America: The Story of the USA

What is The Last of the Mohicans?

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 time06:21 - America's newfound sense of self10:36 - The story of The Last of the Mohicans15:40 - Romanticising colonisation21:23 - What the frontier means for America27:09 - White male heroes31:29 - Native American representations35:57 - National identity isn't just black and white40:32 - A more colourful America47:05 - I'm freakin' Hawkeye...Additional Resources:The Last of the Mohicans — Free eBook https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/940LitCharts: 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.orgOxford Bibliographies: James Fenimore Cooper https://www.oxfordbibliographies.comThe Cambridge Companion to James Fenimore Cooper https://www.cambridge.orgPlaying 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 Slotkinhttps://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.orgSmithsonian 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.comJoin the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first monthGet the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.comWant to advertise with us and support the American Studies community?Email liam@mercurypodcasts.com and let's talk.Mentioned in this episode:This episode is sponsored by What's Your MapWhat's Your Map is the British Podcast Award-winning show from map expert Professor Jerry Brotton. In each episode, he invites a special guest to share a map that means something to them. It's a fascinating show, and you can listen to the new season right now: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/whats-your-map/id1766500219

Study Notes: A Brief History of the 50 States

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.comJoin the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first monthGet the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com

In the Making: Is America About to Strike Iran?

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 WalzWho Was Alex Pretti?Judge orders ICE chief to appear in court or risk contempt | AP NewsGreg Bovino, architect of Trump's immigration sweeps, departs Minneapolis | AP NewsWhy Rhode Island might ditch its Mr. Potato Head license plates | AP NewsTikTok settles just before social media addiction trial to begin - BBC NewsSeahawks, Patriots set to meet in Super Bowl rematch - CBS NewsComposer 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.comJoin the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first monthGet the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.comMentioned in this episode:This episode is sponsored by What's Your MapWhat's Your Map is the British Podcast Award-winning show from map expert Professor Jerry Brotton. In each episode, he invites a special guest to share a map that means something to them. It's a fascinating show, and you can listen to the new season right now: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/whats-your-map/id1766500219

What Was the American Revolutionary War?

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 empires08:51 - Taxation without representation17:21 - The revolution for social mobility25:48 - Shaping American identity29:27 - Key battles34:12 - A mutual enemy39:22 - The defining moments in America's victory45:06 - Impact of independence on marginalised groups49:29 - Liberty and equality for some...Additional Resources:Encyclopedia Britannica: Timeline of the American Revolution — Detailed chronology and major themesAmerican Battlefield Trust: Revolution Timeline — Comprehensive timeline, maps, major battlesLibrary of Congress: Revolution Primary Sources — Original documents and teaching resourcesHave Fun With History: 10 Most Important People in the American Revolution — In-depth profiles and legacy discussionsMount Vernon: 10 Facts About the Revolutionary War — Focus on George Washington’s leadership and decision-makingAmerican Revolution.org: Best Primary Sources — Diaries, letters, maps, memoirs, political cartoonsKhan Academy: Philosophical Foundations of the Revolution — Enlightenment, natural rights, social contractHistory Education Foundation: Key Ideas of the American Revolution — Summarizes liberty, equality, self-governance, republicanismFiveable: Philosophical Foundations Study Guide — Detailed overview of major intellectual influencesJSTOR: The American Revolution, A Philosophical Interpretation — Academic deep dive into the ideological legacyAmerican Battlefield Trust: France in the American Revolution — Military alliance background, impact, and aftermathWorld History Encyclopedia: French Involvement — Social, financial, and diplomatic dimensionsSmithsonian: The Impact of the Revolution Abroad — Influence in Europe, global responseAmerican Battlefield Trust: Battle Facts and Summaries — Maps, analyses, and narrativesIdeological Origins of the American Revolution — Enlightenment and revolutionary ideologyPatrick Henry — Iconic oratory and the ConstitutionValley Forge — Hardship and transformationThe Revolution's African American Soldiers — Untold stories of military serviceWomen and the Constitutional Moment of 1787 — Gender, citizenship, and constitutional debatesAmerican Revolution.org Primary Sources — First-person narratives, letters, cartoons, and mapsSchoolshistory.org.uk: American Revolution Primary Sources — British and colonial perspectives, visual collections10 Best American Revolution Podcasts To Follow — Discover more expert interviews and storiesBen 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.comJoin the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first monthGet the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.comWant to advertise with us and support the American Studies community?Email liam@mercurypodcasts.com and let's talk.Mentioned in this episode:This episode is sponsored by What's Your MapWhat's Your Map is the British Podcast Award-winning show from map expert Professor Jerry Brotton. In each episode, he invites a special guest to share a map that means something to them. It's a fascinating show, and you can listen to the new season right now: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/whats-your-map/id1766500219

Study Notes: US Time Zones Explained

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, US time zones: what they are, why they exist, and a few quick tips so you don’t miss a lecture (or a podcast recording) ever again..Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.comJoin the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first monthGet the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com