Many of our Founding Fathers sacrificed greatly for the cause of liberty. Famously, the tribulations the signers of the Declaration of Independence endured differ greatly from the great victories they facilitated for our country’s independence. Many suffered massive financial hardships during and after the Revolutionary War. Others were captured and tortured. Two lost children who fought in the war. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Nine died from war wounds and the hardships of battle. Rarely mentioned are the many relationships severed over the belief in and fight for freedom. Certainly, many families and friends parted ways over such a mighty cause. One such person—notably NOT one of the signers—was Benjamin Franklin.

Blood was not thicker than water for Benjamin Franklin. Franklin’s son, William, was the governor of New Jersey from 1762 until 20 years later, when he sailed for England after the American victory at Yorktown. William refused to join his father’s patriot cause, joining himself instead to the crown. In spite of his father’s pleas, William Franklin retained fierce loyalty to the King of England and did not believe the colonists would support the rebellion. In other words, he thought the colonists would lose and wanted to keep his position as governor. William Franklin was later imprisoned and eventually made an appeal to General Washington to be released so that he might see his family. Benjamin Franklin refused to intercede on William’s behalf, literally leaving him to rot in prison. To the great patriot Benjamin Franklin, sharing the same last name did not exempt one from the consequences of choosing tyranny over liberty.

Personal sacrifices were made for the cause of liberty, whether that was a forfeiture of relationships, fortune, or wellbeing. When the fate of our nation was at stake and freedom hung in the balance, everyone belonged to one of two factions—the Patriots or the Loyalists.

Our heritage, along with history, reminds us that great sacrifice is necessary in the pursuit of a mighty cause. Our Founding Fathers sacrificed for us to pursue our own cause.