Radio War Nerd EP #63 — The Whiskey Rebellion
Guest: William Hogeland, author & historian
Everything you think you know about the "Whiskey Rebellion" is wrong, and the War Nerd invites historian William Hogeland to set the record straight on what really happened, who Alexander Hamilton really was (cunning, ruthless, proto-fascist & really interesting), and why it matters today . . . Afterwards in World Of Wars, we talk about the fall of East Aleppo & the way rightwing religious militias shape western media narratives . . . The Putin Panic continues; Ames gives a brief history of America's meddling in Russian elections & politics since 1989, possible motives for why Kremlin would meddle in America's elections today...
Total time: 2:27:38
Direct link to this episode's mp3 here
Buy William Hogeland's books on early American history—they're smart, full of surprises, and fun as hell to read: The Whiskey Rebellion; Founding Finance; Declaration: The Nine Tumultuous Weeks When America Became Independent
Comments (16)
"Hamilton & Burr had a little spat With Hamilton missing after that" Alexander Hamilton is right up there with Ronald Reagan in my list of Americans who are generally beatified- When they SHOULD have stakes hammered through their dead hearts, be tipped out of their crypts into bright sunlight and their cancerous legacies scattered with their ashes to the 4 winds.
Fantastic episode! I have to say that while I love Hamilton as a musical production (the songs are incredibly catchy), I really, really don't like its hagiographical treatment of Hamilton. It's done almost to the point of absurdity, really. And yes, I am sympathetic to the argument that the production is trying to tell a story and not give us a history lesson. But if it is at the expense of presenting Hamilton in a light that is almost diametrically opposed to the person he actually was, it doesn't sit well with me. That doesn't even get into the production's treatment of Burr either. Chernow has a lot to answer for.
The Battle of Jumonville Glen, this was where Lt Col George Washington starts the French Indian war <a href="https://www.lewrockwell.com/2007/07/gary-north/shorn-on-the-4th-of-july/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.lewrockwell.com/2007/07/gary-north/shorn-on-the-4th-of-july/</a>
Book is bought. Thanks for bringing this story out.
Great Episode uncovering a forgotten chapter of history. If People truly want to cure themselves of this idiotic cult of the "Founding Fathers" They Should check out Gerald Horne's "Counter Revolution of 1776" and "Negro Comrades of the Crown" Which argue that the colonists declared independence primarily to preserve Slavery. The Books also gives a fascinating insight into the Guerilla Wars of that age With Africans and Indians resistng the colonists and liberating zones throughout the Americas in places like Haiti Jamaica and Florida. You can also find great Gerald Horne lectures on the topic on youtube.
Thanks. But don't expect me to stop loving The Battle of Bunker Hill; that's American war at its best, luring a bunch of redcoats into a virtually impregnable hilltop position. Yeehaw!
This guy is excellent. I'm getting his book.
I keep telling my friends that history did not begin yesterday. Why are we here ? Well because of the thing happened before it, and before that, and before that. This episode exemplifies that perfectly. The shenanigans we played in Russia are blowing back on “us” (I am Australian but I am still a part of the “western” team lead by America). I feel no great outrage over Russian tampering with the recent election. I think it is good for America (and the world) for us to realise that our enemies can bite and maybe we should be more thoughtful. The most annoying part of the whole thing is that excluding people like you and a few others, no one seems to get it.
Thanks. Yeah, that regression problem is the hardest part of writing RWN articles/newsletters: to explain event X you have to go back to event pre-X and then...
Why am I a cat?
Patreon decided we all needed better profile pictures I guess
Great guest and interview. Bravo. I'd forgotten about Hogeland. Unique voice and great company.
Hogeland is someone I actually envy. He found a way to get research published without grovelling to a PhD committee. Those little covens tend to squeeze anything decent out of your prose (stumbles off muttering...)
The Russian ambassador to Turkey got shot by a man who worked as a Policeman a few hours after the episode was released. And my first thought was, damn now i'll have to wait a whole week to hear RWN's take on it.
1500+ Patrons! Keep up the great work.
Thanks! We really have to decide what to invade soon.