"First American Minister"
"In 1757, Franklin began his diplomatic odyssey as the 'First American Minister' when the Pennsylvania colonial assembly commissioned him to go to London to represent the colony in a taxation dispute with the government of King George II.He served as the "First American Minister" until his death in 1790."
Benjamin Franklin did as much as sign treaties, come up with many ideas such as the Albany Plan of Union, he sent letters to get people to help the American cause, recorded historical events in journals so that later generations would have the documents, and so much more.
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- Letter from Benjamin Franklin to George Washington as an American Minister.
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"Minister Plenipotentiary to Sweden"
- Flag of Sweden
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"The United States had appointed Benjamin Franklin as Minister Plenipotentiary to Sweden on September 28, 1782. Franklin did not proceed to Sweden, but remained in Paris, where he was already serving as Minister Plenipotentiary to France. The Swedish minister in Paris approached Franklin in 1782 with the suggestion of concluding a treaty between the two entities, remarking that he hoped it would be remembered that “Sweden was the first power in Europe which had voluntarily and without solicitation offered its friendship to the United States.” Franklin informed Congress of this initiative and was then empowered to negotiate with Sweden."
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"Minister to France"
"Because of his international experience, Franklin was chosen by the Continental Congress as one of its first ministers to France on September 14, 1778. In Paris Franklin reached his peak of fame, becoming the focal point for a cultural Franklin-mania among the French intellectual elite. Franklin ultimately helped negotiate a cessation of hostilities and a peace treaty that officially ended the Revolutionary War."
While in France, Benjamin Franklin was able to sign the treaty in Paris, which stated that the French would help aid North America in their struggle against Britain.
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"Member of the Albany Congress"
"The Albany Congress met in Albany from June 19 to July 11, 1754. Holding daily meetings at the City Hall, official delegates from seven colonies considered strategies for Indian diplomacy and put forth the so-called Albany Plan of Union (put forth by Benjamin Franklin)."
Benjamin Franklin represented Pennsylvania in the Albany Congress. He contributed major multiple ideas to the congress that would change American. An example is the Albany Plan of Union, mentioned above. His plan was wanted by congress but unwanted by the colonial legislatures because they believed that it intruded upon the powers that they held.
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"Member of the Continental Congress"
"Franklin returned to Philadelphia in 1775. There he served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, where he was instrumental in drafting the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation to form a new union."
His acts within the Continental Congress helped North America to further become a nation.
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"This broadside signed by Franklin as president of the Pennsylvania Convention to the Continental Congress, urges the provincial militia to march with expedition, disregarding any reports to the contrary."
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