Benjamin Franklin is a name that still makes Americans proud. He is not only a famous American politician, scientist, diplomat, inventor, publisher, printer, journalist and writer ... He is also one of the founders of the United States, the pioneer of the American independence movement and the drafter of the Declaration of Independence. He was the only founder who signed the three most important American legal documents at the same time: 1776 Declaration of Independence, 1783 Paris Treaty (France recognized the newly independent United States) and 1787 American Constitution.
1723 Benjamin Franklin left home for Philadelphia at the age of 17, and has since become a loyal resident of this second hometown: Philadelphia is much bigger than new york or Boston. He set up his own printing company, published newspapers and published his own articles, which gained considerable respect in the local society. Later, he co-founded the first public library in Philadelphia, a university (the predecessor of the University of Pennsylvania), the first post office, a hospital (the first hospital in the United States in the future) and an influential academic group.
He invented a double-lens smokeless wood-burning stove. He thinks that these scientific experiments and inventions are a kind of public service, so he has never applied for a patent and never asked for remuneration for these inventions.
In order to prove the theory that lightning is electricity, he even flew a kite with his son in the storm in the wilderness and let lightning hit him; He invented the lightning rod; He found that charge has equal positive and negative poles; He wrote a paper about tornadoes; He put forward the theory of storm movement in meteorology; He invented flippers because he wanted to swim faster in the water. He found branches with sprouting leaves in wicker baskets imported from abroad and planted the first batch of willows in America. He also diagnosed the source of lead poisoning in glass and ceramic craftsmen, treated spasm with electric shock therapy, and correctly judged that dark clothes absorbed more heat than light clothes.
Before the independence of the United States of America, young colleagues such as Benjamin Franklin and Jefferson set out to establish a new representative country at the Continental Congress in this spirit of exploration. Walter isaacson, the author of Benjamin Franklin: An American's Life, pointed out that Franklin made full use of his experience in scientific experiments and inventions and his rationality from the material world in the process of drafting the program for the founding of the country. He participated in the design of the federal government system. Later, according to this system, the states shared power equally under the leadership of the central government. He wrote the famous saying "We hold the following truth to be self-evident" into the Declaration of Independence drafted by Jefferson, which mentioned the inalienable rights of human beings.
Benjamin Franklin's ability to combine practical things with fun-it is said that this is another American characteristic, so his influence has always existed. This environment that encourages creative thinking has made America a hotbed of innovation in the development of the whole19th century.
Even today, the United States is still the most influential country in scientific and technological research and innovation of scientific and technological products. Many of the most important inventions in the history of human industry, such as cotton gin, general parts, production line, airplane, light bulb, telephone, etc. , all originated in the United States, especially the industrialized production line, which turned large-scale industrialized production from a dream into a reality. The United States also realized the famous atomic bomb program, Apollo moon landing program and human genome program in the 20th century. It can be said that Benjamin Franklin predicted the future of America to a great extent.
In the eyes of Americans, the United States has no glorious history and culture to show off in just over 200 years since its founding, but it will have a bright future because of its innovative spirit. Therefore, the courage to challenge tradition and authority, the courage to challenge everything that has been done, constitutes the distinctive character of Americans and the connotation of the American spirit. As an outstanding representative of this American spirit, Benjamin Franklin will live in the hearts of Americans forever.