Benjamin Franklin proposed a broad Plan of Union
for the colonies in 1754 with some aspects being used for the Articles of Confederation and the
Constitution.Benjamin
Franklin was a member of the Committee of Five who drafted the
Declaration of Independence.
The following expressed words of
Benjamin Franklin (1706 to
1790) characterize who this Founding Father
was . . . and will remain as a Great American Patriot.
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"Where liberty is,
there is my country."
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"They that can give up
essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
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"Without Freedom of
Thought there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no
such Thing as Public Liberty, without Freedom of
Speech."
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"It
is a common observation here that our cause is the
cause of all mankind, and that we are fighting for
their liberty in defending our own."
Benjamin Franklin not only expressed
his love and pride of the United States of America in
what he spoke and wrote . . . he did so in
action.
And if he was a younger man at the
time of the American Revolution . . . what other leadership
role might this gifted, visionary have served on
behalf of our newly formed "independent" nation?
Benjamin Franklin's patriotic
endeavors included...
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Benjamin
Franklin founded in 1736 . . . the Union Fire Company, one of
the first volunteer fire fighting companies in America.
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Benjamin
Franklin is the only Founding Father to sign the Declaration of
Independence, the United States Constitution, the
Treaty of Alliance with France (1778), and the
Treaty of Paris (1783).
Also, please take a
few minutes to experience
Benjamin Franklin's Thoughts on the Constitution and read his
biography . . .
And visit the Library of Congress'
Finding Franklin: A Resource Guide for more information about this Great American Patriot including his many
other writings.
Note... See the
results of a 2005 poll showing Benjamin Franklin as the first choice
among other listed Great Americans other than a President. |