Benjamin Franklin: The Founding Father Of America

Benjamin Franklin is most well-known for his episode with a lightning bolt, although in reality, he should be known for his aid in the forming of America’s foundation. At the age of fifteen he, along with his brothers, started The New England Courant, a newspaper in the Boston area. With their success rapidly growing, Benjamin decided he was no longer needed and sought to create his own printing press. An additional press was not needed in Boston, so Franklin took his few belongings and traveled up the river to Philadelphia. Here he made acquaintances with influential men, purchased the Pennsylvania Gazette, was elected into the Second Continental Congress, accepted the job of Postmaster General, and became the first U.S Ambassador to France.

“Benjamin Franklin lived his life in the spirit of a renaissance man: he was deeply interested in the world around him, and he excelled in several widely differing fields of human endeavor.” (“Home”). Franklin was born in Boston of 1706 where he was raised in a poor family and was unable to have an education for more than two years. At age 12, he was apprenticed by his older brother who worked in a printing business. Benjamin later became successful in the printing business and soon became successful through his inventions as well. Later, he also became involved in politics and became one of the founding fathers. Benjamin Franklin made significant impacts on America with his inventions and politics.

In his arrival in France, Benjamin Franklin played his role to the hilt and set a symbolic figure for the French. His setting of a symbolic figure is admirable in my opinion because it shows that he was a man who would set an expectation and surpass it. I also admire that he was seen as a person who would not make it far just because of his childhood and how he was not wealthy or anything. One quote that makes me see him as a symbolic figure of wisdom is, Picture me, he wrote a friend, “very plainly dressed, wearing my thin gray straight hair that peeps out under my only coiffure, a fine fur cap, which comes down to my forehead almost to my spectacles. Think how this must appear among the powdered heads of Paris. ' '. I chose this quote

A founding father, scientist, author, inventor, diplomat and "First American" along with many other things Benjamin Franklin was a very well-known man. Gordon S. Wood a professor of History Emeritus at Brown University, and recipient of the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for history for the Radicalism of The American Revolution is also the author of "The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin." A book written to describe many events that Franklin took part in or things that happened to him that people may not know of. Although the book is very factual, the substantial vocabulary and lengthiness of the book itself make it very hard to maintain focus.

We have all heard of the famous Benjamin Franklin. From the many history classes, and conversations in general. Benjamin Franklin is famous for many reasons; for example, he was responsible for publishing the very first political cartoon, the author of Poor Richard’s Almanack, inventing the lightning rod and bifocals, and he was one of five who drafted the Declaration of Independence. These accomplishments are great, but only tell part of the story of the great Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin. In the biography, The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin, by Gordon S. Wood, we are educated on the characteristics of his thriving life.

“Franklin was born in Boston on January 17, 1706 (January 6, 1705, in the old style calendar) of very humble origins, origins that always struck Franklin himself as poor.”(Wood,17) He proved throughout his life that he was quite the renaissance man, showing expertise in many professions and fields from Author to Inventor. Franklin proved time and time again that he was intellectually capable of doing pretty much anything. Franklin's status of being a founding father has proven how much of a staple he was in finding the United States of America. Even though he was never President of the United States, In 1753 Franklin became a royal officeholder, deputy postmaster general, in charge of mail in all the northern colonies (Encyclopedia Britannica). Something I found interesting in my research was that “in 1774, Benjamin Franklin was dismissed as joint postmaster general for the Crown because he was judged too sympathetic to the colonies.”(USPS). It’s crazy to think that even Benjamin Franklin, Founding Father, could be

Our Nation would not be where it is today if it were not for Benjamin Franklin's passion for liberty and freedom. It is difficult to grasp the vast accomplishments he has achieved. His ambition, intelligence, and morality are few of the many character attributes, which make Franklin a remarkable hero. The brilliant man was a genius known for his wit and wisdom that helped America reach its goals.

According to Benjamin Franklin, there is no better person to account for than one’s country. Within his lifetime, Franklin served his country first. This ensured a lasting legacy for him. Benjamin Franklin did many great things for America as a Founding Father, including, serving as a delegate in the Constitutional Convention and serving as a representative to sign the Treaty of Paris in 1783. As shown through his actions, Franklin served America to give back to his countrymen because a country aids the journey toward a legacy, so it is best to give back to that country.

Benjamin Franklin is best known as one of the founding fathers of the United States. He is also well known as a scientist, politician, activist, inventor, and author. His literary career began in his apprenticeship to his older brother, James, the editor of The New England Courant when he was 12 years old. His style of writing was greatly influenced by the English periodical, The Spectator, which was widely read and popular at the time. He contributed letters and essays to the Courant under various pseudonyms.

In summary, Benjamin Franklin was a man of progression, proving to himself and the world that one can enjoy life fully and still pay divine respect. It was disbelief that one must devote all life to a higher being, while being confined to

Benjamin Franklin is one of the most iconic figures in the history of the United States and even the world. His works and discoveries played a significant role in the evolution of modern technology. In his autobiography, he provides many reasons why he decided to write down his success and life story in general. Benjamin was a religious man and anyone reading his autobiography would attest to that. For example, he said in his book that "I speak of thanking God, I desire with all Humility to acknowledge, that I owe the mentioned Happiness of my past Life to his kind Providence, which led me to the Means I used & gave them Success” (Franklin 3). Benjamin Franklin strongly believed that without the will and support from God himself nothing he

Also, he was a major leader in this book and always wanted to help others and when he was called to lead the military he did. Benjamin Franklin has played in multiple roles that helped make the world as it is today. I see Benjamin Franklin as a role model to anyone and everyone that wants to lead and work their hardest to make a difference in this world one day and also a role model to those who want to always put the world and others before them. Benjamin Franklin is a great man and a very important founding father of the

Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography was a significant model of the “American dream.” Franklin shared his life during the younger years of America, which went on to have a profound and indelible mark on society and the country as we know it today. Benjamin Franklin created this foundation, and it later became a roadmap for the “American dream” through his actions of upward socioeconomic mobility, and desire to improve the common good. Using his own life as a model, Franklin proved that, in America, people had the ability to build themselves up through hard work. Benjamin Franklin grew up in a meager house in Boston with his 16 older siblings.

“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning,” thus coming from a man who has learned the meaning of hard work, Benjamin Franklin has worked hard for his well known reputation. Benjamin shows a great deal of intellect through his many well known inventions. His inventions such as the lighting rod is his most famous one, and is still used today. He also shows leadership through how he uses his inventions and intellect. Like when he used is intellect when he helped plan strategies for the American Revolution.

Bibliography Benjamin Franklin: Community Statesman and Service. “Building a Teacher Website at Educator Pages.com.” “Last modified March 9, 2013.” https://educatorpages.com/site/lmnorton93/pages/benjamin-franklin-community-service-and-statesman “Critical Essays: Franklin and the Spirit of Capitalism” The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Accessed February 27, 2017.