Thank you, Benjamin Thank you, Benjamin Franklin!Franklin!

OverviewOverview

Benjamin Franklin was very creative. Benjamin Franklin was very creative. He discovered many things that we He discovered many things that we still use today. still use today.

Life in the 1700’s was very different Life in the 1700’s was very different from our lives today. Benjamin used from our lives today. Benjamin used his ideas to make life easier, and we his ideas to make life easier, and we still use his inventions 300 years still use his inventions 300 years later.later.

BifocalsBifocals Ben had poor vision and Ben had poor vision and

needed glasses to read. needed glasses to read. He got tired of He got tired of constantly taking them constantly taking them off and putting them off and putting them back on, so he decided back on, so he decided to figure out a way to to figure out a way to make his glasses let him make his glasses let him see both near and far. see both near and far. He had two pairs of He had two pairs of spectacles cut in half spectacles cut in half and put half of each lens and put half of each lens in a single frame. Today, in a single frame. Today, we call them bifocals. we call them bifocals.

Lightning RodLightning Rod

Everyone knows the Everyone knows the story of Ben's famous story of Ben's famous kite flight. Although he kite flight. Although he made important made important discoveries and discoveries and advancements, Ben did advancements, Ben did not "invent" electricity. not "invent" electricity. He discovered that He discovered that lightning was electricity. lightning was electricity. He did, however, invent He did, however, invent the lightning rod which the lightning rod which protected buildings and protected buildings and ships from lightning ships from lightning damage. damage.

Franklin StoveFranklin Stove In colonial America, most In colonial America, most

people warmed their people warmed their homes by building a fire homes by building a fire in a fireplace even though in a fireplace even though it was kind of dangerous it was kind of dangerous and used a lot of wood. and used a lot of wood. Ben figured that there Ben figured that there had to be a better way. had to be a better way. His invention of an iron His invention of an iron furnace stove allowed furnace stove allowed people to warm their people to warm their homes less dangerously homes less dangerously and with less wood. The and with less wood. The furnace stove that he furnace stove that he invented is called a invented is called a Franklin stove. Franklin stove.

The OdometerThe Odometer

As postmaster, Ben As postmaster, Ben had to figure out had to figure out routes for delivering routes for delivering the mail. He went out the mail. He went out riding in his carriage riding in his carriage to measure the routes to measure the routes and needed a way to and needed a way to keep track of the keep track of the distance. He invented distance. He invented a simple odometer a simple odometer and attached it to his and attached it to his carriage. carriage.

More on BenMore on Ben

Ben opened the first Ben opened the first library in 1731. He library in 1731. He and his friends put and his friends put their money together their money together to buy books and then to buy books and then let people borrow let people borrow them from the library. them from the library.

Ben also established Ben also established the first fire company the first fire company and the first fire and the first fire insurance company in insurance company in order to help people order to help people live more safely. live more safely.

Ben as a printerBen as a printer As a child, Ben loved to As a child, Ben loved to

read, write, and collect read, write, and collect books; so when it came time books; so when it came time to choose a trade, his father to choose a trade, his father decided he would become a decided he would become a printer. At the age of twelve, printer. At the age of twelve, Ben started as an apprentice Ben started as an apprentice with his older brother James. with his older brother James. At the age of twenty-two, he At the age of twenty-two, he opened my own printing opened my own printing shop. His newspaper, the shop. His newspaper, the Pennsylvania GazettePennsylvania Gazette became very popular and became very popular and profitable. A few years later, profitable. A few years later, Poor Richard’s AlmanacPoor Richard’s Almanac was was released and soon became released and soon became the best selling book in the the best selling book in the colonies, selling over 10,000 colonies, selling over 10,000 copies a year. copies a year.

As a printer (continued)As a printer (continued)

Soon, he became the most active Soon, he became the most active printer in the colonies and was printer in the colonies and was appointed the official printer of appointed the official printer of Pennsylvania. His duties included Pennsylvania. His duties included printing money, laws, and documents printing money, laws, and documents for the colony. He then became the for the colony. He then became the public printer for Delaware, New Jersey, public printer for Delaware, New Jersey, and Maryland. Ben also helped and Maryland. Ben also helped establish newspapers in New York, establish newspapers in New York, Connecticut, and two islands in the Connecticut, and two islands in the West Indies. West Indies.

Poor Richard’s AlmanacPoor Richard’s Almanac

Do you recognize any of these Do you recognize any of these sayings?sayings?

When the well is dry --- they When the well is dry --- they know the worth of water. know the worth of water.

Early to bed and early to rise Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. wealthy, and wise.

Hunger never saw bad bread. Hunger never saw bad bread. Speak little, do much. Speak little, do much.

Founding FatherFounding Father

During the fight for independence, During the fight for independence, Benjamin was sent to Europe to represent Benjamin was sent to Europe to represent the colonies. In 1776, he signed the the colonies. In 1776, he signed the Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence and, in 1778, and, in 1778, the the Treaty of Alliance with FranceTreaty of Alliance with France. When . When the colonists won their independence in the colonists won their independence in 1781, he helped negotiate the peace with 1781, he helped negotiate the peace with England and signed what ultimately England and signed what ultimately became known as became known as Treaty of Peace with Treaty of Peace with Great BritainGreat Britain (1782). (1782).

Early Draft of the Declaration of Independence

Please click on the document to listen to how the Declaration of Independence was distributed to the colonists.

Founding Father ContinuedFounding Father Continued

Upon signing the Upon signing the ConstitutionConstitution on September on September 17, 1787, Benjamin became 17, 1787, Benjamin became the only Founding Father to the only Founding Father to have signed all five have signed all five documents that established documents that established American independence: American independence: the the Declaration of Declaration of Independence, Independence, thethe Treaty Treaty of Amity and Commerce of Amity and Commerce with France, with France, thethe Treaty of Treaty of Alliance with France, Alliance with France, thethe Treaty of Peace with Great Treaty of Peace with Great Britain, Britain, and the and the Constitution Constitution of the United States of of the United States of America.America.

Happy Birthday, Benjamin!Happy Birthday, Benjamin!

January 17, 2006, would mark the January 17, 2006, would mark the 300300thth birthday of Benjamin Franklin. birthday of Benjamin Franklin.