How Did Benjamin Franklin Contribute To Independence

Benjamin Franklin, printer, inventor, scientist, and statesman. Has played one of the most influential roles in American history, fighting for American independence in the revolutionary war era and also helping shape the constitution for the new nation. He became a member of the Philadelphia City Council in 1748, justice of the peace in 1749, and in 1751 a city alderman and a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly. In 1753 Franklin became a royal officeholder, deputy postmaster general, in charge of mail in all the northern colonies. In 1754 his “Plan of Union” for the colonies was adopted by the Albany Congress. While at sea in 1757, he completed a 12-page preface for the final 1758 edition of the almanac titled “Father Abraham’s Speech” and
Franklin’s formal education was limited and ended when he was 10; however, he was an avid reader and taught himself to become a skilled writer. He started his own printing business where he printed government pamphlets, books and currency. As his business grew, he became increasingly involved in civil affairs. He established a lending library when books weren’t widely available, and that remained the largest U.S. public library until the 1850’s. Between 1765 and 1775 he wrote 126 newspaper pieces, most of which tried to explain each side to the other. He had very diverse professional interests, one of them being a prolific writer when he founded the American philosophical society. He was the source of many inventions such as the kite-flying experiment. He developed a vision for the Academy and College of Philadelphia. He had been sent to Europe to display his diplomatic brilliance several times. Benjamin Franklin assisted Jefferson in writing the declaration of independence, altering many of the sections. In the fight for independence, Franklin made a good impression on the French, which helped secure financial aid and military backing from the king to defeat the
Franklin vigorously supported the rights of religious freedom, speech, and assembly that were ultimately incorporated into the First Amendment. Benjamin Franklin is the only founding father to have signed all four of the key documents establishing the U.S.: the Declaration of Independence (1776), the Treaty of Alliance with France (1778), the Treaty of Paris establishing peace with Great Britain (1783) and the U.S. Constitution (1787). He started the city’s first fire company, a police patrol and the American philosophical society. He also raised funds to build a city hospital. In 1775, the Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin as the first postmaster general. Benjamin Franklin was also an inventor and scientist. He led experiments contributing to the understanding of electricity, and invented the lighting rod which protects buildings from fires caused by