Ben Franklin: The Original American

Where does America’s national character come from? Actually, you could make a good case that it’s … all from one guy: Benjamin Franklin.

Ben Franklin may just have been the most *American* American ever. Here's what we mean: Chances are that almost every trait you think of as part of the country’s cultural DNA … is something you can find in the life of Benjamin Franklin.

Between his newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette, and his best-selling book series, Poor Richard’s Almanac, Franklin did so well as a publisher that he was able to retire by the age of 42.
But Benjamin Franklin was always looking for the next thing to build. He created America's first lending library, volunteer firefighting company, and hospital. And he even ran the colonies’ postal service ... at a profit.

You might know that Franklin invented bifocals and the lightning rod. But did you know that that he also was one of the first proponents of inoculations against disease, the first person to chart the Gulf Stream, and even one of the first to identify the Placebo Effect?

Ben Franklin was quintessentially American. Always striving, always on to the next thing, always believing that tomorrow could be better than today.

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[MichaelColeman-xc]

Ben Franklin is also the one who possibly made the constitutionsl convention such a success by getting Washington, Jefferson, etc to agree to pray before starting the meeting. After the prayers started, the meetings went much smoother!🙏

[marymacdonald]

Ben Franklin may have been a visitor from another planet. A most unusually talented, creative man.

[lucan]

Everything we do and live by 24 hrs a day were ideas of Ben Franklin ! Everything from Central Heating; Paved Roads (for better business transactions); City Employee's; and of course Electricity and many, many other aspects of daily life...! Best thing to read about Benjamin Franklin is His "Autobiography" !!!! (it says it All)

[yvonneplant]

He is buried 2 blocks away from where I am sitting right now at 5th and Arch Sts, in Philadelphia.

[gaymichaelis]

Wow, this was a great video!!!! Good graphics, and good and funny narrating and everything Very entertaining and kept my attention for sure!!! Thank you to all the people that helped with this video!!! I am from the Philadelphia area and my mother was on the board of the Franklin Institute… Benjamin Franklin was big in Philadelphia. That’s for sure!!! And I guess he was from the Boston area, which I didn’t know, or forgot… He did so much, and was so active in so many different things, and I think, very, very intelligent and driven!!!! Thanks to Benjamin Franklin for all the contributions he made to our society!!!! And thank you again for the great video! 🙏😊✝️👌😇🩷✡️👍

[marionmarcetic]

This Is Truly One Accurate And Wonky Tribute To One Of The Greatest Americans That Ever

[georges]

Wow. Amazing video. Subscribed. When i was in elementary school, I had to do a book report on a great American's autobiography, and my mom made me do it on Ben Franklin. I couldnt believe he had done everything he had. It felt like a fictional tall tale, but my mom made sure to let me know it was true and that this is what American exceptionalism is. I've never forgotten it, and it holds a strong part of my beliefs as an adult now.

[SeanPat]

I personally benefitted from Benjamin Franklin.

I was born into a very poor family. While I’m high school, I read Franklin’s autobiography and employed some of his methods. Later, I was awarded a scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, in part due to Franklin’s policies. (The story was that Franklin founded the University to provide for the education of his children.) 😂

His frustration in his attempts to gain an education, together with his appreciation of the value of education to the US as a whole, made a profound difference in my life.

[Jesse-iy]

Do you know the more I watch this video and the more I listen to you talk the more I agree with everything you're saying you're damn right America's the greatest😅🎉

[lucan]

In His Autobiography he mentioned that Turkey meat was the Healthiest meat to consume. And also he said: "there is no living without drinking, and there is no drinking without living"

[lindadechiazza]

To answer, Yes this is a great country.

[davidkolaga]

Ben Franklin: the only president of the US who was never president of the US

[maryjeanjoshua]

Fun fact: Ben Franklin is my grandfather twelve generations back... that's great (x12) grandfather!

[OriginStories]

This is amazing!! Well done video!
The video quality is insanely good!
Great editing.
Idk how you don’t have more Subs.

[Cactusflower]

He showed up in my family tree on FamilySearch as my cousin 😊

[victorbellew]

It’s nice to see a video that’s pro America. So many people bash the US but it truly is one of the greatest countries to ever exist.

[thetruthis]

Ben really was that’ ni66a’ tho’ respect !! 💯💯💯🫶🏻

[willywit]

He was truly a great man.. after all, he invented my middle name, as Franklin. Lol.

[patricktruchon]

Franklin was everything you say, and more. There was a dark side as well. (Best to leave that be) . The one thing he wasn't was a great military commander like GW. However, his genius for diplomacy, especially with France, did a huge amount in getting as support which was absolutely vital to prosecuting the war. Yes, in so many ways he was the best!