Wondery subscribers can binge new seasons of american history tellers early and ad free right now. Join wondery and the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. Imagine it's September 11, 1776, on Staten Island, New York, and the war for american independence has been raging for over a year now. You're the commander of british forces in America, and you're at the home of a loyalist colonel, where you set up headquarters. A servant is clearing away the last remnants of your lunch of mutton and ham. Across from you sit Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Edward Rutledge. You've invited these Americans here under a flag of truths. You signal to a servant to refill your guest's wine glasses. It's time to address the matter at hand. Gentlemen, I think we can all agree that it would be in everyone's best interest to seek an end to this conflict. I'm prepared to offer the colonies control over their own legislation and taxes within the framework of the British Empire. I believe this is the best way to guarantee future peace and prosperity. Benjamin Franklin shifts in his chair. Whose future peace and prosperity, my lord? Why everyone's. If America were to fall, it would feel like the loss of a brother.

Franklin smiles wryly. We will do our utmost to save you from that discomfort. You ignore this comment, determined to make him see the light. This horrible war should never have begun. It started as a simple dispute over the manner in which Britain collects taxes from America, correct? I don't disagree. Well, then, can we also agree that this senseless bloodshed must end for the sake of both of our countries? Franklin exchanges a glance with his companions and shakes his head, his expression grim. We cannot accept any peace that requires allegiance to the king. Your soldiers have killed our people, burned our towns. Right this moment, your officers are planning further assaults. Any former attachments to the monarchy have been obliterated. There's truly no way to stop this war. You catch your reflection on a polished silver jug. You notice your cheeks are burning red, and you can hear the desperation in your voice. Franklin arches an eyebrow. Perhaps you could request authority from your superiors to negotiate with America as the independent nation we now are. That's simply not possible. His Majesty would never agree. Well, then, my lord, it looks as if there is nothing left to do but fight this out on the battlefield.

Your guests rise from their seats, bow, and walk out of the dining room, leaving you alone with your thoughts. You can't really believe it's come to this. It seems there's no hope for saving the empire except through force.

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From the team behind american history tellers comes a new book, the Hidden History of the White House. Each chapter will bring you inside the fierce power struggles, intimate moments, and shocking scandals that shaped our nation from the war of 1812 to Watergate. Available now wherever you get your books from, wondery, I'm Lindsey Graham, and this is american history tellers. Our history, your story. In September 1776, at the height of the american revolution, Benjamin Franklin met with Lord Richard Howe, commander of british forces in America. Howe made a last ditch attempt to negotiate a peace, but Franklin and his colleagues would accept nothing less than full recognition of american sovereignty. For the rebels, America's independence would have to be won through war. By the fall of 1776, nearly three years had passed since crown officials hurled abuse at Franklin in a London amphitheater. Their withering attack helped transform him from a loyal british citizen into a full blown revolutionary. And as Britain increasingly met colonial unrest with force, Franklin would become one of the leading voices of the independence movement. But the American Revolution would soon pit Franklin against his own son and lead him to embark on the most important mission of his story career, one that could decide the fate of America's fight for freedom.

This is the last in our two part series on Benjamin Franklin, the flame of Liberty. In the spring of 1774, Britain launched a crackdown on colonial unrest. Parliament passed a series of laws to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. They closed Boston harbor, placed the colony under martial law, and banned town meetings in the american colonies. These new laws became known as the intolerable acts, and rather than deterring opposition, they sparked a new wave of colonial resistance. Benjamin Franklin was still in London as a colonial representative, and he was outraged by the heavy handed laws. He published an anonymous letter addressed to british officials declaring, you may reduce their cities to ashes, but the flame of liberty in North America shall not be extinguished. Cruelty and oppression and revenge shall only serve as oil to increase the fire. In the months following his public humiliation in a London amphitheater called the cockpit, Franklin had lingered in London and become a political outcast. His wife Deborah and son William urged him to return home to Pennsylvania. But he remained in London, desperately hoping he could do something to prevent this crisis from escalating into war.

And as tensions rose, he found himself increasingly at odds with his son William, the royal governor of New Jersey. Franklin encouraged William to give up his position with the monarchy and return to farming what he called an honester and more honorable employment. But William refused. He wrote to his superiors in London, declaring, his majesty may be assured that I will omit nothing in my power to keep this province quiet. No attachment or connection shall ever make me swerve from the duty of my station. It was a clear message. William Franklin's loyalty was to the crown and outweighed any he felt to his father. Back in America, colonial delegates planned to convene a continental congress in September 1774, with the goal of forming a united response to british threats to american liberties. Franklin was a strong supporter of this plan, but his son called the scheduled meeting absurd, if not unconstitutional. William had no tolerance for colonial unrest and wrote to his father, insisting that Boston do justice and pay for the tea destroyed in the Boston tea party. Franklin replied, arguing that Britain ought to pay America for the thousands of pounds they had extorted from the colonies.

And Franklin ended his letter to his son with an insult, declaring, but you, who are a thorough courtier, see everything with government eyes. Still, politics was not the only source of conflict between Franklin and his son. In December, William wrote his father with the news that Deborah had died of a stroke. For years, Franklin had ignored his wife's appeals to come home. They had spent all but two of the last 17 years apart. William chided his father for not returning to Philadelphia sooner, writing, I think her disappointment in that respect preyed a good deal on her spirits. But despite his wife's death, Franklin insisted on remaining in England, undertaking a flurry of meetings in the hopes of finding some last minute compromise to the colonial conflict. But by the start of 1775, Franklin was forced to accept that war was looking increasingly likely. King George III had rejected any talk of negotiations, declaring, the New England governments are in a state of rebellion. Blows must decide whether they are to be subject to this country or independent. So, at last, in March 1775, Franklin finally set sail back to Philadelphia. With him was his 15 year old grandson, Temple, who his son William had fathered out of wedlock.

Before leaving Britain, William had placed him with a british foster family. But now Franklin had decided to take custody of his grandson and bring him back to America. And while he was at sea, despite all his previous efforts, the war Franklin had long feared began. On April 19, 1775, american militiamen and british soldiers exchanged fire in the towns of Lexington and Concord in rural Massachusetts. And by the time Franklin's ship landed in Philadelphia in May, colonial delegates were starting to gather for the second Continental Congress. The Pennsylvania assembly soon elected Franklin to serve as one of their representatives. But in the meantime, William Franklin traveled down from New Jersey to meet his son, Temple, for the first time. Benjamin Franklin had not seen his son William in nearly a decade, and he was determined to use this meeting to finally bring his son over to the cause of revolution. Imagine it's May, 1775, and you're in a large fieldstone mansion in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. A mutual friend is hosting you and your father, Benjamin Franklin, in his lavish sitting room. You are the royal governor of New Jersey, and you haven't seen your father in several years.

You've been tiptoeing around politics all evening, but the tension is growing with each passing minute. It's growing late, and the wine has been flowing freely. Your host serves you another glass of Madeira. Your father sits across from you, flickering candlelight dances across his face, set in a look you recognize a storm is brewing behind his composed facade. And finally he says what's on his mind. You still believe I should advocate a reconciliation with Britain? You take a sip of wine, stalling for a moment as you search for the right words. Yeah. Yes, father, I believe that would be the most pragmatic approach. Pragmatic? Tell me, son, have you forgotten my time in London? My countless futile attempts to negotiate a reconciliation? My pleas for compromise met with nothing but contempt. You stare into the fireplace, feeling your patience dwindle. You've already written to me about this. You cannot imagine the torrent of abuse that was hurled at me. But I know better than many that a man must have a thick skin. If anything, these attacks have only hardened my resolve. Well, no one is questioning your resolve. Perhaps it's best for both of us to remain neutral.

Your father shakes his head, eyes blazing. Neutral? How can you even suggest such a thing? The monarchy is corrupt to its core, and it's clear now that the only way forward is independence. We cannot afford to sit idly by while our freedoms are trampled upon. I've said it before. It's well past time you step down as governor. You must. As long as you remain an official of the crown, you are an enemy of the patriot cause. I. You truly believe that's the answer? You would have me give up everything and join your reckless crusade? I would have you stand up for what's right, for the sake of our country. You speak of freedom and country, yet all I see is envy. You're jealous of me, my position. Jealous of what? Of watching you bow and scrape to the king. Believe me, I have no wish to serve a monarchy hellbent on destroying us. Mark my words, father. If you continue down this path, the colonies are going to go up in flames. You will burn with them. You nearly knock your chair over as you charge out of the room. You step into a dark corridor, your father's words still ringing in your ears, but you refuse to let him browbeat you.

Nothing will change your loyalty to the crown. In May 1775, Franklin's reunion with his son ended in a bitter argument. William believed a reconciliation with Britain was still possible, but his father saw american independence as the only way forward. William stormed off in anger, and the pair soon stopped speaking to one another. The revolution had caused an irreconcilable rift, but Franklin was kept occupied by his duties in the Continental Congress convening that summer. At 69 years old, Franklin was by far the oldest delegate. John Adams was 39, while Thomas Jefferson was just 32. Many of the delegates, who only knew Franklin by reputation, were surprised by his unassuming manner. He often preferred to sit quietly and listen rather than speak. Adams complained that Franklin seemed to spend a great part of the time fast asleep in his chair. But while Franklin and the other members of the Continental Congress were convening in Philadelphia, the British were laying siege to the city of Boston. On June 17, 1775, american and british soldiers faced each other for the first major battle of the Revolutionary War, the battle of Bunker Hill. Despite his distance from the fighting, the battle was personal for Franklin.

His sister was forced to evacuate the city in a panic, and Franklin was furious over what the British had done. He wrote a letter to his oldest friend in England, intending for it to be circulated publicly. He declared, you have begun to burn our towns and murder our people. Look upon your hands. They are stained with the blood of your relations. You and I were long friends. You are now my enemy, and I am yours. With this, Franklin's transformation into a revolutionary was complete. Any lingering doubts about his commitment to the cause disappeared. John Adams declared, Doctor Franklin has discovered a disposition entirely american. He is a great and good man. So quickly, Franklin became one of the most devoted patriots in the Continental Congress. The delegates assigned him to serve on several committees, and he was elected postmaster general. He was also tasked with creating a system for paper currency, raising money for weapons, and negotiating with Native Americans on behalf of the patriots. Then, in March 1776, the Continental Congress sent him on a mission to Quebec to try to persuade canadian leaders to join the revolution. It was a brutal trip over frozen roads, and along the way, the now 70 year old Franklin was forced to sleep in the woods and on the floors of abandoned houses.

The trip was so arduous that Franklin feared he would not survive writing, I have undertaken a fatigue that at my time of life may prove too much for me. But despite enduring these hardships, Franklin failed to persuade the Canadians to join the cause of and when he returned to Philadelphia, he was so exhausted and ill that he could not leave his house for days. While Franklin was regaining his strength, his son William was stubbornly clinging to his post in New Jersey, the last royal governor to remain in his position. But he wouldnt remain for long. In June, the new Jersey assembly ordered Williams arrest as an enemy of the liberties of this country. Patriot soldiers arrested him at the governor's mansion and had him imprisoned in Connecticut. The elder Franklin made no efforts to help his son. Instead, he remained focused on his work in the Continental Congress. In the summer of 1776, the delegates appointed a committee to draft a declaration, formally articulating their grievances and announcing their intention to establish an independent nation. Thomas Jefferson completed the first draft. He sent the document to Franklin for feedback and revisions. Franklins most important contribution was changing the words, we hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable to?

We hold these truths to be self evident. It was an assertion that the right of revolution was common sense. And then, on July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence. Together, they broke the bonds of british rule and established a new nation, the United States of America. The significance and danger of such a declaration was not lost on Franklin. At the official signing ceremony, he reportedly declared, we must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly, we shall all hang separately. Franklin knew that he and the other signers had just taken part in an act of high treason against the mighty british empire. America's ragtag volunteer army was facing the world's greatest military power. The odds of victory were slim, and soon Franklin would embark on a perilous mission of his own to secure critical diplomatic and military aid with the fate of the revolution and the destiny of this new fragile republic resting on his shoulders.

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Andy.

Number one, Colin. Number two. I take that, Judy. Judy. Three, I'm happy to be above Judy. I don't even put me above Judy. Judy's a better person than me.

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It would be awful. This one isn't all be great, because Andy Murray winning Wimbledon was one of those seismic moments in our lifetime in sport.

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Yeah. I'm so much to talk about this three part series, so subscribe on wondery plus or wherever you get your podcasts.

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On September 11, 1776, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and South Carolina's Edward Rutledge rowed to the Staten island shore. The british commander, Admiral Richard Howe, had asked the Continental Congress to send a delegation to meet with him at his headquarters. Howe treated Franklin and his companions to dinner and fine wine, and after 3 hours, he got down to business, offering the Americans a truce. But Franklin insisted it was too late. They would accept nothing less than full recognition of american independence. Howe's secretary recorded the meeting, writing. They met, they talked, they parted, and now nothing remains but to fight it out. But for the United States to win its independence on the field of battle was an unlikely prospect. British troops were highly disciplined and well trained. By contrast, the leader of the Continental Army, George Washington, led a ragged group of volunteers. The american rebels were outmatched in manpower, money, and military experience. They knew they would need help if they were going to have any hope of defeating the British. So two weeks after the failed peace talks on Staten island, the Continental Congress asked Benjamin Franklin to travel to France to enlist the help of King Louis XVI.

Franklin agreed and set sail in late October with two of his grandsons, 16 year old temple, and seven year old Benny, the son of his daughter, Sally. Franklin was nearing his 71st birthday, and he complained that the rough winter voyage almost demolished him. An onboard diet of salted beef caused boils and rashes to appear all over his scalp and body. But in spite of this difficult crossing, Franklin reached France in early December. He hoped to keep a low profile, but news of his arrival quickly spread. He was the world's most famous American, the man who had discovered the secret of lightning, and who had come to France in pursuit of liberty. The French treated him like a celebrity, cheering his carriage as it passed and throwing grand balls in his honor. But Franklin knew he had a daunting task ahead of him. America's struggle for independence would be lost unless he secured money, supplies, and military support from the French. Fortunately for the Americans, France had plenty of reasons to want to undermine Britain, a longstanding military and economic rival. The French were still smarting from the loss of Canada to Britain in the french and indian war.

But that war had depleted the french treasury, and Franklin knew that King Louis would be wary of backing the overthrow of a fellow monarch, too. But Franklin was nevertheless determined to win french support for the cause of independence. So in late December, Franklin began meeting with the french foreign minister, the Comte de Vergennes. Vergennes was sympathetic to the american cause and quickly took a liking to Franklin. He agreed to provide a secret loan of 2 million livreshenheid, but insisted that he could not do more until America's military situation improved. In the meantime, Franklin dedicated himself to winning the hearts and minds of the french people. A wealthy merchant invited him to live on his estate in the leafy Paris suburb of Passy, on the road to Versailles. There, Franklin made himself at home, installing a lightning rod on the roof and a printing press in the basement, and he hosted a steady stream of visitors. Franklin relished his new life in France and maintained a busy social calendar. He attended salons and published anonymous editorials in the french press, and he struck up friendships and flirtations with glamorous and influential french women. His grandson Temple, who served as his aide, wrote, his pleasing gaiety makes everyone fall in love with him, especially the ladies, who permit him always to kiss them.

So it was not long before Franklin became the toast of french society. The French hung his portrait in their homes and reproduced his image on snuff boxes and signet rings to hide the sores on his scalp. From the Atlantic crossing, Franklin had taken to wearing a martin fir cap he had picked up in Canada. Instead of a fashionable powdered wig, this fur cap became a sensation. Franklin had long been a master of publicity, and he leaned into his newfound celebrity, playing the part of a modest frontier philosopher. But despite this active social life, Franklin remained focused on his mission, which was becoming increasingly difficult. In the fall of 1777, british forces captured Philadelphia, the seat of the rebel government. The Continental Congress and Franklin's family were forced to flee, and a british officer commandeered Franklin's home and stole his books, musical instruments, and scientific equipment. Still, Franklin was sure to put a positive spin on America's prospects and any talks with french officials, hoping they would see the american cause as one that could be wondehe. But Vergennes was unconvinced that France should enter an official alliance with America. He was still waiting for evidence that America's military outlook had improved.

And fortunately for Franklin, that evidence was about to arrive. In early December, a messenger galloped into Paris with the news that 6000 british soldiers had surrendered after two battles near Saratoga, New York. This american victory was a crucial turning point in the war, and it was the good news Franklin had been waiting for. He reportedly wept with joy before springing into action. He passed the news on to Vergennes, and began writing up exaggerated reports of the victory, to be published throughout Paris. Just two days later, King Louis agreed to recognize the independence of the United States. The French offered to sign two treaties, one creating a military alliance, the other an agreement of friendship and trade. At the signing ceremony in February 1778, Franklin arrived wearing a frayed blue velvet coat, the same one he'd worn when british lords berated him in the cockpit four years earlier. He explained that he wore the coat as a small act of revenge. In France, Franklin had succeeded in his goal. France had officially joined the American Revolution, and it would be french support that would transform the course of the war. As soon they were providing supplies, arms and ammunition, uniforms, and most importantly, troops and naval support.

But even after the french alliance was secured, Franklin remained in Paris, doggedly negotiating for additional aid, and he was more popular than ever. A french statesman proclaimed that Franklin snatched lightning from the sky and the scepter from tyrants. But by the end of 1780, american soldiers had faced a series of military setbacks. British forces had captured Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, and now they were marching on Virginia. General George Washington wrote to Franklin, our present situation makes one of two things essential to us, a peace, or the most vigorous aid of our allies, particularly in the article of money. Washington was counting on Franklin to secure more funding because the war for independence was teetering on the brink of failure. Imagine it's February 1781 in the palace of Versailles. You're the french foreign minister, and you're hunched over a large mahogany desk covered in papers. It's late in the afternoon, and the fading daylight outside your office window is causing your eyes to strain. You drop your pen, close your eyes, and lean back in your chair. Come in. Your head snaps up, though, as a footman ushers Benjamin Franklin through the door. He greets you with a slight bow.

Your Excellency, Mister Franklin. To what do I owe this pleasure? You gesture for Franklin to take a seat. He sinks into the plush velvet chair across from your desk. I have received a new dispatch from general Washington, and the situation in America has become grave indeed. Unless the United States receives more aid and soon, the new government will surely collapse. You pinch the bridge of your nose and sigh. I'm afraid King Louis is not in the position to offer additional aid. I understand the strain of such a request places on France, but the opportunity to expel the British from America may not come again. We need 25 million livres to finish the job. You stare at Franklin in disbelief. 25 million? Franklin holds your gaze, his resolve unwavering. I understand it is a large request, but we are in a critical moment in this fight. If it were simply a matter of the king's affection for the United States, he would not hesitate to help. But he has already made an extraordinary outlay of 150 million livres. Our coffers are empty. We would have to borrow any additional money. But you must think of the danger at your doorstep.

If Britain retains control of America's fertile soil and vast coastline. It will tip the balance of power and allow them to terrorize Europe without fear of impunity. This. This is your chance to extinguish that threat before it's too late. You feel a knot of unease in your stomach because Franklin is echoing your own concerns that France's future will be determined on the battlefields of America. I fear you may be right. Franklin rubs his knees and winces. And time is of the essence. I'm growing old and feeble. My gout gets worse with each passing day. I will have to retire soon. We cannot afford to wait. You look into his wearied eyes and sigh. A loan of 25 million livres is out of the question. But perhaps I can convince the king to offer 6 million Libra as a sign of friendship. Thank you, your excellency. That will be enough to keep american hopes alive. As you watch Franklin leave, you realize your offer escaped your lips before you even realized what you were saying. You find yourself amazed once again by Franklin's powers of persuasion. You just hope this money is enough to save the Americans from defeat.

In early 1781, Franklin managed to secure a gift of 6 million french livres from Vergennes. And then in March, he informed Congress that he was ready to resign, complaining of debilitating gout. Congress refused his request, though instead they named him peace commissioner in the event the war came to an end. But in the meantime, the fighting continued to drag on. Then, in November 1781, a messenger arrived in Versailles with stunning british forces had surrendered to General Washington's army and the American's french allies at Yorktown, Virginia. This was the decisive battle of the Revolutionary War, marking the end of major combat operations. Still, Franklin remained cautious. He knew his work was not yet finished until a peace treaty was signed. There was still a chance Britain could restart the war, so Franklin would lead peace negotiations with the British alongside John Adams and New York lawyer John Jay. These talks took more than a year, but a preliminary peace agreement was finally reached in late 1782. Although France was excluded from the negotiations, Franklin managed to smooth things over with Vergennes and even secured another loan, warning that without additional aid, the new republic would sink into the ground immediately.

So it was on September 3, 1783, that the Treaty of Paris was signed, and England officially recognized its former colonies as the free and independent United States of America. The revolutionary war was over. Benjamin Franklin's unwavering persistence in persuading France to lend money and military support had been critical to America's ultimate victory. But now he would have to turn his focus to the challenges of building a new nation.

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I'm afoul Hirsch. I'm Peter Frankopan, and in our series legacy, we look at the lives of some of the most famous people to have ever lived and ask if they have the reputation they deserve. In this series, we look at J. Edgar Hoover. He was the director of the FBI for half a century. An immensely powerful political figure, he was said to know everything about everyone. He held the ear of eight presidents and terrified them all. When asked why he didn't fire Hoover, JFK replied, you, don't fire God. From chasing gangsters to pursuing communists to relentlessly persecuting doctor Martin Luther King and civil rights activists, Hoover's dirty tricks tactics have been endlessly echoed in the years since his death, and his political playbook still shapes american politics today. Follow legacy now wherever you listen to podcasts.

After negotiating the Treaty of Paris, Benjamin Franklin remained in France, traveling and working on his autobiography. In the summer of 1784, William Franklin wrote to his father in the hopes of reconciling. After being arrested by patriot soldiers early in the war, William was freed in a prisoner exchange in 1778. He spent the rest of the war leading a network of loyalist spies and organizing guerrilla raids against the patriots. In one notorious incident, he ordered the hanging of a patriot leader in what was supposed to be a peaceful prisoner exchange. So after the british defeat, he, like many of his fellow loyalists, had moved to England. Franklin's reply to his son's letter revealed his lingering feelings of betrayal. He wrote, nothing has ever hurt me so much as to find myself deserted in my old age by my only son, and not only deserted, but to find him taking up arms against me in a cause wherein my good fame, fortune, and life were all at stake. He told William that Congress was keeping him in France for another year and insisted that William refrain from visiting him there. But by the summer of 1785, Congress had accepted Franklin's resignation as ambassador to France, and Thomas Jefferson had arrived to serve as his replacement.

After nearly nine years, Franklin finally left Paris with his grandsons. In July, they sailed to England, where Franklin visited old friends. William came to see his father, and for a few days the pair discussed family business matters, but there would be no reconciliation. Franklin persuaded William to turn his properties in America over to Temple, and William was not invited to the farewell party aboard Franklin's ship. The next morning, Franklin set sail, taking benny and temple with him. Franklin would never speak to his son William again. In September 1785, Franklin's ship arrived in Philadelphia. More than six decades had passed since Franklin had first arrived in this city as a teenage runaway, and his arrival now could not be more different. Cannons boomed, bells rang, and cheering crowds escorted him to his market street home. He reunited with his daughter Sally, and met the four new grandchildren who were born during his absence. But despite his age, Franklin did not retire from public life. In May 1787, when delegates from the former colonies gathered in Philadelphia to draft a new constitution, the 81 year old Franklin was there. He was again by far the oldest delegate, twice as old as the average age of his colleagues.

Gout and kidney stones made it painful for him to walk, so he was carried into the Pennsylvania statehouse on a chair every morning. But over the next four months, as debate over the crafting of the Constitution raged in a sweltering, mosquito infested statehouse, Franklin may not have spoken much, but he played a key role in fostering a spirit of compromise. In June, the convention deadlocked over the issue of representation in Congress. Delegates from smaller states wanted each state to be equally represented in the legislature. Larger states argued that representation should be directly proportional to each state's population, and in early July, Franklin was appointed to a committee to settle this issue. He knew that if he failed, their bold experiment in democracy could fall apart. Imagine it's 1787 on a hot and humid July afternoon in Philadelphia. You're a delegate to the constitutional convention from North Carolina, but you're taking a break from your duties, taking tea in Benjamin Franklin's backyard garden. As you sip, you feel grateful to have the shade of a large mulberry tree protecting you from the blazing afternoon sun. You look up to see Franklin emerge from the back door carrying a large glass jar.

And here it is. The latest addition to my cabinet of curiosities. Franklin takes a seat across from you and sets the jar down beside the teapot. You lean forward to get a closer look, and inside is a small preserved snake with two heads. Well, goodness, what a strange creature. Isn't it? It was caught just outside Philadelphia. Fascinating. I wonder what would happen if it were slithering along and one head chose to go one direction and the other head preferred the opposite path, and neither were willing to give way to the other. You turn your gaze from the snake to Franklin. His eyes are twinkling, and you shake your head inside. We're not talking about a two headed snake, are we? No, we are not. The snake faces a conundrum similar to that of our convention. I'd like to discuss this impasse over the issue of representation in Congress. What can we do? Do? The smaller states are adamant, but we larger states cannot abide equal representation. It would render our voices insignificant. Franklin leans forward, the mulberry tree casting dappled shadows on his weathered face. Yes, well, what if I propose a compromise? Equal representation in the Senate and proportionate representation in the House.

That still hardly seems fair. Why should tiny states like Delaware have equal voting power to of the larger states like my own, both houses should have representation proportional to their populations. But consider this. Under this proposal, the House would control spending. Oh, that's intriguing. It would certainly tip the scales in our favor. Well, I'm glad you're contemplating it, because I fear that unless this compromise is adopted, the convention will splinter and all our efforts will be for nothing. Well, I worry about that, too. I just hate to think of yielding so much ground on such an important issue. Well, you know, when I was a young tradesman here in Philadelphia and had a joint of wood that didn't quite fit, I'd take a little from one side and shave a little from the other until I had a joint that would hold together for centuries. Do you understand what I'm saying? Yes, I understand. Franklin lifts his chin and smiles knowingly. There's little glory, certainly no glamor and compromise, but it's the backbone of a thriving democracy. Can I have your support? You nod and Franklin's smile widens. You just hope your concession doesn't backfire.

Still, deep down, you know Franklin is right. If you want this new country to succeed, this convention cannot fail. During the constitutional convention, Benjamin Franklin frequently hosted other delegates in his shaded garden, which offered them a relaxed and informal environment where they could find common ground. Franklin played the role of mediator throughout the convention and helped push through the constitution's most important compromise. Each state would have equal representation in the Senate, while the House would be apportioned by population but control spending bills. On July 23, the convention narrowly adopted what became known as the great compromise. Two months later, the delegates gathered to vote on this constitution, and on September 17, Franklin made a motion for its adoption. He spoke about the compromises that made the Constitution possible and the imperfect nature of democracy, declaring, I consent to this constitution because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best. One by one, the delegates signed their names to this new us constitution. The doors to the statehouse were thrown open, and a local woman approached Franklin and asked what type of government the convention had created. Franklin replied, a republic, madam, if you can keep it.

But for Franklin, one issue remained that compromise could not solve slavery. As a younger man, becoming more and more affluent and influential, Franklin acquired slaves of his own who worked for him as household servants. Despite growing anti slavery sentiment and Quaker dominated Pennsylvania, he also profited from slavery by including slave advertisements in his newspapers. And when he did question slavery, Franklin focused on its negative effects on white slave owners rather than the harm done to enslaved people themselves. But over time, his views on slavery had evolved, especially in the wake of the American Revolution. Though he had not spoken out publicly against slavery until late in his life, in 1787, he accepted the presidency of the Pennsylvania Society for promoting the abolition of slavery. It was the nation's first anti slavery organization, so now determined to address the injustice of slavery. In February 1790, Franklin presented a formal petition to the new Congress asking that the government cut the cancer of slavery out of the american body politic and grant liberty to those unhappy men who, alone in this land of freedom, are degraded into perpetual bondage. Despite this impassioned plea, the House rejected the petition, and the Senate tabled it without discussion.

This anti slavery petition was Franklins final public act. In the spring of 1790, chest pains and fever confined him to bed, and on April 17, 1790, an abscess in his lung burst. He died. Later that night, at the age of 84, 20,000 mourners turned out for his funeral. Benjamin Franklin rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most accomplished and influential Americans of his time. In his long life, he found practical ways, both large and small, to serve his fellow man. He preached and practiced a vision for a new nation rooted in democracy, hard work, and civic virtue. But above all, his life was guided by an unwavering faith in the ability of ordinary people to build a better society. His words at the constitutional convention, a republic, if you can keep it, stand as a reminder that democracy is a shared responsibility and that the nation Franklin helped create rests in the hands of its citizens. From Wonder Eat this is episode two of our two part series Benjamin Franklin from american history Tellers. On the next episode. Since the inception of the United States, America's first ladies have defied expectations and reshaped the role of partner to the president.

From Martha Washington to Michelle Obama, well, explore how five of these remarkable women charted new paths, challenged convention, and left an indelible mark on american history. If you like american history tellers, you can binge all episodes early and ad free right now by joining wondery in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. Prime members can listen ad free on Amazon Music. And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short survey@wondry.com. survey American History Tellers is hosted, edited, and produced by me, Lindsey Graham, for airship audio editing by Christian Paraga. Sound design by Molly Bach Music by Lindsey Graham this episode is written by Ellie Stanton, edited by Dorian Marina. Produced by Alita Rosansky coordinating producer is Desi Blalock. Managing producer Matt Cant. Senior manager producer Ryan Moore. Senior producer Andy Herman. Executive producers are Jenny Lauer, Beckman and Marshall Louie for wondering the world of junior tennis is organized chaos.

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