Benjamin Franklin's Influence On Society

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Alec Boulware American Colonial History Dr. Albritton Final Paper The Influence of Benjamin Franklin on the United States Government and Society. Benjamin Franklin is by far on of the more famous of the founding fathers of the United States of America, Present at both the signing of not only the Declaration of Independence but also the signing of the constitution. One of the few men of his time to rightly deserve the mantel of polymath, also know as a renaissance man, Franklin was a inventor, writer, scientist , businessman, and statesman to list a few of his traits. Through his endeavourers he helped shape the exceptional country that the United States would become. Some of his inventions would change…show more content…
Where he, Along with Thomas Jeffers were one of the five men who drafted the Declaration of Independence, known as the Committee of Five. During the signing there is a rather famous dialogue between Franklin and John Hancock ( who is forever immortalized for his large and distinct signature on the Declaration, so the King could read it without his spectacles) Hancock is quoted as saying “that they must all hang together” to Franklins response “Yes, we must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately” The Second Continental Congress also made the logical choice and singled out Franklin to be the first Postmaster General in the United States. Franklin, having been a postmaster for decades prior had a wealth of experience in that field , set to work. The Postal system he began is another testament to his influence on the country, because that very system he set up become the United States Post Office, which is still the prime method of mail delivery in the United States of America. He was also the ambassador to France, it was his work in 1778 that secured a critical military alliance with the French nation, and to this France and the United states are military allies. In 1783 he was present at the negotiations for the Treaty of Paris, the treaty that ended hostilities between The United States and Britain. He returned home in 1785 as one of the most famous men in the country lauded as a hero. In 1787 Franklin was a member of the Philadelphia convention, which was also known as the Constitutional Convention . Though he was only there in an honorary status, seeing as he was already 81, a rather old age for people at the time, his presence gave a great boost in the credibility of the Convention and inspired confidence in it. In the notes of Dr. James McHenry, one of Maryland’s delegates to the Convention, a lady asked Dr. Franklin
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