Was the Civil War a 'Second American Revolution', or was it a continued evolution of the nation set out by the Founding Fathers? How did Lincoln see it?
We've asked some of our favourite historians for their most important moment in these 250 years of the United States' History.
In this episode, Aaron Sheehan-Dean returns to discuss how winning the Civil War fits into the growth of American identity.
Aaron is the Fred C. Freyer Professor of Southern Studies at Louisiana State University. He is author of several books, including ‘Reckoning With Rebellion: War and Sovereignty in the Nineteenth Century’.
Edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Sophie Gee. Senior Producer was Freddy Chick.
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All music from Epidemic Sounds.
American History Hit is a History Hit podcast.
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The Harlem Renaissance
18/06/2026 | 43 mins.
What was it like in Harlem during the decades of the Harlem Renaissance? Who were the key figures? What makes it so important? Don Wildman is joined once again by Professor Mark Anthony Neal, author of many acclaimed books and host of Left of Black.
Edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Hannah Feodorov and Tomos Delargy. Senior Producer is Freddy Chick.
Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.
All music from Epidemic Sounds.
American History Hit is a History Hit podcast.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What Made America? The Professional Military
15/06/2026 | 38 mins.
Today's United States of America boasts one of the largest and most expensive militaries in the world. But this wasn't always a guarantee.
In this episode, we're hearing how the professional military was created despite it's existence being at odds with the Republican ideals the nation was founded on.
Don is joined by friend of the podcast, Cecily Zander. Cecily is Assistant Professor of History at the University of Wyoming and author of “The Army under Fire: Antimilitarism in the Civil War Era” and “Abraham Lincoln and the American West".
Edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Sophie Gee. Senior Producer was Freddy Chick.
Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.
All music from Epidemic Sounds.
American History Hit is a History Hit podcast.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Eisenhower's Countdown to D-Day
11/06/2026 | 53 mins.
On June 6, 1944, a combined Allied force carried out the largest amphibious invasion in history. They were led by an American.
What was General Eisenhower's role in D-Day? How was American officer training key to the strategy used? And how did the British weather change everything?
Don's guest is John C. McManus, professor of military history at Missouri University of Science and Technology and host of the podcasts 'Someone Talked!' and 'World War 2 Live'.
Edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Tomos Delargy. Senior Producer was Freddy Chick.
Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.
All music from Epidemic Sounds.
American History Hit is a History Hit podcast.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What Made America: The Constitution & The Franklins
08/06/2026 | 34 mins.
We've asked some of our favorite historians for their number one moment from these 250 years of the United States' History. For this episode, we're honored to welcome Jill Lepore back to the show.
How do the life and letters of Jane Franklin, beloved sister of THE Benjamin Franklin, reflect the nature and constitution of America?
You can read more about this in Jill's book THESE TRUTHS: A History of the United States, the Jubilee Edition of which is out now.
Jill is a Professor of American History at Harvard University and a staff writer at The New Yorker.
Edited by Aidan Lonergan. Produced by Sophie Gee. Senior Producer was Freddy Chick.
Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.
All music from Epidemic Sounds.
American History Hit is a History Hit podcast.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Join Don Wildman twice a week for your hit of American history, as he explores the past to help us understand the United States of today. We’ll hear how codebreakers uncovered secret Japanese plans for the Battle of Midway, visit Chief Powhatan as he prepares for war with the British, see Walt Disney accuse his former colleagues of being communists, and uncover the dark history that lies beneath Central Park. From pre-colonial America to independence, slavery to civil rights, the gold rush to the space race, join Don as he speaks to leading experts to delve into America’s past. New episodes every Monday and Thursday. Brought to you by History Hit, the award-winning podcast network and world’s best history channel on demand, featuring shows like Dan Snow’s History Hit, Not Just The Tudors and Betwixt the Sheets.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.
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