The Last Hours of Alexander Hamilton
History Shorts
Most people know Alexander Hamilton died after his infamous duel with Aaron Burr. Fewer know he survived for another 31 agonizing hours. In this episode of History Shorts, we follow Hamilton from the moment the bullet struck him on July 11, 1804, through his final day of life. With the projectile lodged near his spine and 19th-century medicine offering little hope, Hamilton remained conscious, spoke with his family, received communion, and reflected on the very practice of dueling—a custom he had publicly condemned even as he felt compelled to participate in it. SUPPORT THE...
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The 1637 Mystic Massacre
History Shorts
Before sunrise on May 26, 1637, English colonists and their Native allies surrounded a fortified Pequot village near Mystic, Connecticut. Their orders were simple—and devastating: set it on fire. Within hours, hundreds of Pequot men, women, and children were dead, many trapped inside the burning village. One colonial leader described the destruction as "a wonderful work of God," a chilling reminder of how differently the event was remembered by those who carried it out. In this episode of History Shorts, we revisit one of the bloodiest episodes of early colonial America, examining how the...
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Inside the National WWII Museum w/ Cory Graff
History Shorts
What does World War II still have to teach us in a world where fewer and fewer people remember it firsthand? In this episode of History Shorts: Conversations, host Peter Zablocki sits down with Cory Graff, teh Curator and Restoration Manager at The National WWII Museum, for a wide-ranging discussion about memory, sacrifice, leadership, and the enduring legacy of the most consequential conflict in modern history. Together, they explore how museums preserve the stories of ordinary men and women who lived through extraordinary times, the artifacts that bring history to life, and the challenges of...
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Mansa Musa and the Pilgrimage that Broke an Economy
History Shorts
In 1324, the richest man in history set out on a pilgrimage—and accidentally shook the global economy. In this episode of History Shorts, we follow the extraordinary journey of Mansa Musa, the legendary ruler of the Mali Empire. Traveling to Mecca with a caravan said to number in the tens of thousands, Musa carried so much gold that his generosity transformed every city he visited. In Cairo alone, the flood of gold was so immense that it depressed its value for years, disrupting markets and creating one of history's most remarkable economic consequences. SUPPORT THE SHOW: ...
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The Last Revolutionary War Soldier: Daniel Frederick Bakeman
History Shorts
When most people think of the American Revolution, they picture powdered wigs, battlefield heroics, and the birth of a new nation. Few realize that the last verified soldier of that conflict lived long enough to witness railroads, photography, the Civil War, and the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. In this episode of History Shorts, we explore the remarkable life of Daniel Frederick Bakeman, the man widely recognized as the final surviving veteran of the Revolutionary War. Born years after the Declaration of Independence, Bakeman served as a militia teamster during the war’s closing years,...
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How the American Revolution was GLOBAL, w/ Sarah Pearsall
History Shorts
In this compelling episode, we sit down with award-winning historian Sarah M. S. Pearsall to explore her groundbreaking new book, Freedom Round the Globe: A World History of the American Revolution. As we approach the 250th anniversary of 1776, Pearsall challenges the traditional narrative that the American Revolution was a uniquely American story driven solely by the Founding Fathers. Instead, she reveals it as a truly global event — a worldwide surge of resistance against British imperial power that touched India, West Africa, China, the West Indies, Europe, and beyond. We discuss how tax...
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Why did Hitler call it the "Third" Reich?
History Shorts
In 1933, Adolf Hitler rose to power and began transforming Germany into a dictatorship. But one of the most revealing clues about his ambitions wasn't found in a speech, a law, or a military parade—it was hidden in the name he chose for his regime. In this episode of History Shorts, we explore why Hitler called Nazi Germany the Third Reich and why that number mattered so much. Far from a simple title, it was a carefully crafted piece of propaganda designed to place the Nazi state within a grand historical narrative stretching back centuries. By invoking the memory of the Holy Roman Empire...
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The Forgotten Race to Map the Amazon's Last Wilderness
History Shorts
In 1925, British explorer Percy Fawcett vanished into the Amazon rainforest while searching for a lost civilization he called "Z." Accompanied by his son and a family friend, he entered one of the least-mapped regions on Earth—and was never seen again. In this episode of History Shorts, we explore the mystery that made Fawcett a legend, but also the larger story that is often forgotten: the race to chart the Amazon's final blank spaces. Long before satellites and GPS, vast portions of South America's interior remained unknown to the outside world. Explorers, scientists, soldiers, and...
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An American Adventurer Steals Nicaragua
History Shorts
In the 1850s, a little-known American adventurer set out to do something almost unimaginable: seize control of a foreign nation and make himself its ruler. His name was William Walker. In this episode of History Shorts, we explore the extraordinary true story of the Tennessee-born lawyer, journalist, and soldier of fortune who launched a private military expedition into Central America and briefly became president of Nicaragua. Driven by ambition, ideology, and the era's belief in Manifest Destiny, Walker convinced supporters that he could expand American influence far beyond its borders....
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America’s First Serial Killers & the Dark Side of the Revolution, w/ Katherine Grandjean
History Shorts
In 1798, on the lawless roads of Kentucky and Tennessee, two brothers named Wiley and Micajah Harp unleashed a brutal nine-month killing spree that left dozens dead in gruesome scenes across the frontier. Often remembered in folklore as America’s first serial killers, their story is far more complex — and revealing — than simple bloodlust. Historian Katherine Grandjean joins us to discuss her powerful new book Kingdom of Devils: A Tale of Murder in the Shadow of the American Revolution. Through gripping storytelling and meticulous research, she uncovers how the instability, broken...
info_outlineMost people know Alexander Hamilton died after his infamous duel with Aaron Burr. Fewer know he survived for another 31 agonizing hours.
In this episode of History Shorts, we follow Hamilton from the moment the bullet struck him on July 11, 1804, through his final day of life. With the projectile lodged near his spine and 19th-century medicine offering little hope, Hamilton remained conscious, spoke with his family, received communion, and reflected on the very practice of dueling—a custom he had publicly condemned even as he felt compelled to participate in it.
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