When Americans Became ‘Splendid Liberators’

America spent most of the 19th century at war with itself. It conquered its western expanse then collapsed into civil war. Once the North beat the South, partisan politics consumed the country for a generation. A string of assassinations, progressive firebrands, and civil service reforms burned people out on domestic politics and a bored and febrile nation began to search for meaning beyond its borders. It noticed the Spanish Empire was awfully close. In Splendid Liberators , award winning journalist Joe Jackson chronicles the beginning of the American myth of the “good war.” He’s on the show today to talk to us about Teddy Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and a general who lay in state at the Alamo. Recurring patterns in American history Roscoe Conkling jumpscare Remnants of the Spanish-American War in South Carolina What did liberty mean in the 19th century? Clara Barton, Leonard Wood and the dual American personality The first modern concentration camps The Battleship of Maine When Congress used to fight, physically Drones won’t win a war The US in the Philippines ‘The water cure’ American historians facing reality in the Philippines Teddy, finally Laying in state at the Alamo Buy Splendid Liberators A Defense of General Funston Support this show . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can listen to When Americans Became ‘Splendid Liberators’ online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

When Americans Became ‘Splendid Liberators’ is an episode from War College by Matthew Gault.

This episode is 1:05:00 long.

This episode was published on Feb 20, 2026.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from War College when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.