Introduction: Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History podcast has won numerous podcast awards including best educational podcast and best overall podcast. His enthusiasm and style is unique, entertaining, and enlightening. In, “The American Peril” Dan discusses from a variety of angles the Spanish-
American war and the Philippian-American war which follows immediately after the former. Mr.
Carlin uses secondary and primary sources with great skill. Listening to and analyzing this podcast will help you in a variety of areas in APUSH including building your background knowledge, and hearing synthesis and historical context in action. Finally, a major aspect of U.S. History is to expose students to a variety of historians and historical interpretations.
Points: 20 Project/Paper points. Responses need to be DETAILED. The scores below are the maximum possible points. If responses are lacking effort and details they will not receive the full score
For a 50%: Listen and respond to parts 1 and 2
For a 60%: Everything for a 50% plus another part (choose any)
For a 70%: Everything for a 50% plus another two parts (choose any)
For an 80%: Everything for a 50% plus another three parts (choose any)
For a 85%: Everything for a 50% plus another four parts (choose any)
For a 90%: Everything for a 50% plus another five parts (choose any)
For a 95%: Everything for a 50% plus another six parts (choose any)
For a 100%: Everything for a 50% plus another seven parts (choose any)
For a 105%: Everything for a 50% plus another eight parts (choose any)
For a 110%: Everything for a 50% plus another nine parts (choose any)
For a 120%: The whole podcast
0:00-to about 8:30 (Synthesis) 1. Carlin starts out by discussing a line from President Obama’s former chief of staff Rahm Emmanuel (now Mayor of Chicago), “Never let a good crisis go to waste”.
What does that mean? Why does that emboldened conspiracy theorists? What are some examples
Carlin uses?

8:30- 19:45 (Historical Context) 2. Carlin then goes into setting the historical scene of the U.S. in the late 19 th century. Take some notes from this section that describes the U.S. from this time period.
Afterwards connect these details to the themes of U.S. History: Identity, Work/Exchange/Technology,
America and the World, Politics and Power, Environment and Geography, Ideas/Beliefs/Culture
19:45- 30:00 3. Carlin then begins to give a background of the specific area of study for the podcast. Jot a few notes that will help understand the situation between Spain, the U.S., and Cuba.
30:00- 38:00 4. What is the huge dilemma for the American Government? Why does the founding principles and mythology of the U.S. run into conflict with its’ National interests? Sub question: 4a. What Lord of the Rings character does Carlin relate to the U.S. and why?
38:00- 48:00 5. What is Spain’s assessment of the rebellion in Cuba? Who does Spain send in to quell the rebellion and what are some of his tactics?
48:00- 51:00 6. Describe the burgeoning newspaper business. Who are the main guys at the head of it? What type of tactics did the newspapers use to increase readership?
51:00- 01:07:40 7. Describe the American political situation of this age and it’s relation to the situation in Cuba. How does the perception of McKinley change over time? How do the media have an effect on the politicians? What is a Jingo and what do they believe?
01:07:40- 01:16:40 8. Carlin begins his dissection of Teddy Roosevelt. Jot down a few notes on
Carlin’s description of Teddy Roosevelt and his beliefs.
01:16:40- 01:25:30 9. Describe American Nationalists/Imperialists and their beliefs during this time period.
01:25:30- 01:28:00 10. Describe the importance of coaling stations and ideas of Nations and Navies of Alfred Thayer Mayan.
01:28:00- 01:32:00 11. Describe Spain’s current issues in Cuba and the effect of climate/weather/disease on their military.
01:32:00- 01:38:44 12. As McKinley tries to solve the Cuban question several events occur out of
McKinley’s hands. Describe those events.
01:38:44- 01:41:38 13. Back to Roosevelt. What is his reaction to possible war breaking out with
Cuba and Spain again?
01:41:38- 02:06:00 14. Describe the story of the USS Maine and the effect on America both politics and public. How has the historical story and effect on the public changed over time? What are some of the theories on what really happened to Spain?

02:06:00- 02:15:00 15. What were some of the reasons for push back against conflict with Spain over
Cuba in Congress and others? What is Roosevelt’s reaction?
02:15:00- 02:20:45 16. What are the official reasons for war? What are some of the different reasons from the history books and Dan Carlin?
02:20:45- 02:25:00 17. Describe the state of U.S. military at the beginning of the conflict vs. Spain’s.
02:25:00- 02:28:00 18. Describe Roosevelt’s regiment of the Rough Riders.
02:28:00- 02:39:00 19. Switching gears to the Navy. How prepared was the U.S. Navy for this conflict? Discuss the Dewey/American Navy battles with the Spanish fleets in the Philippians. What makes this a transition period for navies of the World? What was the effect upon how America was perceived by other European powers after the battle?
02:39:00- 02:44:45 20. How does Spain view the war compared to America?
02:44:45- 02:48:00 21. How does the war against Spain help to mend the wounds of the Civil War?
02:48:00- 03:03:30 22. Describe the condition of the U.S. in comparison to the well prepared Navy.
Describe the invasion plan and how the invasion went. How and why do accounts differ (especially
Roosevelt’s compared to actual historical numbers)?
03:03:30- 03:12:20 23. Discuss how the Spanish were treated in by the Americans in defeat.
03:12:20- 03:26:00 24. How does the Spanish-American/U.S. war in Cuba compare to the conflict that immediately follows the Philippian-American war? What are some of the arguments for
American imperialism?
03:26:00- 03:57:46 25. Describe the conflict in the Philippians and the tactics used by the U.S. including the carrot and stick strategy. Why did the strategy not work well?
How is it similar to the Vietnam War in the 1960s to early 70s? How does the savagery of the conflict affect the mood of the public? How were the tactics used in the Philippians similar to tactics used against the Natives (examples of specific battles/tactics)?
Note: This section jumps around a bit to the war in the Philippians, back to U.S. public opinion, and comparisons to Vietnam and wars against Native Americans.
03:57:46 to the end 26. How do the different types of historians (New Left, Revisionists, Neo
Conservatives) view this era? How and why does Roosevelt’s view of this era change later in his life?