Topic: 250 Years Ago: High Ground, High Stakes in the Fight for Boston — Dorchester Heights
When: Tuesday 3/3/2026 at 2:00 pm ET
250 years ago, high above Boston Harbor, the fate of a revolution hinged on frozen ground and the quick thinking of General Washington. The twin hills of Dorchester Heights provided exactly the advantage the Continental Army needed in the Battle of Boston. A bold tactical move—and a little help from the weather—produced a bloodless victory. Join us this week as we explore the ins and outs of this remarkable military achievement and its importance to the American Revolution.
Constitutional Chats are hosted by Janine Turner, Cathy Gillespie, student ambassadors, and experts who join us weekly to discuss hot-topic issues! The audience is not on camera, but you may ask questions!
Meet the Guest
Robert Allison
Robert J. Allison, a professor of history at Suffolk University, also teaches in the Harvard Extension School.
He has written a series of short books about the American Revolution, on the histories of Boston and of Cape Cod, as well as longer works on the Barbary Wars and Naval hero Stephen Decatur.
Professor Allison edited an edition of The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African.
Professor Allison also created two classes for The Teaching Company’s series “The Great Courses,” on colonial America (“Before 1776: Life in the American Colonies) and “The Age of Benjamin Franklin,” drawn from his teaching which has covered all phases of American history, though his primary focus is the American Revolution and the early American republic.
Professor Allison is president of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts (https://www.colonialsociety.