Ben Franklin

CHAPTER 4: Trouble With Great Britain

Part C: Benjamin Franklin

Tennessee State Standard:

8.14 Explain the political contributions of Benjamin Franklin to the U.S., including the "Join or Die" cartoon and Albany Plan of Union.

The LIfe and Times of Benjamin Franklin

FRANKLIN'S EARLY YEARS IN BOSTON

Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, in colonial Boston, Massachusetts. His father had moved from England to America before his birth.

Benjamin loved books and he went to work in his brother's print shop, learning about the business at a very young age. Later, he began writing. He wrote articles for the Newspaper his brother printed in Boston. Since Benjamin was too young to be a writer, he concealed his identity by using the pen name "Silence Dogood."

But Ben's articles were controversial. He criticized Harvard, the Puritan Church and even the Massachusetts Governor! Criticizing the government got his brother in trouble. Since Ben's brother wouldn't tell the Governor who Silence Dogood really was, he was sent to jail for a month! Young Benjamin Franklin realized how unfair it was that there was no freedom of the press in the colonies.

Benjamin Franklin

FRANKLIN MOVES TO PHILADELPHIA

Ben felt bad about getting his brother in trouble and decided to leave home. He moved to Philadelphia when he was 17 years old. When he got there he went to work for the local print shop. He began writing again, this time for a Philadelphia newspaper.

One of his articles caught the eye of the Pennsylvania Governor who went to meet with Ben. After meeting at a tavern, the two became friends. The Governor was a fan of Ben's writing and encouraged him to open his own print shop. He even offered to help him get the loans to start his business.

Ben Franklin opened a print shop that printed newspapers, books and even money. His print shop became the best in Philadelphia. He became wealthy from his business.

In 1748, at the age of 42, Franklin expanded his printing business throughout the thirteen colonies and become successful enough to stop working. Retirement allowed him to concentrate on public service and also pursue more fully his longtime interest in science. Franklin conducted science experiments that contributed to the understanding of electricity. In 1752, he conducted his famous kite experiment and demonstrated that lightning is electricity.

THE ALBANY PLAN OF UNION

He went on to get involved in politics and even became the head of the Postal Service when he was named Postmaster General over all thirteen colonies. In 1754, when the French & Indian War was just getting started, Franklin proposed the Albany Plan of Union. Franklin wanted the colonies to unite to fight against the French. The plan would establish representatives for each of the colonies that would meet to decide matters for the colonies as a group. The group would deal with matters such as defense, organizing an army, collecting taxes, and dealing with the Native American Indians.

JOIN OR DIE!

To support his plan, he drew the political cartoon known as "Join or Die" It was first published in Philadelphia in 1754. The goal of the cartoon was to convince the thirteen colonies join together under the Albany Plan of Union.

While most colonists thought it was a good idea, the colonial governments never approved the plan. However, the Albany Plan of Union did inspire future leaders to unite the 13 colonies. Because of his early attempts to unite the colonies, Franklin is often referred to as "the First American."

"Join or Die" by Benjamin Franklin

FRANKLIN AS A FOUNDING FATHER

During the American Revolution, Franklin served in the Continental Congress and helped draft the Declaration of Independence in 1776. He also negotiated the 1783 Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War (1775-83). In 1787, in his final significant act of public service, he was a delegate to the convention that produced the U.S. Constitution. Benjamin Franklin is the only "Founding Father" to sign all four of the key documents establishing the United States: the Declaration of Independence (1776), the Treaty of Alliance with France (1778), the Treaty of Paris establishing peace with Great Britain (1783) and the U.S. Constitution (1787).

Did You Know?

Ben Franklin had a son named William Franklin. William Franklin served as the last colonial governor of New Jersey from 1763 to 1776, and remained loyal to the British during the American Revolution. He moved to Great Britain after the British lost the American Revolution where he would die years later.

Video: Benjamin Franklin Biography (full episode 43+ minutes)

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