Coal and Empire: The Birth of Energy Security in Industrial America

Peter Shulman's Coal and Empire examines the crucial role of coal in shaping 19th-century American foreign policy, national security, and economic expansion. The book argues that the widespread adoption of steam power created a previously unseen dependence on coal, impacting naval strategy, commercial opportunities, and even the American Civil War. Shulman traces how anxieties about coal supplies influenced American perceptions of its place in the world, leading to explorations for new coal sources and debates over coaling stations. The narrative further explores the transition from coal to oil as the primary energy source in the 20th century and how this shift affected the development of American energy security policies. The book uses extensive archival research to support its argument. You can listen and download our episodes for free on more than 10 different platforms: https://linktr.ee/book_shelter Get the Book now from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Coal-Empire-Security-Industrial-America/dp/1421417065?&linkCode=ll1&tag=cvthunderx-20&linkId=b62a56cba45db02514cb31973e4f8fc4&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl Produced by: https://www.podcaistudio.com/