Benjamin Franklin | The Flame of Liberty | 2

American History Tellers

Wondery

Society & Culture, Kids & Family, History, Education For Kids

4.7 • 18.3K Ratings

🗓️ 19 June 2024

⏱️ 44 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the spring of 1775, Benjamin Franklin left London for America after years of fruitless attempts to ease tensions with the British government. By the time he arrived home in Philadelphia, American and British soldiers had fired the first shots of the Revolutionary War, and Franklin was thrust into the middle of the conflict.

Franklin quickly became one of the leading figures of the revolution. He served in the Continental Congress and helped draft the Declaration of Independence. And soon, he would embark on a mission to secure a critical alliance with France knowing that if he failed, America’s struggle for independence would be lost

Pre-order your copy of the new American History Tellers book, The Hidden History of the White House, for behind-the-scenes stories of some of the most dramatic events in American history—set right inside the house where it happened.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Wunderry Plus subscribers can binge new seasons of American history tellers early and
0:05.1	ad free right now. Join Wundery Plus in the Wundery app or on Apple Podcasts. Imagine it's September 11th, 1776 on Staten Island, New York, and the war for American independence
0:30.3	has been raging for over a year now. You're the commander of British forces in America
0:35.2	and you're at the home of a loyalist colonel where you set up headquarters. A servant is
0:39.6	clearing away the last remnants of your lunch of mutton and ham. Across from you, sit
0:44.7	Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Edward Rutledge. You've invited these
0:49.1	Americans here under a flag of truce. You signal to a servant to refill your guest's wine glasses. It's time
0:56.4	to address the matter at hand.
0:58.0	Gentlemen, I think we can all agree that it would be in everyone's best interest to seek an end to this conflict.
1:03.9	I am prepared to offer the colonies control over their own legislation and taxes within the
1:09.0	framework of the British Empire.
1:11.0	I believe this is the best way to guarantee future peace and prosperity.
1:15.0	Benjamin Franklin shifts in his chair.
1:18.0	Whose future peace and prosperity, my lord?
1:21.0	Why everyone's, if America were to fall, it would feel like the loss of a brother.
1:26.7	Franklin smiles Riley.
1:28.3	We will do our utmost to save you from that discomfort.
1:31.8	You ignore this common, determined to make him see the light.
1:35.0	This horrible war should never have begun.
1:37.6	It started as a simple dispute over the manner in which Britain collects taxes from America,
1:42.0	correct? I don't disagree. Well then, can we also
1:45.3	agree that this senseless bloodshed must end for the sake of both of our countries?
	...

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