What causes a man who spent years defending the British Empire to become one of its fiercest critics? This week on Dave Does History on Bill Mick Live, we explore the dramatic transformation of Benjamin Franklin, the most respected American in London, as he shifted from peacemaker to patriot.
In the early 1770s, Franklin believed that the colonial crisis could still be solved. He had faith in reason, in negotiation, and in the British Constitution. But events soon tested that belief.
In 1772, Franklin came into possession of letters written by Massachusetts Governor Thomas Hutchinson and Lieutenant Governor Andrew Oliver. These letters revealed a chilling truth. The governors called for an “abridgment of English liberties” in the colonies. Franklin quietly sent the letters to Boston, hoping to expose local corruption and defuse anti-British sentiment. Instead, the letters were leaked to the press. The public exploded with anger. London responded with fury.
Then came the Boston Tea Party. Franklin condemned the destruction of private property. He even offered to pay for the tea himself to avoid escalation. But Parliament wanted no compromise. In early 1774, Franklin was summoned before the Privy Council and publicly humiliated. For over an hour, he stood silently as Crown lawyers accused him of dishonor and theft. He said nothing in return. But the moment marked a personal breaking point. He would never again believe that reconciliation was possible.
This episode of Dave Does History traces Franklin’s final break with the Crown. From the Hutchinson Letters to the Coercive Acts, and from the tea-stained harbor of Boston to the echoing chambers of Whitehall, we follow Franklin on his path to revolution. The man who once toasted King George as “the best of kings” returned to America convinced that liberty could only be won through separation.
Join Dave and Bill as they unravel the story of Franklin’s transformation and what it meant for the birth of the United States. Was Franklin too slow to recognize the danger? Or was he the last man of reason in a world that had already lost its mind?
Recommended reading from this episode:
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
“In this colorful and intimate narrative, Isaacson provides the full sweep of Franklin’s amazing life, showing how he helped to forge the American national identity and why he has a particular resonance in the twenty-first century.“
DAVE DOES HISTORY 
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