Changes

In 1751, after serving as a clerk 15 years, Franklin was elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly.  He used his new position to advance civic projects such as pushing legislation to maintain and light the streets.  One of the primary issues faced by the Assembly was keeping their frontier border safe from Indian attacks orchestrated by the French.  There was frequent conflict between the Assembly and the Proprietary leadership of the Penn family.  The Penns controlled a vast majority of the lands in Pennsylvania, however, forbid them to be taxed which hampered the Assembly's ability to build an adequate militia.  Penn repeatedly fought the Penn family and tried, without success, to have the King take direct control of Pennsylvania.

In 1751, after serving as a clerk 15 years, Franklin was elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly.  He used his new position to advance civic projects such as pushing legislation to maintain and light the streets.  One of the primary issues faced by the Assembly was keeping their frontier border safe from Indian attacks orchestrated by the French.  There was frequent conflict between the Assembly and the Proprietary leadership of the Penn family.  The Penns controlled a vast majority of the lands in Pennsylvania, however, forbid them to be taxed which hampered the Assembly's ability to build an adequate militia.  Penn repeatedly fought the Penn family and tried, without success, to have the King take direct control of Pennsylvania.

==Colonial agent in London==

==Colonial agent in London==

In 1757 Franklin was sent to London as the paid representative or lobbyist of the Pennsylvania Assembly to present the colony's side of its controversy with the Penn family, which still owned the colony.  

In 1757 Franklin was sent to London as the paid representative or lobbyist of the Pennsylvania Assembly to present the colony's side of its controversy with the Penn family, which still owned the colony.  

===Stamp Act===

===Stamp Act===

In 1765, he blundered by assuring British politicians that Americans would accept the [[Stamp Act]].  He sent a letter to Philadelphia that was made public urging the colonies to simply make the best of it, leading to the misconception that Franklin had something to do with authoring the Stamp Act.  News of colonial protest caused him to reverse his position and he helped negotiated trepeal of the hated tax.  Afterwards, Franklin regularly opposed British attempts to tax the colonies, arguing that the colonists had the same rights as other British subjects, with the ability to govern and tax through an elected legislature.   

In 1765, he blundered by assuring British politicians that Americans would accept the [[Stamp Act]].  He sent a letter to Philadelphia that was made public urging the colonies to simply make the best of it, leading to the misconception that Franklin had something to do with authoring the Stamp Act.  News of colonial protest caused him to reverse his position and he helped negotiated trepeal of the hated tax.  Afterwards, Franklin regularly opposed British attempts to tax the colonies, arguing that the colonists had the same rights as other British subjects, with the ability to govern and tax through an elected legislature.