History: Beyond the Textbook

Alex Mattke
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History: Beyond the Textbook examines American history through the experiences of those who lived it!  Each 12-episode season, high school history teacher Alex Mattke covers a separate era of American history and features perspectives on well-known events and lesser-known experiences of famous historical figures.  Season Three, covering "America's Crucial Years," returns on October 8 with new episodes every Tuesday up until the finale on December 24!  Catch up on Seasons One (America's Colonial Era) and Two (America's Revolution) wherever you listen to podcasts.Feel free to contact us with feedback and other questions at: hbttpodcast@gmail.com. 

  1. 2H AGO

    4.10: Elbridge Gerry and Dr. George Logan: Polarizing Politicians of the XYZ Affair

    Send us Fan Mail As John Adams claimed the presidency, “France” was the nation that lay on the minds of most Americans, and these problems would lead to hostile actions towards American shipping and an event known as the “XYZ Affair.”  Two contrasting techniques were ultimately used to solve this problem, though both appear similar on the surface: negotiations were to be the order of the day, one set sanctioned by the federal government, and the other was to be unofficial and would lead to a law still in effect today.  In this episode of History: Beyond the Textbook, our first of three in which we examine how America’s Federalist Era came to an end, we look at Elbridge Gerry and Dr. George Logan, the Polarizing Politicians of the XYZ Affair. Key People Elbridge Gerry Dr. George Logan John Adams Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord Key Events XYZ Affair Quasi-War Logan Act We're back for Season Four of History: Beyond the Textbook!  This season will  focus on the stories of individuals who shaped "America's Federalist Era" in the years roughly 1789-1800.  The first six episodes will release every Tuesday from October 28-December 2, while the second six episodes will be released every Tuesday from February 17-March 24.   Catch up on Season One, "America's Colonial Era," Season Two, "America's Revolution," and Season Three, "America's Crucial Years," wherever you listen to your podcasts! Feel free to contact us with feedback or questions by clicking the "Send Us a Text" link or email us at: hbttpodcast@gmail.com

    30 min

  2. APR 21

    4.9: Olaudah Equiano and James Monroe: the Author and Governor of early American Abolition

    Send us Fan Mail The idea of immediately ending slavery was viewed as unconstitutional since it was never explicitly mentioned in the document that came out of the Philadelphia Convention, and the legal ramifications extended to compensation since, by law, these humans were the equivalent of property and slaveowners would need fair and just compensation.  The time frame of this season presents two contrasting methods for ending slavery: one involving informing the public of the horrors surrounding the “peculiar institution,” while the other involved the use of violence to bring said institution to an immediate end.  In this episode of History: Beyond the Textbook, our last episode dealing with slavery in America’s Federalist Era, we’ll address Olaudah Equiano and James Monroe: The Abolitionist Author and Proslavery Governor of America’s Federalist Era. Key People Olaudah Equiano James Monroe Thomas Jefferson Key Events  Publication of The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African, by Himself  Gabriel's Rebellion We're back for Season Four of History: Beyond the Textbook!  This season will  focus on the stories of individuals who shaped "America's Federalist Era" in the years roughly 1789-1800.  The first six episodes will release every Tuesday from October 28-December 2, while the second six episodes will be released every Tuesday from February 17-March 24.   Catch up on Season One, "America's Colonial Era," Season Two, "America's Revolution," and Season Three, "America's Crucial Years," wherever you listen to your podcasts! Feel free to contact us with feedback or questions by clicking the "Send Us a Text" link or email us at: hbttpodcast@gmail.com

    32 min

  3. APR 14

    4.8: Eli Whitney, the Cotton Gin, and the foundations of American Industry

    Send us Fan Mail Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin in the 1790’s, and the previously laborious process of separating cotton seeds by hand was now mechanized, and thus, more efficient.  Admittedly, the previous statement is a bit of an oversimplification…but who actually invented the cotton gin?  Why did the perceived need for more slaves come about due to this innovation?  And how does this staple of the agrarian South, and frankly, the additional contributions of Eli Whitney, lead the United States down the path to a more industrial future?  In this episode of History: Beyond the textbook, our second episode that features slavery during America’s Federalist Era, we’ll explore Eli Whitney, the Cotton Gin, and the foundations of American Industry. We're back for Season Four of History: Beyond the Textbook!  This season will  focus on the stories of individuals who shaped "America's Federalist Era" in the years roughly 1789-1800.  The first six episodes will release every Tuesday from October 28-December 2, while the second six episodes will be released every Tuesday from February 17-March 24.   Catch up on Season One, "America's Colonial Era," Season Two, "America's Revolution," and Season Three, "America's Crucial Years," wherever you listen to your podcasts! Feel free to contact us with feedback or questions by clicking the "Send Us a Text" link or email us at: hbttpodcast@gmail.com

    30 min

  4. APR 7

    4.7: Dr. Rush, the Free African Society, and Philadelphia's Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793

    Send us Fan Mail Yellow fever devastated the nation’s capital of Philadelphia in 1793…hardly a center known for its tropical climate, but the disease nevertheless proved deadly.  Our focus today is placed on one individual, and one group: one was a Founding Father who was certain that he was correct about how to treat the disease, and the other was a society not yet one decade old whose members were tasked with assisting with the afflicted.  In today’s episode of History: Beyond the Textbook, our first of three episodes focusing on how slavery affected society during America’s Federalist Years, we’ll explore Dr. Benjamin Rush, the Free African Society, and Philadelphia’s Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. Key People Richard Allen Absalom Jones Dr. Benjamin Rush John Adams Key Events Philadelphia's Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 We're back for Season Four of History: Beyond the Textbook!  This season will  focus on the stories of individuals who shaped "America's Federalist Era" in the years roughly 1789-1800.  The first six episodes will release every Tuesday from October 28-December 2, while the second six episodes will be released every Tuesday from February 17-March 24.   Catch up on Season One, "America's Colonial Era," Season Two, "America's Revolution," and Season Three, "America's Crucial Years," wherever you listen to your podcasts! Feel free to contact us with feedback or questions by clicking the "Send Us a Text" link or email us at: hbttpodcast@gmail.com

    31 min

  5. 12/02/2025

    4.6: His Own Man: Toussaint Louverture, Indispensable Leader of the Haitian Revolution

    Send us Fan Mail The struggles of Haiti go back talking hundreds of years, from when French colonization and their participation in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade reshaped the fabric of the western half of the island on which Haiti is located.  The brutality that accompanied this system led to the most successful slave rebellion in human history: the Haitian Revolution.  The institution of slavery, let alone any revolts by enslaved individuals, that occurred in the Caribbean are rarely mentioned since they are viewed outside the scope and scale of “U.S. history.”  However, this events allows us to understand American reactions to it, as well as focus on a truly unique individual, one who combined the traits of an astute political, military, and social leader to command the respect and admiration of his people.  In this episode of History: Beyond the Textbook, we’ll explore Toussaint Louverture, the Indispensable Leader of the Haitian Revolution.  Key People Toussaint Louverture Boukman Dutty Jean-Jacques Dessalines  Napoleon Bonaparte Charles Emanuel Leclerc Key Events/Concepts Haitian Revolution We're back for Season Four of History: Beyond the Textbook!  This season will  focus on the stories of individuals who shaped "America's Federalist Era" in the years roughly 1789-1800.  The first six episodes will release every Tuesday from October 28-December 2, while the second six episodes will be released every Tuesday from February 17-March 24.   Catch up on Season One, "America's Colonial Era," Season Two, "America's Revolution," and Season Three, "America's Crucial Years," wherever you listen to your podcasts! Feel free to contact us with feedback or questions by clicking the "Send Us a Text" link or email us at: hbttpodcast@gmail.com

    34 min

  6. 11/25/2025

    4.5: Kamehameha The Great and the Unification of the Hawai'ian Islands

    Send us Fan Mail Unfortunately, in your typical U.S History course, Hawai’i probably enters the narrative during a unit on imperialism, where Queen Lili’uokalani was forced into surrendering the throne and James Dole’s company established a fruit empire.  Pearl Harbor was bombed and prompted U.S. entry into World War II…Pearl Harbor is in Hawai’i.  Beyond these mentions, I would wager that not much of the rich history of Hawai’i seeps into a majority of American classrooms.  However, Hawai'i is an American state, and its story is an American story: competing leaders, warring kingdoms, commoners preserving their way of life, and outsiders attempting to make sense of it all.  In this episode of History: Beyond the Textbook, our second episode in our arc on foreign relations on the frontier, we explore Kamehameha the Great and the Unification of the Hawai’ian Islands.   Key People Kamehameha Kiwala’o  Keoua Kahekili  Captain James Cook Key Events/Concepts Unification of Hawai'ian Islands We're back for Season Four of History: Beyond the Textbook!  This season will  focus on the stories of individuals who shaped "America's Federalist Era" in the years roughly 1789-1800.  The first six episodes will release every Tuesday from October 28-December 2, while the second six episodes will be released every Tuesday from February 17-March 24.   Catch up on Season One, "America's Colonial Era," Season Two, "America's Revolution," and Season Three, "America's Crucial Years," wherever you listen to your podcasts! Feel free to contact us with feedback or questions by clicking the "Send Us a Text" link or email us at: hbttpodcast@gmail.com

    31 min

  7. 11/18/2025

    4.4: Little Turtle, the “Mad” General, and the Battle of Fallen Timbers

    Send us Fan Mail Conflict between Indigenous tribes and nations and European, and later, American, settlers, is a consistent theme throughout American history, and we’ve certainly covered our fair share on the podcast.  The aftermath of St. Clair's defeat is what we are focused on today: the response of the U.S. Army, the proposed follow-up by Indigenous forces, and the battle that led to a treaty ending large-scale Indigenous resistance in the Northwest Territory.  Our primary subjects are a Miami leader who fought in St. Clair’s Defeat and came to realize what he was truly up against, and a Revolutionary general in search of a comeback.  In this episode of History: Beyond the Textbook, our first of three where we explore U.S. reactions to “foreign” powers, we look at Little Turtle, Anthony Wayne, and the decisive Battle of Fallen Timbers. Key People Little Turtle General Anthony Wayne Blue Jacket Josiah Harmar Key Events/Ideas Battle of Fallen Timbers Treaty of Greenville We're back for Season Four of History: Beyond the Textbook!  This season will  focus on the stories of individuals who shaped "America's Federalist Era" in the years roughly 1789-1800.  The first six episodes will release every Tuesday from October 28-December 2, while the second six episodes will be released every Tuesday from February 17-March 24.   Catch up on Season One, "America's Colonial Era," Season Two, "America's Revolution," and Season Three, "America's Crucial Years," wherever you listen to your podcasts! Feel free to contact us with feedback or questions by clicking the "Send Us a Text" link or email us at: hbttpodcast@gmail.com

    28 min

  8. 11/11/2025

    4.3: John Trumbull and James Madison: The Artist and Antagonist of Jay’s Treaty

    Send us Fan Mail One was the preeminent politician of his time who helped shape that America we have today, well-versed in history, philosophy, and political theory.  The other is mainly known as a painter, but an influential one at that.  So what do they have in common, along with their status as Americans?  Well, for our purposes, they each played a role in the stage surrounding one of the most controversial pieces of diplomacy of the Federalist Era: Jay’s Treaty.   In this episode of History: Beyond the Textbook, our last in our arc on “Divisions,” we’ll explore diplomacy through the eyes of John Trumbull and James Madison: the Artist and the Antagonist of Jay’s Treaty. Key People John Trumbull James Madison John Jay James Monroe Philip Freneau George Washington Key Events/Ideas Jay's Treaty Two-party system Impressment Tariff of 1789 Pinckney's Treaty Washington's Farewell Address We're back for Season Four of History: Beyond the Textbook!  This season will  focus on the stories of individuals who shaped "America's Federalist Era" in the years roughly 1789-1800.  The first six episodes will release every Tuesday from October 28-December 2, while the second six episodes will be released every Tuesday from February 17-March 24.   Catch up on Season One, "America's Colonial Era," Season Two, "America's Revolution," and Season Three, "America's Crucial Years," wherever you listen to your podcasts! Feel free to contact us with feedback or questions by clicking the "Send Us a Text" link or email us at: hbttpodcast@gmail.com

    33 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

History: Beyond the Textbook examines American history through the experiences of those who lived it!  Each 12-episode season, high school history teacher Alex Mattke covers a separate era of American history and features perspectives on well-known events and lesser-known experiences of famous historical figures.  Season Three, covering "America's Crucial Years," returns on October 8 with new episodes every Tuesday up until the finale on December 24!  Catch up on Seasons One (America's Colonial Era) and Two (America's Revolution) wherever you listen to podcasts.Feel free to contact us with feedback and other questions at: hbttpodcast@gmail.com. 

Information

  • Creator
    Alex Mattke
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 History: Beyond the Textbook
  • Show Website
    History: Beyond the Textbook

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