Interpreting the Evidence
Print of Benjamin Franklin's House, 1912
Suggested Teaching Instructions
Document Description
House in which Benjamin Franklin was born, Milk Street, Boston. From print, 1912.
Historical Context
Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, in this house on Milk Street in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the eighth out of ten children born to Josiah Franklin and Abiah Folger. In addition, Ben’s father had seven children from his first marriage. Josiah Franklin was a soap and candlemaker. The Franklins did not have the money to educate seventeen children. As a result, Ben left school when he was ten years old in order to learn his father's trade. Later, he became an apprentice to his older brother James, who ran a printing office in Boston.
Essential Question
How do individuals influence the development of a society?
Check for Understanding
Describe the scene in the photograph and evaluate the impact of Benjamin Franklin's life on the development of American society.
Interdisciplinary Connections
Math: Calculate how many meals would have been served in the Franklin household on a typical day if the entire family was present at each meal.