Patreon community now: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠ . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. This week, Every American National Holiday - how they started, when they are, and what you should know before you go! . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Join the community: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠⁠ - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we are joined by historian Tim Galsworthy for a packed episode covering one of the most chaotic stretches in US politics this year. We break down the Supreme Court’s landmark decision striking down Donald Trump’s global tariffs, the president’s furious response, and the emergency powers he’s now invoking to push through a 10% global tariff anyway. What does this mean for everyday Americans, and why are tariffs suddenly one of the most unpopular policies in the country? We also examine the latest security incident at Mar‑a‑Lago, where a 21‑year‑old armed man was shot and killed after entering the perimeter. With multiple attempts on Trump’s life in recent years, Tim explores why political violence is becoming disturbingly normalized in the US, and why assassination attempts rarely achieve what their perpetrators imagine. Across the Atlantic, the UK is reeling from the arrests of Prince Andrew and Lord Peter Mandelson on suspicion of misconduct in public office. With both cases linked to the fallout from the Epstein files, Liam and Tim discuss whether this mounting pressure could finally force US lawmakers to act, and why Trump’s own base is fracturing over his refusal to release the full documents. Finally, we speak with Corbin Trent, former Communications Director for AOC and senior figure on Bernie Sanders’ 2020 campaign, about authenticity in political messaging, the rise of left‑wing candidates like Zohran Mamdani, and whether the Democratic Party’s future is more socialist than its leadership wants to admit. . Stories Mentioned: America’s Undoing: https://www.americasundoing.com/ Supreme Court says no: https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-tariffs-trump-0485fcda30a7310501123e4931dba3f9 Trump’s 15% executive order: https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-tariffs-trump-0485fcda30a7310501123e4931dba3f9 Section 122: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8r1e327z46o Andrew arrested: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/02/19/uk/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrest-what-we-know-intl Another Trump assassination attempt: https://news.sky.com/story/armed-man-shot-and-killed-after-entering-perimeter-of-mar-a-lago-13510785 . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for Mercury, in partnership with the British Association for American Studies. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/americathestoryoftheusa Get in touch: america@podcastsbyliam.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this powerful episode of America: A History, Liam sits down with acclaimed historian Robyn Spencer‑Antoine to unpack the real story of the Black Panther Party - far beyond the leather jackets, headlines, and Hollywood mythology. Drawing on decades of scholarship, Spencer‑Antoine traces the Panthers’ origins in Oakland’s local civil rights struggles, the socioeconomic inequalities that shaped Black life in the Bay Area, and the global revolutionary ideas that influenced the movement. As she explains, the Panthers emerged from “this confluence of political consciousness, this sense of possibility, and a desire for a different future, a remaking of America. . Special Guest: Robyn Spencer-Antoine, an acclaimed historian and Associate Professor at the CUNY Graduate Center. She specializes in African American social protest after World War II, urban and working-class radicalism, and gender. She is also the author of The Revolution Has Come: Black Power, Gender, and the Black Panther Party in Oakland, a landmark study that re-centers women’s roles and organizational evolution within the Party,. . Highlights: 02:17 - The origins of the Black Panthers 08:42 - A uniquely Western movement 11:23 - Huey Newton 15:04 - Provocative versus passive activism 21:23 - The 10 point program 26:39 - The political leanings of the Black Panther party 34:43 - Stigma and stereotypes 42:48 - What happened to the Black Panthers? . For an extended reading list and to learn more, join our Patreon community now: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠ . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. This week, The Top 10 Tourist Attractions in the USA, in reverse order, based on annual visitor numbers, and correct at the time of writing in December 2025. . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Join the community: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠⁠ - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, on America: In the Making... An announcement on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (00:00) The death of civil rights activist Jesse Jackson (02:25) 11 more dead after US strikes on drug boats (07:19) Is morality in American politics dead? (21:51) And President Obama believes in aliens (40:22) Joining the show this week is Emma Long, Associate Professor in American History and Politics at the University of East Anglia. And also Jacob Jarvis, the host of American Friction, and a regular on The Bunker, so he loves podcasting about America almost as much as we do. . News sources: American Friction [podcast]: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/american-friction/id1744345702  Jesse Jackson’s Death: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jesse-jackson-dies-age-84-civil-rights-leader/  11 dead after US strikes on alleged drug boats: https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-drug-trafficking-trump-5504d20ac43e0f4796084d0f1cefe5ec  Drug dealers Trump has pardoned: https://www.complex.com/life/a/backwoodsaltar/drug-dealers-donald-trump-pardoned  Pam Bondi testimonial: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/fiery-exchanges-dominate-bondi-appearance-before-congress-4-takeaways/ar-AA1Wa41i?ocid=BingNewsSerp  How many countries has Trump attacked? https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/president-of-peace-really-countries-trump-has-bombed-in-his-second-term-article-153402053  2025 Government shutdown: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_United_States_federal_government_shutdown  Impact of ICE raids: https://truthout.org/articles/the-trauma-of-ice-raids-is-rippling-through-public-schools-across-the-us/  Affordability crisis continues: https://www.allianz.com/en/economic_research/insights/publications/specials_fmo/260211-US-affordability.html  Obama clarifies existence of aliens: https://www.nbcnews.com/video/barack-obama-clarifies-he-s-seen-no-evidence-of-aliens-257772101699 . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Join the community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we discuss a woman whose journey from bondage to the heart of the Lincoln White House is a story of extraordinary perseverance and ingenuity. Her rise to prominence as a celebrated dressmaker and confidante to First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, her authorship of the groundbreaking memoir Behind the Scenes, and her philanthropic leadership during and after the Civil War, all mark her as a pivotal figure in American history. Yet, for much of the twentieth century, her story was marginalized - her achievements overshadowed by the very social barriers she fought to break down. Today, historians, artists, and writers are reclaiming her legacy, recognizing her not only as “Mrs. Lincoln’s dressmaker,” but as a businesswoman, author, activist, and Black female intellectual, whose life illuminates the intersections of race, gender, and power in nineteenth-century America. So in this episode, we explore her early years in slavery, her struggle for freedom, her career in Washington,, and the enduring impact she has had on American culture and scholarship, as I ask… who is Elizabeth Keckley? . Special Guest: Professor Rebecca Fraser, a leading scholar of American history and culture at the University of East Anglia, specializing in the intersections of gender, race, and intellectual life in nineteenth-century America. Her recent book, Black Female Intellectuals in Nineteenth Century America: Born to Bloom Unseen?, reconceptualizes the very notion of “intellectual” to include women whose voices and creative work have long been excluded from mainstream scholarship. . Highlights: 03:48 - Early life 08:16 - A day in the life of Elizabeth Keckley 13:51 - Robert and Anna 18:26 - Moving to St Louis 26:58 - Hustling to the White House 30:22 - Dressmaker to the First Lady 35:00 - Where did it all go wrong? 38:12 - Keckley the activist 42:56 - Keckley's legacy . For an extended reading list and to learn more, join our Patreon community now: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠ . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. This week, The Electoral College Explained - why it was created, how it works, and how it impacts a Presidential election. . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Join the community: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠ - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month Get the newsletter: ⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, on America: In the Making... the fallout from Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance (15:47), teacher strikes continue in San Francisco (01:39), that AI video with the Obamas (05:34), the NAACP take on Elon Musk (38:06), and a cat sanctuary puts some kindness back in the world (12:15) Joining the show this week is Ira Chaleff, author of To Stop a Tyrant: The Power of Political Followers, which is available to buy now. He is co-author of the original handbook given to every newly elected member of the US Congress and is Chair Emeritus of the non-partisan Congressional Management Foundation. And Abre' Conner, Director of Environmental and Climate Justice at the NAACP . News sources: NAACP Taking Action: Tech companies ‘be on alert,’ NAACP says with new guiding principles for data centers | The Verge NAACP Playbook: https://naacp.org/articles/naacp-releases-playbook-frontline-communities-stop-dirty-data-centers  NYT Magazine Article: https://law.news.niu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/Pollution-Is-Killing-Black-Americans.-This-Community-Fought-Back.-.pdf  Bad Bunny and the Super Bowl: https://apnews.com/article/bad-bunny-kid-rock-super-bowl-halftime-698c46096a387cfec34e4cc2fba29d82  Turning Point’s halftime show: https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/millions-of-super-bowl-fans-tune-into-turning-point-usas-halftime-show-instead-of-bad-bunny/ar-AA1VWOUB?ocid=BingNewsSerp  Megyn Kelly on Piers Morgan: https://youtu.be/UmoekomrMww  Spanish speaking Americans: https://factually.co/fact-checks/society/percentage-of-us-population-that-speaks-spanish-e6d3f7  Teacher strikes in San Francisco: https://apnews.com/article/san-francisco-teachers-strike-ec574f8ac7ef0e0041e9f136e9f99140  Trump’s Obama video: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/06/donald-trump-racist-meme-obama-explained/88544923007/  Trump not apologising: https://time.com/7372734/trump-obama-monkey-video-republican-criticism-racist-trope/  Cat Sanctuary: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/pet-sanctuary-takes-in-overflow-from-homeless-shelter-amid-unprecedented-cold-snap/  Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary: https://safehavenpet.org/ . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Join the community: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠⁠⁠ Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we are discussing a gifted performer, a scholar, athlete, and, above all, a tireless activist. Born to a lineage marked by slavery and resilience, he rose to become one of the twentieth century’s greatest Renaissance figures, fighting for civil rights, and championing peace and internationalism. His legacy is inseparable from the complex development of American national identity. His cosmopolitan vision, his refusal to be “just an entertainer” in a segregated nation, and his insistence that the artist must “take sides” brought him both global adulation and the crushing weight of McCarthyite repression. We’re going to revisit his early influences, his multifaceted career, the full arc of his activism, and his impact on ideas of citizenship, art, and what it means to stand for justice in America and the world. So in this episode, I’m asking… who is Paul Robeson? . Special Guest: Nicholas Grant, an Associate Professor of International History at the University of East Anglia. He is an expert on twentieth century United States, researching race, internationalism and transnational activism. . Highlights: 02:51 - A disdain for Uncle Tom 09:02 - Race and social mobility 17:50 - Black America and the Harlem renaissance 23:19 - Leaving the echo chamber 29:05 - Robeson and Wales 39:18 - McCarthyism 44:17 - HUAC . For an extended reading list and to learn more, join our Patreon community now: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠ . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Get the newsletter: ⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. This week, The Rules of American Football - a brief history of the game, and everything you need to know, to understand what the heck is going on! . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're talking about the DOJ's release of three million documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein, and Trump's suggestion of nationalising elections. Plus Sanam Naraghi Anderlini MBE discusses growing tension in the middle east, as the US and Iran inch ever closer to conflict. All of this and more on another edition of America: A History in the Making. . Special Guests: Clodagh Harrington from University College Cork. She is also host of the wonderful podcast A Chicken in Every Pot alongside Alex Waddan Sanam Naraghi Anderlini MBE, founder of the International Civil Society Action Network, and host of the excellent podcast If You Were in Charge. . Mentioned in this Episode: A Chicken in Every Pot: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-chicken-in-every-pot/id1780348590 ICAN: https://icanpeacework.org/ If You Were in Charge :https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/if-you-were-in-charge/id1770618616 Clintons agree to testify: https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/general/bill-and-hillary-clinton-agree-to-testify-in-house-about-jeffrey-epstein/ar-AA1VwJQU?ocid=BingNewsSerp DOJ releases epstein files: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-publishes-35-million-responsive-pages-compliance-epstein-files Met Police to investigate Peter Mandelson: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/clynp40ekrdt?page=4 Josh D’Amaro to Become Disney CEO: https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/disney-ceo-announcement/ Trump wants to nationalise elections: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0mke841zj0o FBI raid Fulton Country election office: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/winners-losers-from-james-harden-trade-to-cleveland-cavaliers/ar-AA1VCscN?ocid=BingNewsSerp US shoot down Iranian drone: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-carrier-shoots-down-iranian-drone-as-tensions-escalate-and-diplomatic-talks-hit-a-snag/ar-AA1VABf1?ocid=BingNewsSerp . Want to advertise with us and support the American Studies community? Email liam@mercurypodcasts.com and let's talk. Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Set in the forests of upstate New York during the French and Indian War, James Fenimore Cooper’s 1826 novel has become one of the most enduring works of early American literature. It helped define the frontier myth, shaped American ideas about Native peoples, and influenced generations of writers, filmmakers, and cultural storytellers. Today, as we mark its 200th anniversary, we explore its themes, its historical context, and its complicated legacy. So in this episode, I’m asking… what is The Last of the Mohicans? ... Special guest for this episode: Professor Thomas Ruys Smith, a scholar of American literature and culture at the University of East Anglia. His work spans the 19th century, with particular expertise in the intersections of literature, history, and national identity. He has written extensively on American storytelling traditions, frontier mythology, and the cultural imagination of the early United States. ... Highlights from this episode: 02:09 - Standing the test of time 06:21 - America's newfound sense of self 10:36 - The story of The Last of the Mohicans 15:40 - Romanticising colonisation 21:23 - What the frontier means for America 27:09 - White male heroes 31:29 - Native American representations 35:57 - National identity isn't just black and white 40:32 - A more colourful America 47:05 - I'm freakin' Hawkeye ... Additional Resources: The Last of the Mohicans — Free eBook https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/940 LitCharts: Themes and Analysis https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-last-of-the-mohicans (litcharts.com in Bing) SparkNotes: Summary and Themes https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/mohicans/ Novelguide: Theme Analysis https://novelguide.com/the-last-of-the-mohicans/theme-analysis (novelguide.com in Bing) Montclair State University: Theme PDF https://cyber.montclair.edu/Resources/B2F9F/501012/ThemeOfLastOfTheMohicans.pdf (cyber.montclair.edu in Bing) Encyclopedia Britannica: Cooper Biography https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Fenimore-Cooper (britannica.com in Bing) Library of Congress: Cooper Collection https://www.loc.gov/collections/james-fenimore-cooper/about-this-collection/ (loc.gov in Bing) American Literature: Cooper Overview https://americanliterature.com/author/james-fenimore-cooper (americanliterature.com in Bing) The Cambridge History of American Literature — Cooper chapter https://www.cambridge.org Oxford Bibliographies: James Fenimore Cooper https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com The Cambridge Companion to James Fenimore Cooper https://www.cambridge.org Playing Indian by Philip Deloria (on Native representation) https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780300080674 (hup.harvard.edu in Bing) The Invention of the American West by Richard Slotkin https://www.amazon.com/Regeneration-Through-Violence-Mythology-1600-1860/dp/0806132290 (amazon.com in Bing) National Park Service: French and Indian War Overview https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/french-and-indian-war.htm (nps.gov in Bing) History.com: French and Indian War https://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/french-and-indian-war (history.com in Bing) Native American and Indigenous Studies Association (NAISA) https://naisa.org Smithsonian NMAI: Native Representation in Literature https://americanindian.si.edu (americanindian.si.edu in Bing) The White Man’s Indian by Robert Berkhofer https://www.amazon.com/White-Mans-Indian-Images-American/dp/0674957867 (amazon.com in Bing) Roger Ebert Review of the 1992 Film https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-last-of-the-mohicans-1992 (rogerebert.com in Bing) The New Yorker: Revisiting the Novel https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/revisiting-the-last-of-the-mohicans (newyorker.com in Bing) BFI: Michael Mann’s Adaptation https://www.bfi.org.uk ... And if you like this episode, you might also love: Who Are Native Americans? How Did Slavery Impact Cherokee Nation? What is Thanksgiving? ... Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Want to advertise with us and support the American Studies community? Email liam@mercurypodcasts.com and let's talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. This week, A Brief History of the 50 States. I’ll explain how the United States grew from the 13 original states into the 50 states we have today, explaining the legal process of admission, major land acquisitions, political forces that shaped statehood, and the final additions of Alaska and Hawaii. . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're talking about Trump showing signs of cooling on ICE in Minnesota, social media giants feel the pressure, plus Mr. Potato Head finds himself at the center of a legal dispute. Plus, the US are lining up for a possible strike on Iran, but when will they make their move, and what will this mean for Iran, America, and the world? All of this and more on another edition of America: A History in the Making. . Special Guest: This week, we are delighted to be joined by Theo Zenou, Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University. He earned his PhD in American history from Cambridge University and writes for The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal UnHerd and others. . Links to Stories in this Episode: Donald Trump describes 'very good call' with Tim Walz Who Was Alex Pretti? Judge orders ICE chief to appear in court or risk contempt | AP News Greg Bovino, architect of Trump's immigration sweeps, departs Minneapolis | AP News Why Rhode Island might ditch its Mr. Potato Head license plates | AP News TikTok settles just before social media addiction trial to begin - BBC News Seahawks, Patriots set to meet in Super Bowl rematch - CBS News Composer Philip Glass drops Kennedy Center world premiere over Trump takeover | Reuters . Want to advertise with us and support the American Studies community? Email liam@mercurypodcasts.com and let's talk. Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we explore what is arguably the most consequential event in the creation of the United States, reshaping the Western world by enshrining new concepts of liberty, equality, and self-governance. So I want to know what really caused it, why people risked their lives for it, and how are modern day debates about power, justice and identity still shaped by it, as I ask… what is the American Revolutionary War? ... Special guest for this episode: Liz Covart, the award-winning creator and host of Ben Franklin’s World. Her work, both academic and public, shines in exploring how early Americans navigated 18th-century complexity: loyalty and revolution, community and conflict, the realities of freedom and the challenges of pluralism. She is also the founder of Scholar.DIY, a public benefit company that empowers scholars to transform their expertise into compelling digital stories. ... Highlights from this episode: 02:56 - A world of empires 08:51 - Taxation without representation 17:21 - The revolution for social mobility 25:48 - Shaping American identity 29:27 - Key battles 34:12 - A mutual enemy 39:22 - The defining moments in America's victory 45:06 - Impact of independence on marginalised groups 49:29 - Liberty and equality for some ... Additional Resources: Encyclopedia Britannica: Timeline of the American Revolution — Detailed chronology and major themes American Battlefield Trust: Revolution Timeline — Comprehensive timeline, maps, major battles Library of Congress: Revolution Primary Sources — Original documents and teaching resources Have Fun With History: 10 Most Important People in the American Revolution — In-depth profiles and legacy discussions Mount Vernon: 10 Facts About the Revolutionary War — Focus on George Washington’s leadership and decision-making American Revolution.org: Best Primary Sources — Diaries, letters, maps, memoirs, political cartoons Khan Academy: Philosophical Foundations of the Revolution — Enlightenment, natural rights, social contract History Education Foundation: Key Ideas of the American Revolution — Summarizes liberty, equality, self-governance, republicanism Fiveable: Philosophical Foundations Study Guide — Detailed overview of major intellectual influences JSTOR: The American Revolution, A Philosophical Interpretation — Academic deep dive into the ideological legacy American Battlefield Trust: France in the American Revolution — Military alliance background, impact, and aftermath World History Encyclopedia: French Involvement — Social, financial, and diplomatic dimensions Smithsonian: The Impact of the Revolution Abroad — Influence in Europe, global response American Battlefield Trust: Battle Facts and Summaries — Maps, analyses, and narratives Ideological Origins of the American Revolution — Enlightenment and revolutionary ideology Patrick Henry — Iconic oratory and the Constitution Valley Forge — Hardship and transformation The Revolution's African American Soldiers — Untold stories of military service Women and the Constitutional Moment of 1787 — Gender, citizenship, and constitutional debates American Revolution.org Primary Sources — First-person narratives, letters, cartoons, and maps Schoolshistory.org.uk: American Revolution Primary Sources — British and colonial perspectives, visual collections 10 Best American Revolution Podcasts To Follow — Discover more expert interviews and stories Ben Franklin’s World: Official Podcast Homepage — Full episode archive, show notes, and guest bios ... And if you like this episode, you might also love: Why Did the USA Drop Atomic Bombs on Japan? Is America an Empire? ... Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Want to advertise with us and support the American Studies community? Email liam@mercurypodcasts.com and let's talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices