Kid’s Craic: Benjamin Franklin – A Multifaceted Founding Father and Key Architect of American Independence

In my July column, I began writing about America’s Founding Fathers. The Founding Fathers are always referred to as the ones who made our independence happen, but who are they? There were so many men and women that contributed to the fight, that there is no definitive list; here are a few who are always considered to be at the top of any list created, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton. You can read about George Washington and Thomas Jefferson in the July issue of iIrish News Magazine. (John Add link)

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin (Ben) Franklin is known as a writer, a publisher, a scientist, and an inventor, but he is most known for his leadership in the American colonies and the beginning of the United States. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1706. He was one of 17 children. He was forced to leave school at the age of 10 to get a job with his dad. After that, he became a printer’s apprentice (helper) for his brother James. Even though he left school at a young age, he became quite smart by reading tons of books!

Franklin moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and worked as a printer. He published Poor Richard’s Almanack, which had witty sayings and verses, such as “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” Franklin also started a fire department, a hospital, an insurance company, and a library. He was the first Postmaster General. He also founded a school, which became the University of Pennsylvania. He invented the Franklin stove, bifocal eyeglasses, an odometer for a carriage, and the lightning rod, which keeps buildings safe during lightning storms. He did not patent (take ownership) any of his inventions, so other people could use his ideas for free.

Franklin was a respected political leader during the time leading up to the American Revolution. In 1765, the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act, which put a tax on printing. This made many of the colonists angry because the colonists used lots of printed material for business and legal matters. Franklin spoke for all the colonists against the much-hated Stamp Act. As the war was getting closer, Franklin was elected to the Second Continental Congress. He believed that the American colonies should break apart from English rule. He joined a committee and helped write the Declaration of Independence.

Treaty of Paris

He then traveled to France, and France agreed to give the colonists money and soldiers to fight against Great Britain. After the war, Franklin went to Britain with John Adams and John Jay to negotiate the terms of the treaty (a peace agreement between two countries). This became the Treaty of Paris in 1783. In 1787, Franklin represented the state of Pennsylvania at the Constitutional Convention. At this convention, all the members worked together to write the U.S. Constitution. At age 81, Franklin was the oldest delegate to sign the Constitution. He is the only Founding Father to sign the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Paris, and the U.S. Constitution!

In my next column, read all about Alexander Hamilton!

Megan is a Reading Intervention Educator for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. She may be reached at [email protected].