Episode 175: Daniel Mark Epstein, House Divided: The Revolution in Ben Franklin’s House

by Holly WhiteFebruary 27, 2018

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Just how personal was the American Revolution?

What could the event and war mean for individual people and families?

Daniel Mark Epstein, author of The Loyal Son: The War in Ben Franklin’s House, guides us as we explore what the Revolution meant for Benjamin Franklin and his family and how the Revolution caused a major rift between Franklin and his beloved son, William.

About the Show

Ben Franklin’s World is a podcast about early American history.

It is a show for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our present-day world.

Each episode features a conversation with a historian who helps us shed light on important people and events in early American history.

Ben Franklin’s World is a production of the Omohundro Institute.

Episode Summary

Daniel Mark Epstein, author of The Loyal Son: The War in Ben Franklin’s House, guides us as we explore what the revolution meant for Benjamin Franklin and his family and how the Revolution caused a major rift between Franklin and his beloved son, William.

As we take a look inside Ben Franklin’s family life, Daniel reveals details about the lives of Benjamin and William Franklin; the close relationship father and son shared before the American Revolution; and details about how the Revolution shattered the close ties once enjoyed between the Franklin men.

What You’ll Discover

Benjamin Franklin
William Franklin
Deborah Read Franklin
The circumstances of William Franklin’s birth & childhood
Benjamin Franklin as a father
William Franklin’s childhood
Benjamin Franklin as Pennsylvania Militia leader
Politics and war in colonial Pennsylvania
The Penn Family
Benjamin and William Franklin in London
William Franklin as Royal Governor of New Jersey
Benjamin and William Franklin’s diverging views on politics
How William Franklin’s tenure as governor of New Jersey ended
William Franklin’s imprisonment in Connecticut
Relationship between Benjamin and William Franklin during the Revolution
Post-Revolution interactions between Benjamin and William Franklin

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Time Warp Question

In your opinion, what might have happened if Benjamin and William Franklin and supported the same side during the American Revolution? Which side do you think they would have supported and how might the history of the Revolution have been different? 