Benjamin Franklin

By: Aiden & Drew

Ben Franklin was a great inventor, he invented the Penny, Rocking Chair, Armonica, and the Franklin Stove. He is also credited with sparking (pun intended) the invention of the light bulb when he did his lightning experiment which concluded that lightning is made of electricity

Early Life

Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706. He grew up in a big family with meager means. He went to school until he was 10 years old, when he started working full time at his father's candle shop. At 12, he went to Boston where he worked for his older brother with the New England Courant. When his brother refused to publish Franklin's writings, he decided to go under the alias of Silence Dogood. Under that name, Franklin successfully tricked his brother into writing 14 letters that he wrote and the community of people that read this article loved them. When his brother found out he immediately fired him.

As an early Politician

In his early political life , Ben Franklin was a big shot in Pennsylvanian Politics. He was appointed to city council in 1748. He was a representative in the Pennsylvania Assembly for 13 years after 1748 (1764)

Still an early politician but not as new

Contrary to popular belief, the "join or die" coined by Franklin originally intended for the 7 Years War to unify the colonies together.

The Albany Plan of Union was Benjamin Franklin's idea for the United State's new government.

Franklin was also a representative for Pennsylvania in London in 1764, which led to the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766.

Royally appointed as North America's Postmaster General in 1766.

Benjamin Franklin drafted the Declaration of Independence along with Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston.

In France Back in the USA

Ben served in King Louis XVI's court before the French Revolution

In 1783, Ben negotiated the Treaty of Paris which ended the Revolutionary War

Ben Franklin was one of only 8 people to draft both the Declaration & Constitution

1787, Ben Franklin represented Pennsylvania in the 2nd Continental Congress that ratified the constitution.

Life in the Revolutionary War

Benjamin Franklin was a huge help during the Revolutionary War. Benjamin Franklin traveled to France to convince the French that the United States was a worthy ally. He played a big role in the signing of the Treaty of Paris 1783.

Fire Department

Benjamin Franklin also established a fire safety system, where if someone was in trouble his team would show up to the rescue, like we still do today.

Postal Service

Benjamin Franklin also created a postal service that gave you your mail.

Secondary Resources:

1: biography.com, editors. “Benjamin Franklin.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 10 Dec. 2020, https://www.biography.com/scholar/benjamin-franklin.

2: history.com, editors. “Benjamin Franklin Flies Kite during Thunderstorm.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 24 Nov. 2009, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/franklin-flies-kite-during-thunderstorm#:~:text=On%20June%2010%2C%201752%2C%20Benjamin,connection%20between%20lightning%20and%20electricity.&text=He%20also%20invented%20the%20lightning,to%20protect%20buildings%20and%20ships.

Primary Resource

1:“Albany Plan of Union 1754.” Avalon Project - Documents in Law, History and Diplomacy, https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/albany.asp.

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