Benjamin Franklin

If we want to understand just how significant Benjamin Franklin’s role in shaping the U.S government was. Then we need to see what events had influenced his life and led him to the level he was at. Benjamin Franklin was a self taught man, and an avid reader. He understood things that most people either had to be taught, or could never understand. I guess you could call him a genius. Along with his amazing mind, Franklin was a man of incredible virtue. He was a man who believed strongly in order, justice, and humility. Looking at just a few traits of this fascinating man, it is no surprise that he had a huge role in shaping the government we live in today.

Early on Ben Franklin wasn’t a likely revolutionary in the least bit. He was a loyal Englishman, and he saw America as an equal part of the British Empire. He referred to england as home, and considered himself a citizen of both England, and Philadelphia. But Benjamin wasn’t stupid. He soon realized that if the colonies continued to be under british rule then the oppression would never stop. Mr. Franklin then slowly developed into the revolutionary that we all know.

Benjamin’s contributions didn’t take place on the battlefield, but rather in government buildings. His skills in writing and negotiating, and his clear vision on the way he believed things should be helped him influence the united states greatly. Ben is the only founding father to have signed all four documents that helped create the
United States. The Declaration of Independence in 1776, the Treaty of Alliance in 1778, the Treaty of Peace in 1782, and finally the Constitution in 1787. He even helped write parts of the Declaration of independence, and the Constitution. Some would say that no other individual was more involved in our nation being birthed.

Ben wasn’t always focused only on the big picture. He strove to make everyday life better in the city. He was a postmaster, and helped set up the postal system in Philadelphia. He also started the Union Fire Company in 1736 in an attempt to make Philadelphia a safer city. In 1775 Benjamin Franklin set up America’s first fire insurance company. And if that’s not enough, he also organized a night watch and militia to keep the peace in Philadelphia.

Benjamin Franklin was also a prolific inventor, he made revolutionary discoveries, and also small seemingly unimportant inventions. In 1784 he invented what we now call bifocals. Franklin was tired of taking his glasses on and off to read and to see distances, so he came up with the idea of having two types of lenses in the same glasses. Benjamin also discovered many things about electricity, and came up with many terms we use now such as; battery, conductor, positively, charge, plus, negatively, condensor, minus, and armature. Ben also invented the lightning rod. He wanted to protect houses from the destruction of lightning. He took a rod attached it to a roof, and connected it to the ground with a wire. He also invented may other things. For example; the franklin stove, he mapped the gulf stream, he invented swim fins, a flexible urinary catheter. and an odometer.

Seeing all these things that Ben did, and was leaves no doubt in my mind that he was the most influential of the founding fathers. HIs care for others, and drive to make the world better make this man truly outstanding.