The Revolution IGNITED

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Benjamin Franklin, (January 17, 1706 April 17, 1790) known as one of the Founding Fathers of America. He was a talented man (an outstanding author, printer, scientist, statesman, diplomat, politician, etc.) to demonstrate a great potential on a vast number of areas.





Benjamin was born in Boston and was the tenth son, out of 17 children of a soap maker called Josiah Franklin and his mother was Abiah Folger, Josiah´s second wife. His father intended for Benjamin to enter into clergy, yet he could only afford one year of school and clergymen required many years of schooling. However Benjamin loved to read he became a novice of his brother James who was a printer. When he was 12 years old, he would help him compose pamphlets and sell them on the streets. Then at age of 22 he opened his own printing shop, ongoing with his newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette (1779) which soon became the most successful in the colonies. This profitable newspaper also included the first political cartoon, authored by Benjamin itself. After a few years (1773) Poor Richard´s Almanac was released and became the best-selling book in the colonies selling over 10000 copies a year. Benjamin published this almanac under the name of Richard Saunders, a poor man who had to take care of his critical wife. This almanac portrayed Franklin as a distinguished and eminent writer. Soon he became the most active printer in the colonies and was selected as the official printer of Pennsylvania. His obligation consisted in printing money, laws and documents for the colony. Next he became the public printer for Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland and also helped establish newspapers in New York, Connecticut and two islands in the West Indies.  






Benjamin formed part of a club called the Leather Apron Club (because most of them wore leather aprons) which made reading more fashionable creating the first library in America in 1773 from their money. This way everybody was able to borrow books for a certain amount of time. Considering that books at that time were scarce and very expensive, libraries provided people the opportunity of learning through books. Soon other towns imitated the cause, making reading common among less educated people. In 1773, he then helped to launch the American Philosophy Society, the first learned society in America.
Benjamin also participated in associations that helped in creating organizations for health assistance such as: 
The Pennsylvania Hospital in 1751
The Philadelphia´s Union Fire Company in 1736 for fire aid.
The Philadelphia Contribution for Insurance Against Loss by fire in 1752.




When Benjamin was 42 years old he retired from the printing to new interests such as science. He succeeded in numerous inventions such as:
*Swim fins                                *Bulkheads
*Bifocals                                   *The lightning rod
*A glass armonica                   *Odometer
*Watertight                               *  The wood stove - called the Franklin Stove

In early 1750´s he turned to the study of electricity with his son William. They carried out an experiment on electricity on which their main purpose was to prove that lightning was a form of electricity not a mysterious force of punishment from God as people use to think. The experiment consisted in attaching a pointed metal piece on a kite and a metal key to the base of the kite. Lightning struck the kite and traveled down to the key. When he touched the key with his knuckle there was a spark. Although he was knocked unconscious twice before when experimenting with electricity, he was capable of proving his hypothesis. Next he invented the lightning rod to protect buildings and ships form lightning damage.

Benjamin received great recognition for his inventions but he never benefit from them since he decided to give them away to the world freely.






During the fight for independence at the American Revolution, Benjamin was sent to Europe to represent the colonies. In 1776 he signed the Declaration of Independence and in 1778 the treaty of Alliance with France in which he negotiated with the French to assist the colonists during the American Revolution. Then, he became the first United States minister of France. He also worked as a volunteer in the troops securing arms, guns and ammunition.
When the colonists won their independence he helped negotiate peace with England and signed The Treaty of peace with Great Britain in 1782. He was the oldest delegate at the Constitutional Convention at age 81.


After the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787 he became known as the only Founding Father to have signed all five documents that established the American Independence: The Declaration, the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with France, the Treaty of Alliance with Great Britain, and the Constitution of the United States of America.

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George Washington (February 22, 1732- December 14, 1799), referred to as the Father of America. His early education included the study of such subjects as mathematics, surveying, the classics and "rules of civility". He was well-known for his remarkable work as a general and commander and chief of the colonial armies during the American Revolution. He was also identified for his love of land and farming on his plantations at Mount Vermont in Virginia on the Potomac River, which he inherited from his half brother Lawrence who died from tuberculosis, he was an inspiration for George as he acknowledged his abilities from him. At the age of 16 he worked as a survey to scheme the land of people for a few years. Then he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel in 1754 and fought in the French and Indian War (1754-1763) in favor of the British. He kept a record of his life in a journal. He wrote to his mother a letter on which he wrote about an injury he got from 4 bullets through his coat and 2 horses that shot under him. Due to these circumstances, George became very ill and was sent home to Virginia for recovery. After his recovery he returned to the British army, defeated the French and captured Fort Duquesne in 1758.   
 Next, he was married to a widow called Martha Dandridge after the French and Indian War on January 6, 1759. She had two children before she had married George, John and Martha which George treated as his own. As George was at war Martha would join Washington´s headquarters every winter on which she contributed in everything she could to encourage and support her husband´s army. They had a happy marriage. 
His experience in the militia made him a well-trained soldier factor that lead the Continental Congress to choose him as commander in chief  of the Continental forces during the fight for independence where he served with no pay in return, but for the honor and love to his country. The colonist fought eight rough years (1775-178)3 for independence from the British, a war that concluded in success thanks to the great assistance of a great commander, George Washington, who played an important role leading his army with courage and support through his great stragedies of defense and spirit of independence. After the war Washington expected to join his family back in home at Mount Vermont. But on 1789 he was elected unanimously as the first president of the United States. Because it was an honor and a great responsibility George accepted and left Mount Vermont on April 16 and arrived new York City on April 30 where his inauguration where he took his oath of office as president on the balcony of federal Hall on Wall Street.. he arranged his first cabinet to run the country, which included Thomas Jefferson as secretary of state, Alexander Hamilton as secretary of the treasury, Henry Knox as secretary of war, and Edmund Randolph as attorney general. By March 1797, when Washington left the office, the country's new federal government was well-established. He proceeded to his retirement at Mount Vermont to spend his last years happily next to his family. Three years later he died from a throat infection at his estate on December 14, 1779.

George Washington was a memorable character in America as he emerged in national imagination with patriotism during his lifetime accomplishing his objective of a great nation, the United States of America.

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The Battle of Saratoga was like the turning point of the Revolution. 
British troops in Canada had as their main objective to take control of Albany, New York and Hudson River to divide the New England colonies from all the other colonies at the Hudson River and make it easier for Britain to gain control, under the guidance and lead of Major General John Burgoyne. General Burgoyne left Montreal, Quebec in Canada with 6000 men on June 1777 to approach Albany. Another group of troops led by Lieutenant Colonel St. Leger were to join him from Canada. General Howe also was to join him from New York. On their way they stopped at Fort Tinconderoga which is between Lake George and Lake Campaign built by the French in 1775 to protect themselves against the British and also protect fur trading the major route through the Hudson River. Then the fort was taken over by the British on July 5, 1777.
Unfortunately for Burgoyne, St. Leger's troops ran into Benedict Arnold and his American militia. St. Leger and his troops were forced to head back to Canada. Then, General Howe's forces were fighting with Washington at the Battle of Brandywine and then the Battle of Germantown. This kept him from joining Burgoyne.


As Major General Burgoyne reached Albany with his men in September, 1777, they found the city guarded by 7000 Patriots under the command of Major General Horatio Gates now Patriots had decided to wait for British to make their move since they had used the land to their advantage. After minor assaults on September 19 General Gates led his men to an attack at Freeman´s Farm and even though Patriots were reinforced with Gate´s troop they were still not able to suppress the British. Patriots had 320 men killed or hurt, then the British had 600 killed or wounded and the survivor moved up north two miles of Freemen´s Farm to set up their camp headquarters.

On October 7, 1777 General Burgoyne and his men executed a full assault on the patriots at Bemis Heights. But the Patriots had let down the British before through the minor assault and they were now prepared to fight them on October. The patriot´s defense was made up of Major General Gates´, Major General Arnold´s, and Major General Daniel Morgan´s troops which together integrated a great defense against the British. This gave General Burgoyne on choice but to depart Saratoga, they suffered 600 losses compared to the patriots who only lost 150 men. General Burgoyne with 5000 men surrenders to a Patriot army of 20000 men.

This battle strengthen the Patriot´s spirit of winning the war and gave them the confidence, but it also disappointed the British who had the purpose of  taking control of the North giving up their hope of ever recovering authority over the Colonies.


This battle encouraged the French to support in a more direct and public way the colonists since it use to be a secret way of helping, but the war had persuaded the French that patriots had the chance to win the war against the British for their independence. They participated in the victory at Yorktown on October 6, 1781, where General Cornwallis´ and his troops also surrendered against an army of 16000 men.
This battle was one important victory as a turning point of the war in favor of the colonists.




GoAnimate.com: Revolutionary War- Battle of SaratogaVideo

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During the year of 1776 George Washington had suffered great losses on Long Island and having to surrender on New York City and forded them to retreat to Jersey. Washington withdraw his troops throughout the crossing of the Delaware, this would make him and his troops indefensible from the British with their naval mobility and larger force. British didn´t attempt to cross the Delaware and established at Manhattan Island and Staten Island under General Howe´s leadership.
Fort Manhattan and Fort Lee had been captured by about 1500 Hessians. George Washington was planning to attack them, by crossing the Delaware at Christmas night with about 2000 men. But the crossing was hard since the weather conditions did not make the passage easy with their boats avoiding ice floes in the river and heavy snow storms. Many of the soldiers were badly clothed and some did not have shoes, several were leaving traces of blood on the snow as they marched to Trenton. On December 26, 1776, American troops surprised the Hessians who were stationed in houses along the Penning road about half mile outside Trenton, they had intended to celebrate Christmas and even their commander was notified of an attack, but he ignored the warning. He said "What need of entrenchments? Let the rebels come; we will at them with the bayonet", and did not anticipate defense works around the town. Continental forces under the command of Nathanael Greene and John Sullivan surrounded them. The Hessian´s commander Colonel Rall who intended to caution his soldiers got in his horse, but he was then shot and died from his wounds. Within 90 minutes Hessians were surrounded by the Americans considering escape routes cut off.. Hessians surrendered, they suffered 20 deaths, 100 wounded and 1000 of their soldiers were captured and sent to Philadelphia.
For the first time Washington and his troops had defeated a regular army in the field, the army had gain forces to continue, the victory raised their spirits giving them confidence, some who were about to leave the army, reenlisted; and Washington´s reputation of a good commander had solidified there were no more doubts of his abilities. Afterward, Washington gained 6 cannons, 40 horses and a great deal of supplies that were transported to Pennsylvania.

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Thomas Paine was an author, pamphleteer, radical, inventor, intellectual, revolutionary, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He has been called "a corsetmaker by trade, a journalist by profession, and a propagandist by inclination."
Born in Thetford, in the English county of Norfolk, Paine emigrated to the British American colonies in 1774 in time to participate in the American Revolution. His principal contributions were the powerful, widely read pamphlet Common Sense

He denounced the King and aristocrasts as frauds and parasites. He wanted the common people to elect everyone in the goverment. Thomas Paine depicked the King as the enemy, not Parliament. He hated the rigid class structure of britan for smothering the hopes of the poor who had no titles. He argued that a republic would award those who worked hard, instead of inheriting your power or priviledges.

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Though most people agreed with the boycotts of British imports there was a small minority that preffered the British rule. Many, if not most loyalists dreaded the Patriots and mobs. Some Loyalists didn't fight because they were not dissatisfied. They may have been wealthy or simply believed that Great Britain was justified in its actions. Patriots would insult Loyalists and mistrusted them because they did not believe in the Patriots' cause.

Although many loyalists disafreed with the taxes, they believed that they had to obey the goverment. Loyalists feared that the resistance was going to start a war. They favored laws and order and considered Patriots vermin. Loyalists resented Patriots shooting down loyalist newspaper stands. Loyalism appealed to native americans and to enslaved people.

Loyalists opposed patriot causes becaus the preffered English rule, they considered Patriots brutal, they disliked the militia and most importantly, the favored law and order.