2.8: Dueling Bens: Arnold, Franklin, and the Turning Point at Saratoga

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One man was all-in for independence dating back to the years before the first shots at Lexington and Concord, while the other held out hope for a moderate solution and was even accused of holding sympathies to the British cause.  One is Benjamin Franklin, and the other is Benedict Arnold, and both will play a role in the Battle of Saratoga in upstate New York, one as a soldier, the other as a politician attempting to win allies to the American cause.  It’s this critical turning point that forms the basis of today’s story.  On this episode of History: beyond the Textbook, we explore the Revolutionary lives and actions of the Dueling Bens: Franklin, Arnold, and the turning point of the American Revolution.

Key People
Benjamin Franklin
Benedict Arnold
General Johnny Burgoyne
Margaret "Peggy" Shippen
General Horatio Gates

Key Events
Battle of Saratoga
Franco-American Alliance
Invasion of Canada

The third season of History: Beyond the Textbook focuses on the stories of individuals who shaped "America's Crucial Years" of 1783-1790, and runs from October 8-December 24. Catch up on Season One, "America's Colonial Era," and Season Two, "America's Revolution," wherever you listen to your podcasts!

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