franklin
1 There
are many people who have helped the United States. One of these people
was Benjamin Franklin. Ben Franklin helped the United States when they
were at war. He also invented many things. People still use some of
these things today. He helped the United States become a great nation.
2 Ben
Franklin was born in 1706. His father's name was Josiah. He made
candles and soap. His mother was Abiah Folger. Josiah was married
twice. He had seventeen children. Ben was the fifteenth. He was the
youngest boy.
3 Ben
was eight when he started school. He only went to school for two years.
His father didn't have any money to pay for more schooling. He stayed
at home and read many books. This was how he learned new things.
4 Ben
went to live with his brother when he was twelve. James was a printer.
Ben helped his brother with his newspaper. Ben would sell the paper.
This helped Ben learn how to be a printer. He worked hard everyday. Ben
stayed with his brother until he was 17.
5 In
1729, Ben Franklin bought a newspaper. It was called The
Pennsylvania Gazette. He was 23. He printed the paper. Soon, it
became the most successful newspaper in the colonies.
6 In
1732, he started an almanac. An almanac is printed every year. Almanacs
have a lot of information. They tell about calendars and weather. Ben
also included sayings that people liked. Ben Franklin's almanac was
very popular. Today, it would be called a best seller. He wrote it
every year for 25 years.
7 Ben
Franklin was not just a writer. He was also an inventor. One day, Ben
decided he was sick of putting his glasses on every time he needed to
read. He invented the bifocal lens. He cut two lenses in half and put
them in the same frame. Then he didn't have to worry about putting on
or taking off his glasses.
8 It
was dangerous to heat a house in Colonial America. Most people used the
fireplace. Fireplaces often made a house fill with smoke. They also
burned a lot of wood. He invented a stove that was safer to use. It
also used less wood. This invention is called the Franklin stove.
9 This
wasn't the only way that Ben Franklin made homes safer. He invented the
lightning rod. It helped to keep houses from starting on fire. It is
still used today. He organized a fire department in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. It was the first fire department in the city. Ben
Franklin also started an insurance company. This company helped people
after a fire. The company is still in business today.
10 Benjamin
Franklin wanted America to be free. He didn't want the colonies to be
part of England. He signed the Declaration of Independence. In 1776, he
went to France. America needed help from France to win the
Revolutionary War. Ben Franklin talked France into helping. They sent
guns and supplies. France's help was very important. France helped
America win the war.
11 Benjamin
Franklin died in 1790. He was 84 years old. He has been remembered in
many ways. His picture was on a postage stamp. He is also on the $100
bill. Over 200 years later, he is still an important man. Without him,
the United States would be very different today.
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