BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TIME CAPSULE

By: Paige Portacio

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

“Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out.”

“It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to loose it.”

-Benjamin Franklin

Facts You Will Want To Know

Ben was a statesman, scientist, publisher, and popular author.

He shaped and witnessed more events leading to independence than any other colonist.

Ben signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.

He discovered rules about electricity. He helped organize firefighters, schools, and

hospitals. This was a man who helped invent the American

Dream .Here is his time capsule!

Benjamin

Franklin’s

Time Capsule

Poor Richard’s Almanac

“Join or Die” Kite and Key The Way To Wealth

Bifocal Glasses

Treaty Of Paris

Sedan Chair

Poor Richard’s Almanac

This is Poor Richard’s Almanac. Poor Richard- Richard Saunders is one of Ben’s literary character’s. This almanac contained a calendar. It was also packed with all kinds of extra information about the seasons and weather. In Ben’s time, almanacs were useful references. Farmers, sailors, fishermen, and practically all people used almanacs. At first, Ben expected to print almanacs written by other writers. Then the writers switched printers to save money and that was when Ben put the pen to the paper.

Poor Richard’s Almanac (Part 2) This almanac is unique

because it was better than all of the rest, it included extra information. To amuse people, Ben started a public feud. Poor Richard says he used astrology to predict a competing author’s death. The author won’t be amused but people will be. I included Poor Richard’s almanac to show how good of a printer and writer Benjamin was.

“Join or Die”

Ben had commissioned what is said to be the first political cartoons in America; a call to the colonies for unity. It was first Published in the Pennsylvania Gazette on May 9, 1754. It is a woodcut snake with each segment labeled with the initials of one of the thirteen American colonies or regions. It helped make his point about the importance of colonial unity.

“Join or Die” (Part 2)

It became a symbol of colonial freedom during the American Revolutionary War.

Kite and Key

Benjamin had been waiting for a long time to do this experiment. Benjamin was waiting for a church steeple to be built because it was high enough to catch electricity. The kite came in when Benjamin was tired of waiting for the steeple to be built.

Ben wanted to test his belief that lightning is electricity. He wanted to draw electricity from the sky. This experiment was so wide spread that a soldier in Paris even did this experiment successfully.

Kite and Key (Part 2)

I included Benjamin’s key and kite because without Benjamin’s experiment, we may have not been able to use electricity the way we can today.

The Way To Wealth

“The Way To Wealth” is an essay written by Ben. It is a collection of advice that was presented in Poor Richard’s Almanac. This information was organized into a speech given by “Father Abraham.” The essay’s advice is based on the themes of work ethic.

The Way To Wealth also includes proverbs. Proverbs are wise sayings.

The Way To Wealth (Part 2)

I included this because proverbs were passed down from generation to generation through out history. This essay shows how smart Benjamin Franklin was.

Bifocal Glasses

In 1784, Ben Franklin developed bifocal glasses. He was getting old and was having trouble seeing both up-close and at a distance. Getting tired of switching between two types of glasses, he devised a way to have both types of lenses fit into the frame. The distance lens was placed at the top and the up-close lens was placed at the bottom.

inventors.about.com › … › Famous Inventors - F

Bifocal Glasses (Part 2)

Glasses today are necessary for many people to see. Benjamin Franklin helped to improve glasses so that they could become the way they are today.

Sedan Chair

Of the 55 delegates, Benjamin is by far the oldest at 81. His health was not good. Later, he was carried from his home to the meetings in the sedan chair. It was like a carriage without wheels, held by four men. The bumpy ride on a carriage would have been much to uncomfortable.

Sedan chairs were used in many different cultures.

Good things happen to good people. Benjamin Franklin lived a long life.

Sedan Chair (Part 2)

His sedan chair symbolized being old and aging.

Treaty Of Paris

Benjamin Franklin negotiated the Treaty of Paris which brought the Revolutionary War to an end. Ben’s big chance came when he heard the surprising news from America. The Americans had won the Battle of Saratoga. Ben made sure this news was published throughout France. This convinced the French minister. The minister then rushed to make the alliance which was what Ben really wanted. Benjamin got the Americans a good deal. They will now get money, military aid, and the recognition they need thanks to Benjamin Franklin. This was a turn over.

Treaty of Paris (Part 2)

Benjamin was persuasive and he had good strategies. Ben really cared about helping his country out.