Select the verb that correctly completes the sentence:
I have a lot of work to do, so I be able to go to the movie tonight.
Select the verb that correctly completes the sentence:
Last year I couldn’t make a basket with a basketball, but now I play much better.
Select the verb that correctly completes the sentence:
If she wants to make it to the final competition, she need to practice and work hard this season.
Benjamin Franklin and the Revolutionary War
1. You could say Benjamin Franklin played an important role in the American Revolution. However, it would be more accurate to say Franklin played several important roles.
2. Before discussing Franklin’s roles in the Revolutionary War, it is necessary to describe something important Franklin did long before the Revolution. Back in the 1750s, during the French and Indian War, it seems Franklin created and printed a popular cartoon, which showed a snake divided into several sections. The tail was labeled S.C., for South Carolina. One of the middle sections was labeled N.J., for New Jersey. The head was labeled N.E., for New England. Underneath the snake Franklin printed the words “JOIN, or DIE.” What was he trying to say? It’s likely he was trying to say that if the colonies joined together to fight against the French, they would be much stronger. And if they did not join together, the French would defeat them. Franklin was urging the colonies to join together against a common enemy.
3. The colonies did eventually join together during the French and Indian War. With help from the British, as well as their own Native American allies, the colonists were able to defeat the French. However, when the British government tried to pay for the war with new taxes, another crisis occurred. This brings us to one of Franklin’s important roles in the American Revolution — helping to oppose the Stamp Act.
4. Franklin was in England in 1765, when Parliament was voting on the Stamp Act. He was serving as a diplomat representing the Pennsylvania Assembly. His job was to represent the colony and try to protect the colonists’ interests. Franklin opposed the Stamp Act and tried to convince members of Parliament to vote against it. Even though Franklin argued against the Stamp Act, Parliament approved it.
5. The colonists at home protested against the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act was a tax on all paper items. Many people refused to buy these items, therefore refusing to pay the tax. These protesters thought it was important for all colonies to join together and oppose the tax.
6. Some protesters remembered the cartoon Franklin had created 10 years earlier—the one with snake parts. They felt this cartoon was perfect for the current situation. Once again, the colonies had to join together against a common enemy. This time, the common enemy was not the French. It was Parliament and the king’s ministers. Franklin’s cartoon was reprinted in many colonial newspapers.
7. The colonists’ reaction to the Stamp Act surprised the king and his government. Franklin was called to speak in the Houses of Parliament. He tried to persuade Parliament to remove the Stamp Act by explaining why the colonists were so upset about the new law, and his remarks helped convince Parliament to repeal the act. Helping convince Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act was another one of Franklin’s important roles in the American Revolution.
8. Many colonists were pleased with Franklin because he had opposed the Stamp Act. Several other colonies decided to make him their representative in London. He not only served as a representative for Pennsylvania, he also represented Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Georgia.
9. In 1774, Franklin met with several top British ministers. They believed Franklin was being disloyal to them and unsupportive of their views. By this time, Franklin was getting very frustrated with King George III and Parliament. It seemed to him the king and Parliament were not listening to the colonists’ concerns or caring about their needs. Franklin felt the colonists would have no choice but to break away and declare independence. Despite Franklin’s frustration, he still had some hope that the British and colonies would come to an agreement. However, a few months later, he decided it was time to return home to help the patriots—a cause he now firmly supported.
Part B: What was the result of Franklin’s role in the French and Indian War?
Part A: What was Franklin’s important role during the French and Indian War?
In paragraph 3, what does the word crisis mean in the following sentence?
However, when the British government tried to pay for the war with new taxes, another crisis occurred.
The chart below lists a number of events that led up to the American Revolution and the role that Benjamin Franklin played in the events. Put the events in the correct order to show the sequence of events.
In addition to Pennsylvania, Franklin went on to represent Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Georgia.
Franklin’s cartoon was used to encourage the colonies to be united against the Stamp Act.
Franklin traveled to England and persuaded Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act.
Franklin left England and went home to support the patriots.
Parliament passed the Stamp Act. Franklin and the colonists were upset.
What is the main idea of this passage?
The last sentence of the passage says that Franklin returned home to help the patriots. What do you think he was returning home to help the patriots with?