1. Impact on American History
Benjamin Franklin
Impact on American History
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2. Founding Father Writer Printer Politician Scientist Inventor Statesman
Diplomat
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3. 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
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4. 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
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5. 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
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6. 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
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7. The Great Social Divide
Gentlemen and Commoners
Gentlemen were born wealthy
Gentlemen did not work
Puritan hard work ethic was meant for commoners
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8. 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
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9. 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
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10. Freemasonry Secret fraternity in England Emphasized:
Generosity, Goodwill,
and Sociability
Also, allowed artisans to mix easily with gentlemen
Perfect organization for Franklin
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11. 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
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12. Public Service
More important to Franklin than his scientific achievements
Member of Philadelphia City Council
Justice of the Peace
Member of the Pennsylvania Assembly
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13. 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.
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14. 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…”
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15. 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
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16. Parliament
In the House of Commons, Feb. 1766, he argued against the Stamp Tax
Parliament repealed the Stamp Act
Parliament enacted the Declaratory Act
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17. 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 ;
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18. 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.
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19. 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
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20. 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
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21. 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
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22. 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
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23. 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"
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24. Lasting Legacy Important concepts that have defined Americans:
Self made man
Enterprise and opportunity
Innovation
Industry
Work for a living
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25. 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
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