Motivation is a “key” to success. Since Franklin was one of the youngest in his family (15th of 17) he felt as though he had to prove himself. At the ripe age of thirteen he was apprenticed to his brother James. Franklin learned the printing trade, devoting his spare time to the advancement of his education. Franklin held the mentality of always wanting to be one-step ahead. He took nothing for granted. “In 1721 his brother James Franklin established the New England Courant, and Benjamin, at the age of 15, was busily occupied in delivering the newspaper and writing articles for it at night.�

Despite his impressive assistance to the fields of literature and science, Franklin’s most notable contributions would be diplomatically and politically. After selling his printing business in 1748 he was elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1750, in which he served until 1764. He was appointed deputy postmaster general for the colonies in 1753. “In 1754 he was the delegate from Pennsylvania to the Inter-colonial Congress that met at Albany to address the French and Indian War. During this time period Franklin created an Albany Plan which provided for local independence of the “colonial union.”(Morgan). This type of thinking was far in advance and therefore the plan failed. This is a prime example that Franklin’s train of thought was radical for its time causing Franklin to seem as an outsider. It may not be that Franklin was a liberal trying to change society, but an individual who knew of the events to come. I do not believe that he wanted to change society, but prepare it. In1764 he was dispatched to England as the representative of Pennsylvania regarding the effects of the Stamp Act upon the colonies. His testimony was largely helpful in the repeal of the act. However, new plans for taxing the colonies were introduced in Parliament, and Franklin was increasingly divided between his devotion to his native land and his loyalty to George III of Great Britain. Franklin knew of the inevitability of war. It is because of this that Franklin can be called a liberal. He knew that a change of society was necessary prior to the war because he was aware of the effects that the war would cause on America and England regardless of the outcome. He knew relations would weaken and that America would need aid whether they won or lost. His beliefs also support the fact that he was a reformer because reform was exactly what he was trying to achieve. Due to the fact that Franklin was respected for his work at home and abroad he made many attempts to receive French and Canadian support during and after the Revolutionary War. Franklin’s character made him extremely popular in France. “He helped secure aid and benefits for the U.S. that perhaps no other man could have obtained. He managed to receive liberal grants an

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