Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin’s Brilliant Satire: Exposing British Hypocrisy Through a Fake Prussian Edict
As frustrations with usurpations and arbitrary power from the British government grew, American colonial leaders fired up the presses, producing hundreds of newspaper articles, pamphlets, and resolutions outlining their case and urging resistance. Benjamin Franklin...
Benjamin Franklin: How to Lose an Empire
“Empires, by Pride & Folly & Extravagance, ruin themselves like Individuals.” Benjamin Franklin certainly understood history. He had witnessed it unfold. In fact, he predicted the unraveling of the British Empire. Featuring some of his best satire and sharpest...
Benjamin Franklin’s Finest: Top Views from the “First American”
Today in history, January 17, 1706, Benjamin Franklin was born. Referred to many as “The First American,” Franklin was famous at home and abroad. He’s considered one of the foremost polymaths in history, and was a leading writer, scientist, inventor, publisher,...
The Founders and the Constitution: Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on Jan. 6, 1706, the youngest son among a tradesman’s 15 children by two successive wives. He had two years of formal education. At the age of 12 he was apprenticed to his older brother James, a printer. Five years later, he ran...