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Benjamin Franklin Contributions

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“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” – Benjamin Franklin It was quotes like this that pegged Benjamin Franklin as the face of America during pre-Revolutionary times. Franklin was a Founding Father, an inventor, a scientist, a polymath, a politician, a printer, and wore numerous other hats. He essentially changed the world’s view of America, showing everyone that Americans were not idle or unsuccessful, rather respected, appreciated, and intelligent. Three important aspects of Franklin’s life were his personal life, his scientific discoveries, and his impact on American history. Ben was the 15th child of 17, born in 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts. Growing up, Ben was never quite satisfied with his lack of activities and experience. Though he learned to read at an early age, at the age of 10 he was pulled out of school to work full time at his father’s store. Shortly later, he began to apprentice for his brother James at a printing shop. James mistreated and beat Ben for several years, so finally, Ben ran away to Philadelphia in 1723. Soon after this, Franklin traveled to London to purchase printing equipment, but ended up staying there for a couple years. He returned to Philadelphia in 1726 and opened his own printing shop. Upon his return, he also married his childhood sweetheart, Deborah Read, in 1730. Not long after his marriage, he became the publisher of his own newspaper: The Pennsylvania

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