FORGOTTEN HISTORY: FRANKLIN VS. FRANKLIN

High School Social StudiesGreg Caggiano

Pre-Lesson Discussion

Please write a 3-4 sentence response in your notebooks to the following question:

Think of an argument you have had with a family member or best friend. What was it about? How long did it last? Did either of you forgive each other?

William Franklin

Illegitimate son of Benjamin Franklin Served as Royal Governor of New Jersey

from 1763-1776 Last two years were served at the

Proprietary House in Perth Amboy Very popular governor; ahead of his time

Much like his father in seeking advancements in science, technology, agriculture, humane treatment for the Indians, and opposition to slavery

Conflict

While Ben raised William as his own and taught him about politics and loyalty, when the war came to New Jersey, William refused to go against his beloved King George III Felt a duty to the Crown Argued that there was no way the Americans would

win Benjamin visited the Proprietary House in late

1775 to try to convince his son to join the patriot cause The two had an argument. Benjamin stormed out of

the house, and the two would never reconcile in their lifetime

Essential Question

What would YOU have done in William’s shoes: stayed loyal to the British, or joined Benjamin’s patriot cause?

Arrest and Removal

Provincial congress placed William under house arrest in January of 1776 with strict orders to not conduct any government business

William ignored them, refusing to recognize the congress and secretly tried to negotiate a truce to remove New Jersey from the war

He was caught, and in June of 1776 his full arrest was ordered

Carried out by militia colonel Nathaniel Heard of Woodbridge

Following the Arrest

William taken to Burlington where he would fall into poor health

Was let go, and traveled to New York to rally the loyalist cause there

Arrested again and exiled to England Met Benjamin one more time, in England,

to settle business affairs, but neither would forgive each other

Benjamin with the Last Word

In Benjamin Franklin’s ENTIRE last will and testament, William referenced only once: “To my son, William Franklin, late Governor of the

Jerseys, I give and devise all the lands I hold or have a right to, in the province of Nova Scotia, to hold to him, his heirs, and assigns forever. I also give to him all my books and papers, which he has in his possession, and all debts standing against him on my account books, willing that no payment for, nor restitution of, the same be required of him, by my executors. The part he acted against me in the late war, which is of public notoriety, will account for my leaving him no more of an estate he endeavored to deprive me of.”

The Price of His Dissent

Died in obscurity in England (1814) William is clearly forgotten by history Ignored by history textbooks For such an important and loved figured

in his time, even New Jersey history seems to have forgotten him

Essential Questions

What would William’s future had been like if he chose to join the patriots and they still won the war?

What if they lost?

GROUP READING

We will now break into our usual literature circles to do a group reading of a play I co-wrote while working at the Proprietary House called “Arrest of the Royal Governor”

Writing Assignment

Five paragraph persuasive essay answering the following question:

Choose a side: loyalist or patriot. Now, imagine your best friend is undecided about what cause they want to support. Write a persuasive essay telling them why they should join your side. Be sure to use details discussed today and in previous lessons in this unit.

Rough draft must be started today. Finished and typed up for peer review by tomorrow.