Benjamin Franklin: American Statesman, Diplomat, Writer, and Founding Father

John Adams: The American Statesman, Diplomat, Writer, and Founding Father

by Mike Clayton

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	658 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	32 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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Benjamin Franklin was one of the most influential figures in American history. He was a statesman, diplomat, writer, and inventor who played a key role in the American Revolution and the founding of the United States. Franklin was a brilliant and versatile man who made significant contributions to a wide range of fields, including science, politics, and literature.

Early Life and Education

Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the fifteenth of seventeen children born to Josiah Franklin and Abiah Folger Franklin. His father was a candle maker and soap boiler, and his mother was a homemaker. Franklin's family was poor, and he had little formal education. He attended school for only two years, but he was a voracious reader and taught himself a great deal. At the age of 12, he was apprenticed to his brother James, a printer. Franklin worked as a printer for several years, and he eventually became one of the most successful printers in the American colonies.

Political Career

Franklin began his political career in 1754, when he was elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly. He served in the Assembly for several years, and he became a leading advocate for colonial rights. In 1765, he was sent to London as a delegate to the Stamp Act Congress. The Stamp Act was a tax on printed materials that was imposed by the British government. Franklin and the other delegates to the Congress protested the Stamp Act, and they eventually succeeded in getting it repealed. Franklin returned to London in 1766 as a colonial agent for Pennsylvania. He served as a colonial agent for several years, and he worked to improve relations between the colonies and the British government.

The American Revolution

In 1775, the American Revolution began. Franklin was one of the leaders of the revolution, and he played a key role in securing French support for the American cause. He was appointed as the first United States Postmaster General in 1775, and he served in that position until 1776. In 1776, he was appointed as one of the five delegates to the Continental Congress. The Continental Congress declared the American colonies independent from Great Britain on July 4, 1776. Franklin was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Diplomatic Career

After the American Revolution, Franklin served as the United States Minister to France. He served in that position for several years, and he played a key role in securing French aid for the American war effort. In 1783, he was a member of the American delegation that negotiated the Treaty of Paris, which ended the American Revolution. After the war, Franklin remained in France as the United States Minister to France. He served in that position until 1785, when he returned to the United States.

Later Life and Death

Franklin returned to the United States in 1785, and he settled in Philadelphia. He continued to be active in politics, and he served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The Constitutional Convention drafted the United States Constitution, which was ratified in 1788. Franklin died on April 17, 1790, in Philadelphia. He was 84 years old.

Legacy

Benjamin Franklin was one of the most influential figures in American history. He was a statesman, diplomat, writer, and inventor who played a key role in the American Revolution and the founding of the United States. Franklin's legacy is complex and multifaceted. He was a brilliant and versatile man who made significant contributions to a wide range of fields. He was a champion of liberty and democracy, and he helped to shape the course of American history.

Franklin is remembered today for his many accomplishments. He is known for his contributions to science, including his experiments with electricity. He is also known for his political writings, including his autobiography and his Poor Richard's Almanack. Franklin is considered one of the most important figures in the American Enlightenment, and he is often referred to as the "Father of American Science." Franklin is a complex and fascinating figure, and his legacy continues to inspire people today.

John Adams: The American Statesman, Diplomat, Writer, and Founding Father

by Mike Clayton

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	658 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	32 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE