Revolution 250

Loyalty and Patriotism in the American Revolution: Which side are you one? Are "loyalist" and "patriot" useful terms in deciphering the sides to the American Revolution? A conversation with Robert A. Gross, author of The Minutemen and their World, about the changing meanings of loyalty and patriotism in the era of the American Revolution.

The Revolution 250 Podcast has had the opportunity to explore the work on several papers projects related to the founders. In this podcast we have the opportunity to talk about two projects at once. Christina Carrick, currently with the Assistant Editor of the Papers of Thomas Jefferson and formerly the Assistant Editor of the Papers of Robert Treat Paine joins us as our guest today. Professor Robert Allison leads a conversation with Christina as they plumb the depths of these two founders and their respective thoughts on the issues of the revolutionary generation.

Join Professor Robert Allison in conversation with Matthew Beres, Executive Director of the Arlington Historical Society, centered around the Jason Russell House, the scene of some of the fiercest fighting on April 19, 1775.

There is a lot of focus on the events of April 19, 1775, events that set in motion America's call for Independence from Great Britain. Securing our independence took 8 long years of war. What is the impact of the war for American independence on a community? Professor Robert Allison talks with Beth van Duzer of the Concord 250 Subcommittee on History and Eduction about a project that the community of Concord has embarked upon to gather up as many Revolutionary stories from amongst the people who lived and died in that town.

"Place is of very little consequence," Mary Sewall of Marblehead wrote to her sister in Nova Scotia in 1799," except as it brings you near to those whom by nature you are most nearly allied." The Sewall sisters had been separated by war, yet family ties endured and complicated their relationships in the post-Revolutionary world. Patrick O'Brien of the University of Tampa, writing about the divided families of Marblehead, joins us to talk about the ties sundered by the Revolution and those that remained.

There are thousands of stories related to the "Lexington Alarm" of April 19, 1775. As the word spread of the Redcoats expedition to Concord, and later, the slaughter at Lexington Green, communities from all over Massachusetts and greater New England responded to the crisis. Join Professor Robert Allison in conversation with local historian Alan Foulds on a project called "Shadows of 1775," a dramatic performance that showcases the stories of the Lynn End militia and their response to the April 19 alarm.

In February of 1775 General Thomas Gage acted upon intelligence received that Provincial militia were fitting out some cannon tubes with field carriages in a Blacksmith shop in Salem. So, on the 26 of February he ordered the 64th Regiment of Foot to sail from Castle Island to Marblehead and then to march overland to Salem looking for this cache of weapons. This expedition occurreed a mere 52 days before the expedition to Lexington & Concord. Join Professor Robert Allison in conversation with Charlie Newhall & Jonathan Streff of St. Johns Prep in Danvers on the event known as "Leslie's Retreat."

The Boston Town Watch, an early mechanism (beginning in 1631) by which order was kept and maintained on the streets of Boston, particularly at night. When soldiers of the Crown arrived in Boston in 1768 they're overlapping authorities came into conflict. This conflict deepened as the Crown authorities and the Sons of Liberty careened towards war. Join Professor Robert Allison in conversation with Nicole Breault of the University of Texas, El Paso on the Boston Town Watch. (Photo courtesy of John Collins)

Few things could have shocked the people of America during the American Revolution as the betrayal they experienced at the hands of their hero, General Benedict Arnold. Arnold's attempt to surrender the post at West Point was bad enough, but then he began leading raids of British forces along the coast of his native Connecticut and elsewhere. Join Professor Robert Allison in conversation with author Matthew E. Reardon on his book "The Traitor's Homecoming; Benedict Arnold's Raid on New London September 4-13, 1781."

The first engagement against the Crown forces that involved soldiers from multiple provinces operating under a unified command. The first use of field artillery by the Provincial forces. The destruction of the HMS Diana, whose mainmast was to be used to hoist the "Grand Union Flag" atop Prospect Hill on January 1, 1776. Few engagements can boast so much, and yet the engagement that has become known locally as "The Battle of Chelsea Creek" has all of those stories and so much more. Join Professor Robert Allison as he talks with local author, journalist and historian Jeff Pearlman about the engagement on Noddle's and Hog Islands and the loss of the HMS Diana on the 27th of May 1775.