Dogood’s popularity grew, which greatly angered Franklin’s brother once he discovered the prank. When his brother refused, Ben assumed a false identity of a widow named Silence Dogood and subsequently started writing letters in her name. False IdentityĪs an apprentice in his brother’s print shop, Ben expressed his desire to write for the newspaper, the New England Courant. He wrote a well-known essay, “The Morals of Chess” that detailed the rules of conduct for playing the game and was responsible for making chess a popular sport in America. He was inducted into the United States Chess Hall of Fame in 1999. Check MateĪmong his many other talents, Benjamin Franklin was a skilled chess player.
He was the governor of Pennsylvania, the first United States ambassador to France and Sweden and the first ever United States Postmaster General. The fact is, unlike his contemporaries George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, Franklin never held the office of the presidency. The Only President Who Was Never PresidentĪ common mistake made by many is the assumption that Benjamin Franklin was President of the United States. Here are some fun facts about the Benjamin franklin facts that helped shape our nation’s history. And although most Americans know about his daredevil electrical experiment where he attached a metal key to a kite and flew it in a thunderstorm, there are many other reasons that Benjamin Franklin is known as one of the country’s most influential figures. She blogs as the Cross-cultural Mom at writer, civic leader, inventor, diplomat and top political thinker of his time, Benjamin Franklin was one of America’s founding fathers. Justine Ickes is a freelance writer and mom to two boys. Talk about it – What other world leaders should be honored? Why? If you were in Congress, what new national holiday would you propose? Why? On what date would it be celebrated? Officially, however, the holiday has never changed. But ever since President Nixon referred to the holiday as "Presidents' Day", people have mistakenly believed that the day was designated to honor Lincoln too. In 1968, when Congress enacted the "Monday Holiday Law," Washington's Birthday was moved to the third Monday in February. Washington's birthday was declared a federal holiday in 1885.
Is this kind of "fudging" okay? Why or why not? How do you feel when you look at the Lincoln statue? Talk about it – In creating the statue of Lincoln, the sculptor took some artistic liberties. Instead, he cast his own hands and used them. Although French studied casts made of Lincoln's hands when he was alive, he did not use them as models because the fists were clenched. The hands depicted in the famous statue at the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall are not actually those of the President, but those of the sculptor Daniel Chester French. Talk about it – Do you think George's agricultural skills helped him as President? Why? Which qualities and skills are most important for a leader to have? Why? What qualities and skills does a modern President need to have that Washington didn't need? Talk about it – Why do you think Washington was so popular? How do you think Washington felt when he learned he'd received all the votes? Is it good for a leader to have no opponents?īefore he joined the military, Washington was an innovative farmer who experimented with different crops, crop rotation and fertilizers. president in history to have been unanimously elected. Votes were cast by the 69 members of the electoral college with one vote per elector. Talk about it – Why do you think Grace wanted Lincoln to grow a beard? Would you ever grow a beard? What other famous men have beards? How does physical appearance affect a person's life? What public image do you want to project?Īt the time Washington was elected, there was no popular vote for president. Want to help your children connect past and present? Use these fun facts and activities to jump-start a family dialogue about the legacies of these two influential Americans.Įleven-year-old Grace Bedell wrote to Lincoln a few weeks before he became President to suggest he grow a beard. And the information they do have right may not seem relevant to their 21st century lives. Trouble is some of what they know isn't actually true. Most kids can rattle off a few facts about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The Declaration of Independence and the Emancipation Proclamation.
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