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Interpreting the Evidence

Benjamin Franklin Statue in New York City, 1872

  • Documents in this Activity:
  • Historical Eras:

    Industrialization (1870 - 1900)

  • Thinking Skill:

    Historical Analysis & Interpretation

  • Grade Level:

    Lower Elementary
    Upper Elementary
    Middle School
    High School
    College University

  • Topics:

    Architecture
    Colonial America
    Tourism

  • Primary Source Types:

    Photograph

  • Regions:

    New York City
    New York State

  • Creator:

    NYS Archives Partnership Trust Education Team.

  1. Load Benjamin Franklin Statue in New York City, 1872 in Main Document Viewer

Suggested Teaching Instructions

Document Description
Benjamin Franklin statue by sculptor Ernst Plassmann (1823–1877), Printing House Square, New York City, 1872. Photograph taken pre-1911.
Historical Context
Benjamin Franklin is one of the most famous men in American history.  Born in 1706, he participated in the events that led to the American Revolution and the birth of the United States.  Franklin was the only person to have signed all three of the major documents that helped to establish the United States: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, and the Constitution of the United States.

Although Franklin may be best known as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, he is also famous for his accomplishments in a variety of different fields.  Franklin was a successful printer and writer and an enthusiastic inventor and scientist.  He also founded a number of important institutions, including the first lending library in the United States, the American Philosophical Society, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Hospital.  In all, Franklin was an extraordinaryman whose life and accomplishments extend far beyond what can be summarized in a single page.

Essential Question
How do symbols and monuments unite people?
 
Check for Understanding
Describe the scene in the photograph and explain the purpose of this monument.
Historical Challenges
What did Benjamin Franklin think about slavery?
 
Interdisciplinary Connections
Math: How old was Benjamin Franklin when he died?
Science: What were some of Benjamin Franklin's inventions and scientific discoveries?
English Language Arts: Choose what you think are Benjamin Franklin’s five biggest accomplishments and write a persuasive essay explaining why they are more significant than others.