July 26, 2026

Privateers, Revolutionaries, and Filibusters: The Hidden History of American Expansionism

Privateers, Revolutionaries, and Filibusters: The Hidden History of American Expansionism

Year(s) Discussed: 1813-1817

Most of what you think you know about early 19th-century American expansion is incomplete. A renegade naval captain, a privateer turned rogue, and a series of clandestine operations reshaped the Western Hemisphere’s borders — and the U.S. presidency’s approach to sovereignty, power, and diplomacy. This episode explores the complex history of early American foreign policy, filibustering expeditions, and key figures like Joel R. Poinsett and Jean Lafitte, revealing how these events shaped the nation's expansion and international relations in the early days of Monroe's presidency.

Sources used for this episode can be found at https://www.presidenciespodcast.com.

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Season 5 05 - James Monroe

Special thanks to Phillip of Alexandria: A Hellenistic World Podcast, Roberto of The History of Saqartvelo Georgia and Tsar Power, and Alex of the Vice Presidencies special series for providing the opening quotes for this episode!

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Featured Image: "Chilean and Argentinean troops going to the Battle of Chacabuco (February 12, 1817) led by José de San Martín" by Pedro Subercaseaux [c. 1908], courtesy of Wikipedia