Impact on American History Benjamin Franklin Impact on American History http://www.solarnavigator.net/inventors/benjamin_franklin.htm CICERO © 2010

Founding Father Writer Printer Politician Scientist Inventor Statesman Diplomat http://www.learningkeys.us/ CICERO © 2010

The Man of Many Faces The Oldest of the Founders Washington, 26 years younger John Adams, 29 years younger Jefferson, 37 years younger Madison and Hamilton, nearly 50 years younger http://www.kejda.net/category/the-human-condition/ CICERO © 2010

The Man of Many Faces Prior to the Revolution, Franklin was already world famous: Member of the prestigious Royal Society Honorary degrees from St. Andrews and Oxford A world leader in science and philosophy CICERO © 2010

The Man of Many Voices Pseudonyms: Silence Dogood, Alice Addertongue, Cecilia Shortface, Polly Baker, Busy Body, Obadiah Plainman, Anthony Afterwit, Richard Saunders, Poor Richard, An American, A New-England Man, A Briton, A London Manufacturer While in London, he used 42 different signatures CICERO © 2010

Apprenticeship and Printer Born in Hierarchical New England Two years of formal education Candle and soap maker Apprenticed to his brother James, printer 1721, New England Courant, James’ newspaper In 1722, at 16, Franklin secretly submitted satires, signed by Silence Dogood CICERO © 2010

The Great Social Divide Gentlemen and Commoners Gentlemen were born wealthy Gentlemen did not work Puritan hard work ethic was meant for commoners CICERO © 2010

Changing Times By the middle of the 18th century a new economic class was emerging This group was neither born into wealth nor commoners They were the known as “middling” men Included: commercial farmers, artisans, merchants, traders, shopkeepers, etc They were becoming wealthy and saw themselves as better than commoners CICERO © 2010

Middling Men Franklin epitomized this new man Wealthy and Industrious Interested in learning Interested in giving back to society Franklin organized local artisans who met to discuss common issues http://www.flickr.com/photos/franklinremix/99786880/ CICERO © 2010

Freemasonry Secret fraternity in England Emphasized: Generosity, Goodwill, and Sociability Also, allowed artisans to mix easily with gentlemen Perfect organization for Franklin http://www.flickr.com/photos/evissa/548397224/ CICERO © 2010

Franklin’s Experiments Time to read, write, and experiment… …with electricity Proved that lightning was electricity Published Experiments and Observations on Electricity in 1752 Made him an international figure http://www.cowanauctions.com/department.asp?depId=5 CICERO © 2010

Public Service More important to Franklin than his scientific achievements Member of Philadelphia City Council Justice of the Peace Member of the Pennsylvania Assembly CICERO © 2010

A Citizen of the Empire Albany Plan for Union Return to England, 1757 Lived in London for the next 15 of 17 years Met with Britain’s preeminent figures in science, literature, the arts, etc. http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/firsts/cartoon/snake.html CICERO © 2010

Changing Fortunes Franklin in London Supported the Stamp Act His enemies blamed Franklin for the Stamp Act Franklin’s response to the Stamp Act: “… a firm loyalty to the Crown… will always be the wisest Course for you and I to take…” CICERO © 2010

Return to Philadelphia In 1763 Franklin returned to Philadelphia was instantly looked at as a colonial leader inspected the colonies postal service helped quell the rioters from western Pennsylvania He returned to London in 1765, as an agent for pro loyalists forces who wanted Pennsylvania to become a royal colony. They wanted to get the colony out of the Penn family’s control. Planning a short visit, he stayed another 10 years CICERO © 2010

Parliament In the House of Commons, Feb. 1766, he argued against the Stamp Tax Parliament repealed the Stamp Act Parliament enacted the Declaratory Act CICERO © 2010

The Crown vs. Parliament Franklin viewed the King as a benign power for good He saw Parliament as the problem for the empire/colonies He believed only the King could rule the colonies and not Parliament http://european-union.ca/unitedkingdom/ukparliament.html ; http://en.wikivisual.com/index.php/St._Edward's_Crown CICERO © 2010

Finally taking up the Cause After repeated attempts to reconcile, Franklin changed his mind. Franklin had come to realize the pejorative view many in England had. Franklin humiliated by the King’s Privy Council. March, 1775 sailed for America. CICERO © 2010

Super Patriot Upon returning, Franklin had to become a super patriot. Member of Second Continental Congress. Immediately embraced independence. Some suspected Franklin’s motives. …Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee His Son William, the loyalist Governor of New Jersey, was an embarrassment CICERO © 2010

France the Ally Foreign aid and involvement was essential Franklin lobbied to go to France In February 1778 France and the United States signed two treaties: commercial and military CICERO © 2010

Returning Home On September 14, 1785 Franklin returned to Philadelphia Philadelphia had become the leading city in the new nation Soon Franklin was elected to the ruling executive council in Pennsylvania http://www.opentravelinfo.com/north-america/usa/pennsylvania/philadelphia-independence-hall CICERO © 2010

Franklin and Slavery Franklin’s thoughts on African Americans evolved over time By the early 1780s Franklin had become a leading abolitionist In February 1790 Franklin petitioned the Congress to abolish slavery CICERO © 2010

Franklin’s Way to Wealth, quotes "There are no gains, without pains" "One today is worth two tomorrows" "Time is money" "A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things" "Get what you can, and what you get hold" "Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears, while the used key is always bright" "Have you somewhat to do tomorrow, do it today" "The eye of a master will do more work than both his hands" "Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise" CICERO © 2010

Lasting Legacy Important concepts that have defined Americans: Self made man Enterprise and opportunity Innovation Industry Work for a living CICERO © 2010

And in the End Franklin was the second most important figure in the Revolution In the early years of the Republic, Franklin personified the American Dream CICERO © 2010