Benjamin Franklin was one of America’s Founding Fathers, as well as an author and printer, political theorist and politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, statesman, and diplomat. He is credited for playing a large role in the discovery of electricity. He also invented bifocals and the Franklin stove. He became an American hero when he spearheaded the effort to have Parliament repeal the Stamp Act, one of the defining actions that led to the American Revolution. After the War, he served as governor of Pennsylvania.
Recommended Resources
The site features a collection of essays and papers on the life, works and autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Samples are available online, and each of the essays are available for purchase.
http://ben-franklin-papers.com/
Ben Franklin: History You Can Talk To
G. Robin Smith, a history scholar, author, actor and educator, portrays Benjamin Franklin for groups, social gatherings, and schools. A performance DVD and several online video presentations are featured, along with testimonials, a schedule of events, and information on booking him for a performance.
http://www.ben-franklin.org/
Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids: Benjamin Franklin
Intended for children, the guide offers an overview of the United States government, categorized by age group. This section of the guide features the various roles of Benjamin Franklin, including printer, librarian, inventor, and statesman, as well as a timeline of his life.
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/benfranklin/
Several articles on Benjamin Franklin are presented, including general information and facts about the man and his wife, his several inventions, and the role he played in the American Revolution. His viewpoints on various topics are also outlined.
http://www.benjaminfranklinbio.com/
Franklin was a signer of the U.S. Constitution of 1787, the Declaration of Independence, and the Paris Peace Commission, as well as the first U.S. Postmaster General, a scientist and inventor, statesman, and philosopher. Biographical information and an overview of his many roles are featured here.
http://www.benjaminfranklin.org/
Constructed in 1730, the London home is the only surviving Franklin home, one in which he resided between the years of 1757 and 1775. The site includes a biography of Franklin, as well as detailed information and photographs of the house. Tickets to tour the home may be purchased online, along with various souvenir items.
http://www.benjaminfranklinhouse.org/
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Commemorating the 300th anniversary of his birth, in 2006, the non-profit alliance represented a consortium created by the American Philosophical Society, the Franklin Institute, the Library Company of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the University of Pennsylvania. Online exhibitions are featured, along with an overview of the project.
http://www.benfranklin300.org/
Conservapedia: Benjamin Franklin
Using a wiki platform, the site offers an overview of Franklin’s early life, marriage, and roles as a civic leader, scientist, inventor, politician, and ambassador, as well as his religious beliefs.
http://www.conservapedia.com/Benjamin_Franklin
Intended for general information or as a homework resource, the site offers biographical data, including an account of Franklin’s family in the days leading up to the American Revolution, and other articles about the man or his works.
http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/
