Sent to to defend the colonies How Franklin . helped the English understand the Stamp Act 79. Franklin's Part in the Revolution. Already we have seen that England and her colonies were beginning FRANKLIN'S CLOCK to quarrel. What wiser man could be sent to England to defend the colonies by tongue and pen than Benjamin Franklin? He made friends for America among the great men of England. When the Stamp Act was passed the members of Parliament asked him nearly two hundred questions about the effects of the Stamp Act on America. He wrote many letters to great men, and long articles to the English newspapers, explaining how the Stamp Act injured America. Both England and America rejoiced when the king and Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, and Franklin sent his wife a fine London gown in honor of the event. For eight years more, while America was busy opposing the tax on tea, Franklin was in England trying to get Parliament and the king to give the Americans better treatment. But it was all in vain. He often Franklin talked with William Pitt, the great friend of America, who introduced into Parliament a plan for making friends between the two countries. But the plan was defeated. and Pitt Hastens home Franklin saw that war would come, and hastened back to his beloved America, where he arrived just after the battle at Lexington and Concord (1775). Pennsylvania sent him to the Congress of 1775, which, union Declara tion of sitting in Philadelphia, made George Washington general Franklin of the Continental army. Franklin saw that if the plans thirteen scattered colonies were to defeat Great Britain they must unite. So he introduced into Congress a plan Helps of union, but the other members were not ready for it. write the Franklin was one of five men who were named by Congress to write the Declaration of Independence (1776). IndeSoon after, Congress sent him to France to influence the pendence king and the people of that country to aid America in winning independence. The French hated the English, but admired Benjamin Franklin. The king gave money Franklin secretly, and many French officers came to serve in the in France American army. In 1778 Franklin influenced the King of France to take sides openly with the Americans. French warships and French soldiers by thousands now came to help fight our battles. After helping to make the treaty of peace with England in 1783, Franklin came home with many honors. Though France sends aid Treaty with England INDEPENDENCE HALL, PHILADELPHIA, IN THE DAYS OF FRANKLIN From an old print nearly eighty years old, the people of Pennsylvania immediately elected him governor. Franklin did one more great work for his country. In 1787 the states sent their wisest men to Philadelphia to make a constitution, or plan of government. Pennsylvania chose Franklin, with others, to meet with these men in Independence Hall. George Washington, as we have seen, was the president of this meeting. Many speeches were made, and there was debating for many weeks. The meeting was always glad to hear Franklin speak, for he was a very wise man. make our As he had helped to make, and had signed, the Declaration of Independence, so now, after helping make the Constitution, he signed it. Many persons did not like the Helps Consti tution Constitution. Franklin said there were some things in the new plan which he did not like, but declared that he Franklin signed it because of the good things it did contain. He signs showed his wisdom, for it is one of the best plans of stitution government ever made. the Con Franklin spent his last days with his daughter, and, Died in surrounded by his grandchildren, died in 1790, at the age 1790 of eighty-four. SUGGESTIONS INTENDED TO HELP THE PUPIL The Leading Facts. I. Franklin's parents were poor, had seventeen children; hence Benjamin, though a studious fellow, was put to the printer's trade. 2. Franklin wrote the "Dogood Papers." Left home for New York, but went on to Philadelphia. 3. Persuaded to go to London. He returned and married. 4. Franklin started a circulating library, a school which became the University of Pennsylvania, and a society called the American Philosophical Society. 5. He invented a stove, founded the first fire department in America, and printed Poor Richard's Almanac. 6. Wrote the first plan of an American Union, and won degrees from English and Scotch universities. 7. Franklin was one of the committee to write the Declaration of Independence. 8. Was sent to France, where he won the help of France in the War of the Revolution. 9. Franklin was governor of the state of Pennsylvania, was a delegate to help make the Constitution, and died at the age of 84. Study Questions. I. How long ago was Franklin born? 2. Tell of his school experiences. 3. Why did Franklin not go to sea? 4. Tell the story of his bargain with his brother. 5. What did Franklin hear about the "Dogood Papers"? 6. Tell the story of the "runaway printer. 7. How did he save his time in Philadelphia? 8. How did he happen to go to London the first time? 9. What good example did he set to London printers? 10. Why did he return to Philadelphia? II. What three great institutions did he found? 12. Why did the people like Poor Richard's Almanac? 13. What public offices did he hold? 14. Picture Franklin proving that electricity and lightning are the same. 15. What did he go to England a second time for? 16. How did Franklin aid in the repeal of the Stamp Act? 17. In what great events did he have a part? 18. What was his work in France? 19. What was his last great work? 20. How did he spend his last days? 21. Point out the obstacles he overcame all along in his career. Suggested Readings. FRANKLIN: Baldwin, Four Great Americans, 71-122; Hart, Camps and Firesides of the Revolution, 158-162; Hart, Colonial Children, 197-199, 210-214; Wright, Children's Stories of Great Scientists, 71-89; Bolton, Famous American Statesmen, 38-66; Brooks, Century Book of Famous Americans, 65-76. PATRICK HENRY AND SAMUEL ADAMS, TONGUE AND PEN PATRICK HENRY, THE 80. The Stamp Act. PATRICK HENRY ORATOR OF THE REVOLUTION The surrender of Quebec and the fall of New France caused great rejoicing among the thirteen colonies. But the long, hard war had left both England and her colonies deeply in debt. King George III, however, thinking only of England's debt, decided that England ought to tax the colonies to pay for an army which he wished to keep in America. After the painting by Thomas Sully, owned by So the Parliament of Eng land passed a law that all Why the king wished to tax America |