Changes

In 1773, Franklin somehow obtained the originals of secret letters written by Massachusetts governor [[Thomas Hutchinson]] to the British government.  The letters urged Parliament to send troops to put down the growing rebellion in Boston.  Franklin sent the letters to friends in the colony, who in turn publicly published them.  His intent was to pin the blame on people like Hutchinson for encouraging the unpopular policies, which he hoped would promote a spirit of reconciliation with Britain.  He misjudged the situation, however, which led to the Massachusetts Assembly demanding that Parliament remove Hutchinson from his governorship.  Franklin later admitted he had leaked the letters. He was interrogated in highly humiliating fashion before Parliament on January 29, 1775.  He was stripped of his position of postmaster and returned to Philadelphia on May 5, 1775.

In 1773, Franklin somehow obtained the originals of secret letters written by Massachusetts governor [[Thomas Hutchinson]] to the British government.  The letters urged Parliament to send troops to put down the growing rebellion in Boston.  Franklin sent the letters to friends in the colony, who in turn publicly published them.  His intent was to pin the blame on people like Hutchinson for encouraging the unpopular policies, which he hoped would promote a spirit of reconciliation with Britain.  He misjudged the situation, however, which led to the Massachusetts Assembly demanding that Parliament remove Hutchinson from his governorship.  Franklin later admitted he had leaked the letters. He was interrogated in highly humiliating fashion before Parliament on January 29, 1775.  He was stripped of his position of postmaster and returned to Philadelphia on May 5, 1775.

Franklin's political roles in London in 1757-62 and 1764-75 reshaped his political views. Although he loved the scientists and intellectuals, he hated the politicians. He came to see Britain as vain and corrupt, and he returned to his native America in 1775 with the hope that in a still-uncorrupted republic virtue might prevail.<ref> Esmond Wright, "'The Fine and Noble China Vase, The British  Empire': Benjamin Franklin's 'Love-Hate' View of  England". ''Pennsylvania Magazine of History And Biography''  1987 111(4): 435-464.   

Franklin's political roles in London in 1757-62 and 1764-75 reshaped his political views. Although he loved the scientists and intellectuals, he hated the politicians. He came to see Britain as vain and corrupt, and he returned to his native America in 1775 with the hope that in a still-uncorrupted republic virtue might prevail.<ref> Esmond Wright, "'The Fine and Noble China Vase, The British  Empire': Benjamin Franklin's 'Love-Hate' View of  England". ''Pennsylvania Magazine of History And Biography''  1987 111(4): 435-464.</ref>  

===Continental Congress===

===Continental Congress===

Upon his return in 1775, Franklin was elected to the [[Second Continental Congress]], where he took the lead in promoting nationhood. On July 21, he presented his scheme for the [[Articles of Confederation]], similar to his Albany Plan, which called for a strong central government and a congress with proportional representation.  However, few of his ideas were included in the Articles Congress adopted in 1777.  As popular sentiment for independence grew in early 1776, Franklin, joined [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[John Adams]], [[Roger Sherman]], and [[Robert Livingston]] as a committee to prepare a [[Declaration of Independence]].  Jefferson, the best writer, did the drafting, with Franklin offering his editorial commentary.  The United States was now an independent country and had apparently driven out all the British officials.  But they returned in force in August, 1776, seized New York City, and offered to negotiate on everything except independence.  Help was needed from France, so in December of 1776 Franklin was sent to Paris , along with [[Silas Deane]] and [[Arthur Lee]], to secure aid for the new nation.  

Upon his return in 1775, Franklin was elected to the [[Second Continental Congress]], where he took the lead in promoting nationhood. On July 21, he presented his scheme for the [[Articles of Confederation]], similar to his Albany Plan, which called for a strong central government and a congress with proportional representation.  However, few of his ideas were included in the Articles Congress adopted in 1777.  As popular sentiment for independence grew in early 1776, Franklin, joined [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[John Adams]], [[Roger Sherman]], and [[Robert Livingston]] as a committee to prepare a [[Declaration of Independence]].  Jefferson, the best writer, did the drafting, with Franklin offering his editorial commentary.  The United States was now an independent country and had apparently driven out all the British officials.  But they returned in force in August, 1776, seized New York City, and offered to negotiate on everything except independence.  Help was needed from France, so in December of 1776 Franklin was sent to Paris , along with [[Silas Deane]] and [[Arthur Lee]], to secure aid for the new nation.  

==Ambassador==

==Ambassador==

[[Image:Franklin - France.jpg|right|340px]]

[[Image:Franklin - France.jpg|right|340px]]

Franklin was America's first  minister (ambassador) to [[France]], where where he was instrumental in obtaining military and economic support for the struggle against Britain. Franklin arrived to great fanfare in France.  Already well-known for his lightning experiment,  his flirtatious manner and wit made him a favorite among the courtiers.  Franklin systematically mingled with scientists, writers, intellectuals and government officials in Paris. He avoided court costumes and cultivated the image of a rustic American, sometimes wearing a coonskin cap. The French loved every bit of it and his popularity helped in securing recognition, money and armies and navies to fight Britain.  

Franklin was America's first  minister (ambassador) to King [[Louis XVI]] in [[France]], where where he was instrumental in obtaining military and economic support for the struggle against Britain. Franklin arrived to great fanfare in France.  Already well-known for his lightning experiment,  his flirtatious manner and wit made him a favorite among the courtiers.  Franklin systematically mingled with scientists, writers, intellectuals and government officials in Paris. He avoided court costumes and cultivated the image of a rustic American, sometimes wearing a coonskin cap. The French loved every bit of it and his popularity helped in securing recognition, money and armies and navies to fight Britain.  

Franklin proved himself to be a crafty diplomat.  By the end of 1777, after the great American victory at [[Battle of Saratoga|Saratoga]], the French became confident the Americans were strong enough to prevail. The French favored an alliance with the Americans, but their ally Spain was opposed, fearing that anti-imperial republicanism might emerge ion Spain's many colonies. Franklin played on the traditional hatred between the British and the French, using the press to get his messages across.  On February 5, 1778 he officially signed a treaty of alliance with France with the stipulation that the U.S. must have France's approval to negotiate peace with Britain.  The American revolution was now a world war, and as the Netherlands and Spain joined France, and the rest remained neutral, Britain was outnumbered on land and sea and had little hope of defeating the Allies.  French aid proved to be critical to the Americans success, most notably in October 1781 at [[Siege of Yorktown|Yorktown]] in which the victory at sea of the French fleet over the British fleet, and the 15,000 French ground troops forced the British to surrender. The Revolutionary war was now won, but negotiations dragged on until 1783.

Franklin proved himself to be a crafty diplomat.  By the end of 1777, after the great American victory at [[Battle of Saratoga|Saratoga]], the French became confident the Americans were strong enough to prevail. The French favored an alliance with the Americans, but their ally Spain was opposed, fearing that anti-imperial republicanism might emerge ion Spain's many colonies. Franklin played on the traditional hatred between the British and the French, using the press to get his messages across.  On February 5, 1778 he officially signed a treaty of alliance with France with the stipulation that the U.S. must have France's approval to negotiate peace with Britain.  The American revolution was now a world war, and as the Netherlands and Spain joined France, and the rest remained neutral, Britain was outnumbered on land and sea and had little hope of defeating the Allies.  French aid proved to be critical to the Americans success, most notably in the decisive victory at Yorktown in October 1781. The Revolutionary war was now won, but negotiations dragged on until 1783. Franklin played a central role, and to the amazement of observers at the time--and historians ever since--won highly favorable terms from the British, especially ownership of all the lands east of the Mississippi River (except Florida, which went to France's ally Spain.)

===Disinherits his son===

===Disinherits his son===

In 1789 Franklin disinherited his only living son, William, who had been Franklin's close personal friend and, beginning in the 1750s, his political protégé. Franklin used his contacts in London to have William named royal governor of New Jersey, a lurative and highly prestigious position. In 1774, when Franklin was fired as head of the American postal system and publicly humiliated at Whitehall, he believed his son would resign as governor to protest his father's treatment. When William failed to do this and even admonished his father to accept his fate and take a comfortable retirement, an irreparable breach was created between father and son, a rift widened by the son's loyalty to the British crown during the Revolutionary War. Although William attempted to reestablish a father-son relationship, Benjamin refused and could never forgive his son for the public nature of the humiliation he felt William had caused him.<ref>Sheila L. Skemp, "Benjamin Franklin, Patriot, and William Franklin, Loyalist." ''Pennsylvania History'' 1998 65(1): 35-45. </ref>

In 1789 Franklin disinherited his only living son, William, who had been Franklin's close personal friend and, beginning in the 1750s, his political protégé. Franklin used his contacts in London to have William named royal governor of New Jersey, a lurative and highly prestigious position. In 1774, when Franklin was fired as head of the American postal system and publicly humiliated at Whitehall, he believed his son would resign as governor to protest his father's treatment. When William failed to do this and even admonished his father to accept his fate and take a comfortable retirement, an irreparable breach was created between father and son, a rift widened by the son's loyalty to the British crown during the Revolutionary War. Although William attempted to reestablish a father-son relationship, Benjamin refused and could never forgive his son for the public nature of the humiliation he felt William had caused him.<ref>Sheila L. Skemp, "Benjamin Franklin, Patriot, and William Franklin, Loyalist." ''Pennsylvania History'' 1998 65(1): 35-45. </ref>