James Monroe: war hero, founding father, and the realreason the Monroe Doctrine is still a thing today. In this episode of The Buck Starts Here, Kyle and Eric break down the messy legacy of America’s fifth president. From battlefields to foreign policy, Monroe’s story is full of contradictions and drama you never saw coming.

We’re diving into: * The Monroe Doctrine - America's original "stay out of our backyard" policy.

* The not-so-good Era of Good Feelings (spoiler: it was complicated).

* Monroe's real relationship with slavery, Gabriel's rebellion, and the Missouri Compromise.

* The role of religion and rebellion in early America.

* Plus, wild presidential trivia you won't find in your history books.

If you love history served with sass and no BS, The BuckStarts Here has you covered. Hit play and discover how Monroe’s presidencyshaped the United States we know today.

✨ Don’t forget to like,comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into America’s founding figures!

#JamesMonroe #MonroeDoctrine #AmericanHistory #USPresidents#Slavery #GabrielsRebellion #MissouriCompromise #EraOfGoodFeelings#FoundingFathers #HistoryPodcast #TheBuckStartsHere #HistoryWithSass#PresidentialTrivia

Fife and Drum:

"Loopster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The War of 1812: Britain’s still salty, America’s feelingfeisty, and Canada—well, Canada’s just trying to stay out of it (but also kinda not).

In this episode, Kyle, Eric Mason, and special guest JoelMc (official Canadian correspondent 🇨🇦) unpack thedrama, destruction, and downright questionable decision-making that shaped this war. From the burning of Washington, D.C. to the Battle of Lake Erie, we coverit all—including the hilarious, ongoing blame game over who actually set D.C. on fire.

But wait—there’s more! We’re also putting James Madisonunder the microscope. Was he a brilliant strategist or just the guy in charge when everything went up in flames? We break down his leadership, his policies, and whether his presidency was an underrated success or just... there.

Key Takeaways:

🔥 The War of 1812:America’s first official “We’re not taking this anymore” moment.
Impressment of American sailors = major bad blood with Britain.
Canada’s role? More than just maple syrup and apologies.
Tecumseh’s Confederacy = the ultimate resistance.
The Battle of Lake Erie: When the U.S. Navy finally got its act together.Washington, D.C. got torched—was it Britain, Canada, or both? (Joel Mc weighsin.)
British troops were battle-hardened and way too good at setting stuff onfire.
Without naval victories, the U.S. was toast.
Madison’s presidency: Underwhelming? Underrated? You decide.
His friendship with Jefferson shaped his entire career.
Madison’s Bonus Bill veto—financial genius or total fumble?
A freak storm saved Washington, proving Mother Nature has a sense of humor.
Madison knew how to work the public—when he wasn’t dealing with war.
The War of 1812 changed everything about U.S.-Canada relations.

With historical hot takes, a Canadian perspective, and awhole lot of fire (literally), this episode serves up the War of 1812 likeyou’ve never heard it before. Tune in now!

Fife and Drum:

"Loopster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

James Madison might’ve been the quiet type, but hispresidency? It was a whole saga. In this no-holds-barred episode, Eric Mason and Kyle tackle Madison’s transformation from Jefferson’s protégé to a leader navigating international tension, economic upheaval, and the road to the War of 1812.

They spotlight Dolly Madison, the White House’soriginal power broker, who turned social gatherings into strategic gold. From the Non-Intercourse Act (no, not that kind) to the rise of industrialization, Madison’s presidency set the stage for a new America — even if he had to drag itthere kicking and screaming.

Throw in a dysfunctional cabinet, John Payne Todd’s ongoingdisasters, and the bizarre origins of the Postmaster General — and you’ve got one wild ride through early American politics.

🎧 Keywords: JamesMadison, Dolly Madison, War of 1812, Non-Intercourse Act, Second National Bank,U.S. history podcast, presidential politics, early America, historical deep dive

Fife and Drum:

"Loopster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

James Madison—brilliant thinker, reluctant slaveholder, andthe guy who let the National Bank crash and burn. Oops. In this episode, we break down his tangled views on slavery (yes, even messier than Jefferson’s), his economic policies (or lack thereof), and how industrialization set the North and South on a collision course. Plus, we’re spilling the tea on dueling, monopolies, and the financial chaos of the War of 1812—because history is way juicier than your old textbooks let on.🎧 Hit play for presidential drama, economic blunders, and the surprising investing genius of Abigail Adams. You won’t look at Madison—or your bank account—the same way again.

Fife and Drum: "Loopster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Strap in, history buffs—it’s time to talk about JamesMadison, the quiet mastermind who basically built American democracy and thengot dragged into one of the sloppiest wars in U.S. history (looking at you, Warof 1812). This founding father may not have been the tallest (seriously, he wastiny), but he had one of the biggest brains in early America.

In this episode, we break down Madison’s intellectualflexes, presidential fails, and complicated legacy—including his elitePrinceton education, his messy rivalry with Hamilton, and his very awkwardstance on slavery. Oh, and Dolly Madison? Total first lady legend.

🔥 What You’ll Learn:
📜 How Madison shaped the Constitution and theBill of Rights like a pro
⚖️ His hypocritical views on slavery (he knew it wasbad but still owned people—yikes)
💥 The War of 1812 disaster—British invasions,burned-down White House, the whole mess
🍦 Dolly Madison being the real MVP (ice creamqueen, party icon, national hero)
💰 Why Madison spent his retirement broke andstressed despite shaping the country
🤝 Madison vs. Hamilton, aka the original intellectualsmackdown

This isn’t your boring history lecture—this is FoundingFather drama, early American chaos, and presidential glow-ups. Hit play and getthe real story behind the brainiest, most underrated president in U.S. history.

"Loopster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Kyle and Eric are back, and this time, they’re tackling oneof the wildest adventures in American history—the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Fueled by Thomas Jefferson’s “buy now, figure it out later” approach to the Louisiana Purchase, this journey was way more than just a scenic hike. It was a survival test, a science experiment, and a crashcourse in diplomacy with Native American tribes—all wrapped up in one messy, death-defying road trip.

But let’s be real—who actually made this expedition asuccess? Spoiler alert: Sacagawea carried. Like, literallycarried (a whole baby, no less), while also guiding, negotiating, translating, saving supplies from disaster, and keeping these guys alive. Meanwhile, York, an enslaved man, did so much work that even the expedition had to admit he deserved a vote—something that wasn’t even legal for him.

And because we love some historical hot takes, Kyle andEric put Jefferson’s presidency on trial. Was his massive land grab a stroke of genius or just the biggest impulse buy in U.S. history?

Key Topics:
*The Rocky Mountain disaster that nearly ended the whole expedition
*Mapping the West—turns out, it’s harder than it looks
*Sacagawea, the real MVP, keeping the expedition (and her baby) alive
*York’s vote—an actual WTF moment in early democracy
*Jefferson’s legacy—visionary leader or reckless spender?

Hit play, and get ready for a wild ride through history—sass, chaos, and all.

#LewisAndClark #Sacagawea #ThomasJefferson #HistoryPodcast#LouisianaPurchase #WestwardExpansion #AmericanHistory #USHistory #Explorers

Thomas Jefferson was not in the market for a continent—until Napoleon hit him with a “buy one port, get 828,000 square miles free” deal. Suddenly, Mr. Strict Constitution had to bend his own rules to pull off the biggest land grab in U.S. history. In this episode, we break down how Jefferson finessed the Louisiana Purchase, why Napoleon was desperate for cash,and how this surprise sale changed America forever. Was it genius diplomacy or just a lucky break? And did anyone actually know where the Louisiana Territory started or ended? (Absolutely not.) Hit play and get the tea on the most chaotic real estate deal of the 19th century.

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Think the Founding Fathers had all the brains? Think again. Abigail Adams wasn’t just John Adams’ wife—she was a financial genius, a sharp political thinker, and a woman way ahead of her time. While John was off debating democracy, Abigail was running the family estate, making smart investments, and proving that women had serious economic power in early America.

In this episode, we dive into Abigail’s financial strategies, from investing in Revolutionary War bonds to navigating early American currency chaos. We explore her legendary correspondence with John Adams, her complex relationship with Thomas Jefferson, and her progressive views on women's rights and slavery. Plus, we rank John Adams’ presidency—because why not?

If you love American history, women’s history, or just a good story about someone outsmarting the system, this episode is for you.

Listen now for a fresh take on Abigail Adams and why she deserves way more credit in history.

Fife and Drum: "Loopster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/