By Maeve Hanchrow and Stephanie Gonzalez

Betsy Ross and Benjamin Franklin

My childhood-Ben Franklin

I was born January 17, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts I have 16 brothers and sisters. I am the tenth son. My father is a soap maker, named Josiah. My mother’s name is Abiah. I have only gone to school for 2 years. I personally loved ships and the water when I was young.

My job as an Apprentice printer.

When I was 15 years old my brother started The New England Courant the first "newspaper" in Boston.

My experience working for my brother Josiah, was hard. I was beaten and scolded at for being a bad fellow.

When my brother was put in jail I was in charge of the business and did a very good job.

I was late to work and got beaten so I decided to run away.

MY CAREER-BEN FRANKLIN As I grew up I worked for a man named

keimer. When I was 22 I started my own business. I retired from my job painting in 1748. From 1785 to 1788, I served as governor of

Pennsylvania. Toward the end of my life, I freed my slaves and became one of the most prominent abolitionists.

Benjamin Franklin – I am man of many interests and

talents I am one of the Founding Fathers of the

United States I am a leading author and printer, politician,

scientist, inventor and writer. As a scientist, I am a major figure in the

American Enlightenment and the history of physics for my discoveries and theories regarding electricity.

I formed both the first public lending library in America and the first fire department in Pennsylvania.

My funeral in 1790 became a national event attended by some 20,000 people. I died when I was only 83 years old. I died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I died from a heart attack in bed.

My Death

My Inventions One of my inventions, was that I created the Benjamin stove

which allowed people to heat their houses using less wood. I also invented bifocals that people were able to see far and

near distances. I invented an odometer so people can keep track of the

distances they are covering I also invented the lightning rod which protected buildings

and ships from lightning damage. And I invented a glass “armonica”. Its an instrument.

MY ACQUISITIONS I stand alone as the only person to have signed all

four documents which helped to create the United States: the Declaration of Independence in (1776), The Treaty of Alliance, Amity, and Commerce with France (1778), the Treaty of Peace between England, France, and the United States (1782), and the Constitution (1787).

I actually helped to write parts of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

I helped to set up the postal system in Philadelphia. In 1752, I set up America's first fire insurance

company. To make Philadelphia a safer city, I started the

Union Fire Company in 1736.

BASIC FACTS ABOUT ME In 1747 I published the text of a speech by a

fictitious woman named Polly Baker. From 1776-1785, I understood the importance of

networking to convince the French to become involved with the young nation’s cause.

I discovered the Gulf Stream during one of my many Atlantic crossings between the Americas and Europe

My real fortune, however, was made when I was only twenty-six with the success of Poor Richard’s Almanac, first printed in 1732.

Patrick Henry- The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, New Englanders are no more. I AM NOT A VIRGINIAN, BUT AN AMERICAN!“

Samuel Adams- "Driven from every other corner of the earth, freedom of thought and the right of private judgment in the matters of conscience direct their course to this happy country as the last asylum."Speech, 1776.

Benjamin Franklin- They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.“ 1759.

Rev. Archibald Carey, Jr - We, Negro Americans, sing with all loyal Americans: My country 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, Land of the Pilgrims' pride From every mountainside Let freedom ring! That's exactly what we mean -- from every mountain side, let freedom ring. Not only from the Green Mountains and White Mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire; not only from the Catskills of New York; but from the Ozarks in Arkansas, from the Stone Mountain in Georgia, from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia -- let it ring not only for the minorities of the United States, but for the disinherited of all the earth -- may the Republican Party, under God, from every mountainside, LET FREEDOM RING!

Bruce Ackerman-There is simply no escaping the fact that the fate of the Constitution is in our hands -- as voters, representatives, justices. If we allow ourselves to abuse the tradition of higher lawmaking, the very idea that the Constitution can be viewed as the culminating expression of a mobilized citizenry will disintegrate. After all, the American Republic is no more eternal than the Roman -- and it will come to an end when American citizens betray their Constitution’s fundamental ideals and aspirations so thoroughly that existing institutions merely parody the public meanings they formerly conveyed

Quotes

Betsy Ross - ChildhoodI was born January 1st, 1752. Elizabeth Griscom Ross Ashburn Claypoole is my full name. I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to my two parents Samuel and Rebecca James Griscom. I went to a Quaker school to learn needlework.

Betsy Ross - MarriageI married John Ross in 1773. My husband John was killed in January 1776 while on militia duty when gunpowder exploded at the Philadelphia waterfront. In 1777 I married Joseph Ashburn. He was a sailor, who was on a ship captured by the British in 1781. Then he died 1782, the next year. In 1783, I married John Claypoole, who had been in prison with Joseph Ashburn, and had met me when he delivered Joseph's farewells.

Some people had a meeting on the first U.S. flag. This meeting included George Washington, George Ross, and several others. Betsy accepted the job to make the first U.S. flag. The flag consisted of 13 stars for each colony, and had red and white stripes.

Betsy Ross – U.S. Flag