By the summer of 1787, the Constitutional Convention was on the verge of collapse. Delegates locked in stalemate, pulled apart by self-interest, competing state loyalties, and political gamesmanship. It was in this moment of crisis that Benjamin Franklin rose and made an appeal not to politics, but to providence, urging his fellow delegates to set aside their factions and seek the guidance of the Creator. Watch Oscar-winning actor and icon, John Voight, bring Ben Franklin to life in this powerful rendition of Franklin’s "Prayer Speech." Celebrate America's 250th With Purpose. As our nation celebrates its 250th birthday, PragerU is seizing this historic moment to educate the next generation about America’s founding, values, and…
The Hill’s senior vice president of editorial content, Bill Sammon, and political editor, Chris Stirewalt, mark the 250th Independence Day with a look at the revolutionary promise of 1776. From Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln to Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King Jr., the two discuss liberty, equality and the enduring meaning of the Fourth of July. You can watch the full discussion here: https://thehill.com/newsletters/whole-hog-politics/whole-hog-politics-live-briefing/5952630-whole-hog-live-briefing-america-250-1776/ #America #America250 #UnitedStates #FourthofJuly #4thofJuly
In the NewsNation special "Patriots & Plotters," Leland Vittert and Bill O'Reilly look into the history of the relationship between Benjamin Franklin and his son, William Franklin. NewsNation is your source for fact-based, unbiased news for all Americans.
On July 1, 2016, the Maryland State House, the oldest still in legislative use, was...
On July 1, 2016, the Maryland State House, the oldest still in legislative use, was struck by lightning. Smoke billowed from the wood dome, but firefighters found no fire. The lightning rod atop the dome, constructed to Benjamin Franklin’s specifications 208 years prior, safely redirected the current, preserving the historic building. Although Franklin’s inventions1 are valuable, his most significant impact was as a statesman. The only American to sign the Declaration of Independence,2 the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Paris, and the Constitution, Benjamin Franklin was arguably second only—or perhaps equal to—George Washington in influence and equally necessary to victory. He led the development of U.S.…Open
As we celebrate the semiquincentennial, we should remember who we were. The post America: A Forgotten Idea appeared first on The American Conservative .
America America: A Forgotten Idea As we celebrate the semiquincentennial, we should remember who we were. Twelve score and ten years ago, the 56 signatories to the Declaration of Independence made a break in history. They signed their death warrants on July 4, 1776, to secure unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, i.e., the opportunity to march to your own drummer without fear of domestic predation or foreign aggression—the summit of civilization. The end of government and civil society was to be justice, making everyone’s station in life correspond to character and accomplishments, simpliciter. Justice…Open
The Hill's Chris Stirewalt and Bill Sammon reflect on the extraordinary speed, personalities and political conditions that shaped the Declaration of Independence. They walk through Thomas Jefferson’s central role, Benjamin Franklin’s influence and why the founding moment in 1776 was a rare convergence of ideas and leadership that could only have happened in America. Watch the full episode here: https://thehill.com/newsletters/whole-hog-politics/whole-hog-politics-live-briefing/5921440-america-at-250-meaning-politics-media-live-discussion/ The Hill Insider is a new premium access digital subscription from The Hill — launching July 2026. Join the waitlist now: thehill.com/waitlist #america #america250 #freedom250 #1776 #july4th…
During a break in the Constitutional Convention, prominent Philadelphian Elizabeth Powell asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” […] Source
During a break in the Constitutional Convention, prominent Philadelphian Elizabeth Powell asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” […] Source
The Declaration of Independence didn’t happen the way this famous painting shows it. In this episode of Road To Liberty, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin tell the real story of what happened inside Independence Hall in 1776. From the Second Continental Congress and the creation of the Continental Army, to Jefferson drafting the Declaration in a hot, shuttered room in Philadelphia, this video walks through why the Declaration of Independence was written, who wrote it, and what actually happened between July 2 (the vote for independence) and July 4, 1776 (the adoption of the final text). Along the way, we explore: What the Declaration of Independence really is and why it was written How Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin…
