Due to a technical difficulty this morning we are offering a "Revolution 250 Re-Podcast." Today's podcast will be from December 7, 2021 on the epic biography of King George III by Andrew Roberts, the Bonnie and Tom McCloskey Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. In this podcast, Professor Allison and Professor Roberts discuss the many remarkable qualities of George III as a monarch which are overshadowed by the events of the American Revolution. It is worth noting that since the original airing of this podcast in 2021, Professsor Roberts has been elevated to the Peerage of the United Kingdom as Baron Roberts of Belgravia for his voluminous work in history.

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Johnson Hall, designed in 1763 by noted colonial architect Peter Harrison, was the grand estate of Sir William Johnson, the influential British Superintendent of Indian Affairs in New York. From this stately home, Johnson shaped alliances that helped keep many Indigenous nations aligned with the Crown during the struggle for American independence. Today, the house is preserved as a New York State Historic Site, offering a window into the complex relationships between empire, Native peoples, and the Revolution.

Join Professor Robert Allison in conversation with Ian Mumpton, Interpretive Programs Assistant at Johnson Hall, as they explore Johnson’s legacy, the role of diplomacy and cultural exchange on the frontier, and how this landmark continues to tell stories of power, conflict, and negotiation on the eve of the Revolution.

https://parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/johnsonhall/details.aspx

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Host Robert Allison talks with Ron Peterson and David Martin about dramatic and little-known stories from Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket during the Revolution. From the fierce 1779 Battle of Falmouth to Nantucket’s divided loyalties, British shipwrecks, and the vital roles of African American and Native American patriots, this episode reveals how the Cape and Islands were anything but quiet backwaters in America’s fight for independence.

To order a copy of the Book, The Revolutionary War on the Cape and the Islands:

To Order, Send:
1. Check for $30 made out to “MMHS”
(tax and shipping included)
2. Mailing address

To:
David Martin
10 Colonial Farm Circle
Marstons Mills, MA 02648
(Allow 10 days for delivery)

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It is easy to see the Franklin stove as just an invention to improve the lives of colonial Americans. The stove, like many of Franklin's inventions, went through a series of improvements as he explored the science of heat convection and thermal dynamics. Other changes and considerations came about as Franklin changed the fuel from wood to coal. This is just one aspect of the impact of Franklin's stove on the 18th-century world. We talk with Professor Joyce Chaplin about her new book, The Franklin Stove: An Unintended American Revolution, which explores the world which brought about Franklin's invention and how it was part of a changing world.

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From Lucifer’s rebellion to Adam and Eve’s expulsion, from Lancelot’s betrayal to Macbeth’s downfall, stories of greatness undone have gripped audiences for centuries. For America’s Revolutionaries, the cautionary examples of Julius Caesar and Oliver Cromwell warned of leaders who turned against the people.

No figure embodies this tragic arc in American history more than General Benedict Arnold. Once a brilliant and passionate commander whose daring made him one of the Revolution’s most effective leaders, Arnold’s defection to the Crown became a devastating blow to the patriot cause—and forever branded him the nation’s most infamous traitor.

Historian Joyce Lee Malcolm joins us to explore Arnold’s rise, fall, covered in her acclaimed book The Tragedy of Benedict Arnold: An American Life.

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July 4, 2026 the United States of America will celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. There will be thousands of commemorations across the nation, but the national effort is being led by America 250, the Semiquincentennial Commission with its mission to Educate, Engage, and Unite for our national celebration. We had a chance to speak with Rosie Rios, Chair of America 250 and to learn more about America 250’s efforts to lead the nation in commemoration of our nation’s birthday.

https://america250.org/

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What a story about the American incursion into Canada, 1774-1776! Mark R. Anderson learned about this episode in a military history class--and then, as an officer in the United States Air Force during the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns earlier in this century, he recalled what he had learned, and wanted to find a good book on the Canadian campaign. Finding none, he wrote The Battle for the Fourteenth Colony: America’s War of Liberation in Canada, 1774–1776, explores this fascinating chapter of the Revolution, with its lessons learned and forgotten.

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How does a Boston-born, Philadelphia printer, scientist and entrepreneur, journey from the position of a proud member of the British Empire with many friends at Court, to a leader in the movement for American Independence. Join Professor Robert Allison (Suffolk University) as we delve into the life and experiences of Benjamin Franklin.

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