History: Beyond the Textbook

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

Alex Mattke Season 2 Episode 8

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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!

Feel free to contact us with feedback or questions by clicking the "Send Us a Text" link or email us at: hbttpodcast@gmail.com

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