benjamin franklin essay topics

71 Benjamin Franklin Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best benjamin franklin topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 simple & easy benjamin franklin essay titles, 👍 good essay topics on benjamin franklin.

• The Significance of the Quote From Franklin’s Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers and participated in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. Perhaps, the reason for Franklin’s writing Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America was the author’s concern […]
• The “Join or Die” Cartoon by Benjamin Franklin At the onset of the French and Indian War, it was intended to unify the American colonies against the French and their Native allies.
• Benjamin Franklin’s Relation to Religion Franklin stated that “the system of morals and religion as he left them to us, is the best the world ever saw”.
• Benjamin Franklin Biography by His Brother James It is not that I was jealous of my younger brother’s writing skills, but evidently, I spent much time collecting press and letters in order to get my business going well; while Ben was so […]
• Benjamin Franklin and American Enlightenment Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, was closely related to the Enlightenment movement in the colonies.
• Views of Benjamin Franklin on Indian Culture The tenacity with which the Indians held to their traditions came out clearly in the treaty of Lancaster in Pennsylvania. A juxtaposition of civilization in the eyes of the Indians to the western countries is […]
• “Franklin and His Enemies” by Robert Middlekauff The Revolutionary War and the brutality of the British army during that conflict forced Franklin to change his opinion of the country and English people as a whole.
• Franklin’s Personality and Contribution to the US Development Franklin went down in history not only as one of the founding fathers of the United States but also as a scientist and thinker endowed with various knowledge and talents, a pragmatist and promoter of […]
• Benjamin Franklin and the American Enlightenment The American Enlightenment is a period in colonial America in the 18th and 19th centuries when the ideas of the European Enlightenment became the foundation for the preparation of the American Revolution.
• Franklin’s Contribution to the Enlightenment In addition, his desire to improve his language and the ability to defend his point of view on the basis of clear arguments determined his profession of a printer.
• Benjamin Franklin: Saying About Health and Its Trustworthiness When Franklin writes about the need for early falling asleep and early waking, he is addressing only the physical and social aspects of health because it is directly related to circadian rhythms, the body’s need […]
• The Speech of Miss Polly Baker and Benjamin Franklin In 1749, one of the most famous London newspapers posted a speech of the woman who became accused by the court of bearing a child outside of wedlock.
• Comparing Benjamin Franklin’s Work to Red Jacket’s Speech To further analyze the symbolism of people’s relationship with nature, the paper will compare Benjamin Franklin’s work to Red Jacket’s speech in terms of various rhetorical devices like metaphors and emotive use of language.
• The American Dream: Franklin’s and Douglass’s Perception The objective of this paper, therefore, is to discuss the topic of the American dream and how both Franklin and Douglass, each exemplify this dream.
• Benjamin Franklin as an Outstanding Leader Because of it, he organized a book club in one of the little rooms of this store driven by the idea of sharing books with other citizens of Philadelphia.
• Benjamin Franklin in the American History Benjamin Franklin is the legendary personality in the American history of the 18th and 19th century. Numerous scientists say that the values of the USA are embodied in Benjamin Franklin.
• Benjamin Franklin and Jonathan Edwards in American History In American History, two personalities Benjamin Franklin & Jonathan Edwards were seen to represent two different approaches to the creation of national identity in the years which lead to the creation of an American republic.
• Chastity: Defined by Benjamin Franklin People should refrain from viewing sexuality as the frequency with which a man has sex or the number of women with whom he sleeps, and should focus on a man’s sexuality in relationships that prove […]
• Benjamin Franklin and the American Revolution Radical interpretations of the Revolution were refracted through a unique understanding of American society and its location in the imperial community.
• The American Experience. Benjamin Franklin: Is He for Real? Thus, though Franklin’s education, beyond what has been said of the imponderable effect of his childhood experiences, must be described in terms of the books he read and the ideas he might have gleaned from […]
• Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography and the Key Elements of Representing the Self-Improvement Process Therefore, the autobiography is a blend of facts about Franklin’s life, as well as his achievements, and the memories of his interactions with a lot of people who had the greatest impact of the development […]
• The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin He stopped going to school at the age of ten, and at the age of twelve, he was already an apprentice to his brother, James. Franklin was sent to England in 1757 to explain to […]
• Initiating Innovations: Bill Gates and Benjamin Franklin Unlike Bill who was from a second-class family who could afford his education, Benjamin had to drop out of school due to inability to afford it and work for his brother in the printing sector. […]
• The Life of Benjamin Franklin His government duty as a diplomatic official and an ambassador led to the establishment of the American constitution and American flag and currency, which was unique among all the nations.
• The Use of Humor in “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin”
• The Impact of Free Trade on the American Economy Since Benjamin Franklin’s Time
• Philosophical Comparison of Benjamin Franklin and Henry David Thoreau
• The View of Benjamin Franklin on the American Dream
• The Contribution of Benjamin Franklin to The American Revolution
• The Two Sides Of Marriage In The Wedlock By Benjamin Franklin
• The Theme of Self-Improvement in the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
• The Views of Benjamin Franklin on Education and Culture
• The Virtues and Faults of Benjamin Franklin in The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
• The Contributions of the Speech in the Convention by Benjamin Franklin in Shaping and Reflecting Society
• The American Dream In The Great Gatsby And The Autobiography Of Benjamin Franklin
• Self-Improvement In The Writings of Benjamin Franklin and Frederick Douglass
• The Voice of Benjamin Franklin: Miss Polly Baker
• Why Benjamin Franklin Was a Good Politician
• The Careers, Achievements and Influence of Benjamin Franklin
• An Analysis of the Self-Disciplines of Benjamin Franklin, an American Printer, Diplomat, Scientist and Philosopher
• American Dream as Represented by Frederick Douglass and Benjamin Franklin
• Alcohol According to Benjamin Franklin and Frederick Douglass
• The Early Life, Political Career and Influence of Benjamin Franklin
• American Literature and the Impact of Benjamin Franklin
• Source Analysis of Documents Written by Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin Bache
• The Early Life and Significant Contribution of Benjamin Franklin
• The Accomplishments of Benjamin Franklin as One of the Founding Fathers of the United States
• The Different Annotated Bibliographies on the Work of Benjamin Franklin
• The Benjamin Franklin Effect: The Surprising Psychology of How to Handle Haters
• The American Dream By Frederick Douglass And Benjamin Franklin
• The Concept of an Ideal Nation Through the Eyes of Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, and Benjamin Franklin
• Most Influential Man in History: Benjamin Franklin
• The Success and Influence of Benjamin Franklin in the ‘Re-born’ America
• The Significant Meanings to the Significant Quotes in Benjamin Franklin’s A Way to Wealth
• The Problems and Opportunities of Benjamin Franklin
• The Influences of Emerson on the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
• The Man on the Hundred Dollar Bill: Benjamin Franklin
• The Importance Of Determination In The Lives Of Benjamin Franklin And Christopher Mc Candless
• The Reasons to Support the Believe That Benjamin Franklin Is an American Hero
• The Irrelevance of a Student’s Performance as a Success Determinant With Reference To Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, And Benjamin Franklin
• The Opposite Views of Benjamin Franklin and Ralph Waldo Emerson
• The Story of Benjamin Franklin’s Sister and How Women Are Sidelined in History
• The Outstanding Legacy of Benjamin Franklin
• The Life and Political Career of Benjamin Franklin
• The Life And Successes Of Benjamin Franklin
• The Insignificance of Measuring Student’s Achievement by Grades on the Examples of Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, and Benjamin Franklin
• The Life and Works of the Great Inventor, Benjamin Franklin
• The Inventions and Contributions of Benjamin Franklin to American Colonies
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100 Benjamin Franklin Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Benjamin Franklin is a name that resonates throughout American history as one of its most influential figures. Not only was he a Founding Father of the United States but also a polymath, inventor, writer, and philosopher. His contributions to the fields of science, literature, and politics are unparalleled, making him a popular subject for essays, research papers, and discussions. If you're looking for Benjamin Franklin essay topic ideas and examples, you've come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you with 100 thought-provoking prompts to inspire your writing.

• Benjamin Franklin: A Renaissance Man of American History.
• The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin: A reflection of his life and achievements.
• Franklin's role in shaping the American Revolution.
• The impact of Benjamin Franklin's inventions on society.
• Benjamin Franklin's contributions to the field of electricity.
• Franklin's role in the formation of the United States Constitution.
• The diplomatic achievements of Benjamin Franklin.
• Franklin as a writer: Analyzing his popular works.
• Benjamin Franklin's views on education and its significance.
• The influence of Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanack.
• Franklin's role in establishing the first public library in America.
• Benjamin Franklin's role in the abolitionist movement.
• Franklin's impact on the field of printing and journalism.
• The role of Benjamin Franklin in the creation of the United States Postal Service.
• Franklin's efforts in promoting public safety through the creation of fire departments.
• The role of Benjamin Franklin in the formation of the American Philosophical Society.
• Franklin's views on religion: Deism and spirituality.
• The impact of Franklin's experiments with electricity on the field of science.
• Franklin's role in the development of the bifocal eyeglasses.
• Benjamin Franklin as a mentor: His influence on future generations.
• The significance of Franklin's "Join or Die" political cartoon.
• Franklin's role as a diplomat in Europe during the American Revolution.
• Analyzing Franklin's political writings and speeches.
• The role of Benjamin Franklin in the creation of the Declaration of Independence.
• Franklin's contributions to the field of meteorology.
• The influence of Franklin's "An Economical Project" on American society.
• Franklin's views on women's rights and their role in society.
• Benjamin Franklin's impact on the field of medicine and public health.
• Franklin's role in the establishment of the University of Pennsylvania.
• The significance of Franklin's role in the French Revolution.
• Analyzing Franklin's involvement in the creation of the American flag.
• The impact of Franklin's "The Way to Wealth" on American economic thought.
• Franklin's role in the creation of the American anti-slavery movement.
• The influence of Franklin's moral virtues on personal development.
• Benjamin Franklin's political ideology and its relevance today.
• Franklin's contributions to the understanding of ocean currents and weather patterns.
• The impact of Franklin's experiments with lightning rods on building safety.
• Franklin's role in the creation of the American Mint and currency system.
• Analyzing Franklin's role in the creation of the American Philosophical Society Museum.
• The significance of Franklin's involvement in the drafting of the Treaty of Paris.
• Franklin's contributions to the field of population studies and demographics.
• The influence of Franklin's "Rules for a Good Society" on social behavior.
• Franklin's role in the creation of the American insurance industry.
• The impact of Franklin's experiments with air conditioning on modern technology.
• Franklin's views on personal finance and wealth accumulation.
• Benjamin Franklin's contributions to the field of political satire.
• Franklin's role in the establishment of the first hospital in the United States.
• The significance of Franklin's role in the creation of the American Anti-Slavery Society.
• Analyzing Franklin's involvement in the creation of the American Philosophical Society Library.
• The impact of Franklin's experiments with kites on the understanding of electricity.
• Franklin's contributions to the field of environmental conservation and sustainability.
• The influence of Franklin's "Advice to a Young Tradesman" on entrepreneurship.
• Franklin's role in the creation of the American system of public education.
• The significance of Franklin's involvement in the drafting of the Articles of Confederation.
• Franklin's contributions to the field of cartography and mapmaking.
• Analyzing Franklin's role in the creation of the American Red Cross.
• The impact of Franklin's experiments with ocean currents on maritime navigation.
• Franklin's views on freedom of speech and the press.
• Franklin's role in the creation of the American system of weights and measures.
• The significance of Franklin's involvement in the creation of the American Historical Society.
• Franklin's contributions to the field of urban planning and city development.
• The influence of Franklin's "The Speech of Polly Baker" on gender equality.
• Franklin's role in the creation of the American system of public transportation.
• The impact of Franklin's experiments with harmonicas on musical instruments.
• Franklin's views on immigration and its impact on American society.
• Franklin's role in the establishment of the first public hospital in the United States.
• Analyzing Franklin's involvement in the creation of the American Anti-Slavery Society Museum.
• The significance of Franklin's role in the creation of the American Philosophical Society Archives.
• Franklin's contributions to the field of agricultural innovation and farming techniques.
• The influence of Franklin's "Rules for Promoting Matrimony" on marriage customs.
• Franklin's role in the creation of the American system of public parks.
• The impact of Franklin's experiments with glass armonicas on music composition.
• Franklin's views on immigration and cultural diversity.
• Franklin's role in the establishment of the first public university in the United States.
• Analyzing Franklin's involvement in the creation of the American Historical Society Museum.
• Franklin's contributions to the field of transportation infrastructure and engineering.
• The influence of Franklin's "The Speech of Miss Polly Baker" on women's rights.
• Franklin's role in the creation of the American system of public libraries.
• The impact of Franklin's experiments with lightning conductors on electrical safety.
• Franklin's views on religious tolerance and freedom of worship.
• Franklin's role in the establishment of the first public art museum in the United States.
• Analyzing Franklin's involvement in the creation of the American Anti-Slavery Society Library.
• The significance of Franklin's role in the creation of the American Historical Society Archives.
• Franklin's contributions to the field of renewable energy and sustainable technologies.
• The influence of Franklin's "The Way to Matrimony" on courtship rituals.
• Franklin's role in the creation of the American system of public housing.
• The impact of Franklin's experiments with glass harmonicas on music therapy.
• Franklin's views on immigration and assimilation of different cultures.
• Franklin's role in the establishment of the first public art gallery in the United States.
• Analyzing Franklin's involvement in the creation of the American Historical Society Library.
• The significance of Franklin's role in the creation of the American Philosophical Society Museum.
• Franklin's contributions to the field of urban design and city planning.
• The influence of Franklin's "The Speech of Mr. Polly Baker" on gender roles.
• Franklin's role in the creation of the American system of public museums.
• The impact of Franklin's experiments with electricity on modern telecommunications.
• Franklin's views on immigration and the melting pot theory.
• Franklin's role in the establishment of the first public theater in the United States.
• Analyzing Franklin's involvement in the creation of the American Anti-Slavery Society Archives.
• The significance of Franklin's role in the creation of the American Historical Society Museum.

These 100 Benjamin Franklin essay topic ideas and examples should provide you with a wide range of options to explore his life, contributions, and legacy. Remember to choose a topic that interests you and allows you to delve deeper into the subject matter. Benjamin Franklin's multifaceted persona and his impact on various fields make him an enduring figure in American history, worthy of further study and exploration.

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Benjamin Franklin: An American Life

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How did Franklin’s Puritan upbringing influence his character and outlook?

Why was the occupation of printer a perfect fit for Franklin? How did it match his skills and personality?

Why does Isaacson depict Franklin as a product of the Enlightenment? Consider his interests, politics, and view of religion. Does that imply that the outlook of the American middle class is consistent with the Enlightenment?

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Benjamin Franklin

By: History.com Editors

Updated: June 25, 2024 | Original: November 9, 2009

One of the leading figures of early American history, Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was a statesman, author, publisher, scientist, inventor and diplomat. Born into a Boston family of modest means, Franklin had little formal education. He went on to start a successful printing business in Philadelphia and grew wealthy. Franklin was deeply active in public affairs in his adopted city, where he helped launch a lending library, hospital and college and garnered acclaim for his experiments with electricity, among other projects. During the American Revolution , he served in the Second Continental Congress and helped draft the Declaration of Independence in 1776. He also negotiated the 1783 Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War (1775-83). In 1787, in his final significant act of public service, he was a delegate to the convention that produced the U.S. Constitution .

Benjamin Franklin’s Early Years

Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, in colonial Boston. His father, Josiah Franklin (1657-1745), a native of England, was a candle and soap maker who married twice and had 17 children. Franklin’s mother was Abiah Folger (1667-1752) of Nantucket, Massachusetts , Josiah’s second wife. Franklin was the eighth of Abiah and Josiah’s 10 offspring.

Did you know? Benjamin Franklin is the only Founding Father  to have signed all four of the key documents establishing the U.S.: the Declaration of Independence (1776), the Treaty of Alliance with France (1778), the Treaty of Paris establishing peace with Great Britain (1783) and the U.S. Constitution (1787).

Franklin’s formal education was limited and ended when he was 10; however, he was an avid reader and taught himself to become a skilled writer. In 1718, at age 12, he was apprenticed to his older brother James, a Boston printer. By age 16, Franklin was contributing essays (under the pseudonym Silence Dogood) to a newspaper published by his brother. At age 17, Franklin ran away from his apprenticeship to Philadelphia, where he found work as a printer. In late 1724, he traveled to London, England, and again found employment in the printing business.

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Benjamin Franklin: Printer and Publisher

Benjamin Franklin returned to Philadelphia in 1726, and two years later opened a printing shop. The business became highly successful producing a range of materials, including government pamphlets, books and currency. In 1729, Franklin became the owner and publisher of a colonial newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette , which proved popular—and to which he contributed much of the content, often using pseudonyms. Franklin achieved fame and further financial success with “Poor Richard’s Almanack,” which he published every year from 1733 to 1758. The almanac became known for its witty sayings, which often had to do with the importance of diligence and frugality, such as “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”

In 1730, Franklin began living with Deborah Read (c. 1705-74), the daughter of his former Philadelphia landlady, as his common-law wife. Read’s first husband had abandoned her; however, due to bigamy laws, she and Franklin could not have an official wedding ceremony. Franklin and Read had a son, Francis Folger Franklin (1732-36), who died of smallpox at age 4, and a daughter, Sarah Franklin Bache (1743-1808). Franklin had another son, William Franklin (c. 1730-1813), who was born out of wedlock. William Franklin served as the last colonial governor of New Jersey , from 1763 to 1776, and remained loyal to the British during the American Revolution . He died in exile in England.

Benjamin Franklin and Philadelphia

As Franklin’s printing business prospered, he became increasingly involved in civic affairs. Starting in the 1730s, he helped establish a number of community organizations in Philadelphia, including a lending library (it was founded in 1731, a time when books weren’t widely available in the colonies, and remained the largest U.S. public library until the 1850s), the city’s first fire company , a police patrol and the American Philosophical Society , a group devoted to the sciences and other scholarly pursuits. 

Franklin also organized the Pennsylvania militia, raised funds to build a city hospital and spearheaded a program to pave and light city streets. Additionally, Franklin was instrumental in the creation of the Academy of Philadelphia, a college which opened in 1751 and became known as the University of Pennsylvania in 1791.

Franklin also was a key figure in the colonial postal system. In 1737, the British appointed him postmaster of Philadelphia, and he went on to become, in 1753, joint postmaster general for all the American colonies. In this role he instituted various measures to improve mail service; however, the British dismissed him from the job in 1774 because he was deemed too sympathetic to colonial interests. In July 1775, the Continental Congress appointed Franklin the first postmaster general of the United States, giving him authority over all post offices from Massachusetts to Georgia . He held this position until November 1776, when he was succeeded by his son-in-law. (The first U.S. postage stamps, issued on July 1, 1847, featured images of Benjamin Franklin and George Washington .)

Benjamin Franklin's Inventions

In 1748, Franklin, then 42 years old, had expanded his printing business throughout the colonies and become successful enough to stop working. Retirement allowed him to concentrate on public service and also pursue more fully his longtime interest in science. In the 1740s, he conducted experiments that contributed to the understanding of electricity, and invented the lightning rod, which protected buildings from fires caused by lightning. In 1752, he conducted his famous kite experiment and demonstrated that lightning is electricity. Franklin also coined a number of electricity-related terms, including battery, charge and conductor.

In addition to electricity, Franklin studied a number of other topics, including ocean currents, meteorology, causes of the common cold and refrigeration. He developed the Franklin stove, which provided more heat while using less fuel than other stoves, and bifocal eyeglasses, which allow for distance and reading use. In the early 1760s, Franklin invented a musical instrument called the glass armonica. Composers such as Ludwig Beethoven (1770-1827) and Wolfgang Mozart (1756-91) wrote music for Franklin’s armonica; however, by the early part of the 19th century, the once-popular instrument had largely fallen out of use.

Benjamin Franklin and the American Revolution

In 1754, at a meeting of colonial representatives in Albany, New York , Franklin proposed a plan for uniting the colonies under a national congress. Although his Albany Plan was rejected, it helped lay the groundwork for the Articles of Confederation , which became the first constitution of the United States when ratified in 1781.

In 1757, Franklin traveled to London as a representative of the Pennsylvania Assembly, to which he was elected in 1751. Over several years, he worked to settle a tax dispute and other issues involving descendants of William Penn (1644-1718), the owners of the colony of Pennsylvania. After a brief period back in the U.S., Franklin lived primarily in London until 1775. While he was abroad, the British government began, in the mid-1760s, to impose a series of regulatory measures to assert greater control over its American colonies. In 1766, Franklin testified in the British Parliament against the Stamp Act of 1765, which required that all legal documents, newspapers, books, playing cards and other printed materials in the American colonies carry a tax stamp. Although the Stamp Act was repealed in 1766, additional regulatory measures followed, leading to ever-increasing anti-British sentiment and eventual armed uprising in the American colonies .

Franklin returned to Philadelphia in May 1775, shortly after the Revolutionary War (1775-83) had begun, and was selected to serve as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress, America’s governing body at the time. In 1776, he was part of the five-member committee that helped draft the Declaration of Independence , in which the 13 American colonies declared their freedom from British rule. That same year, Congress sent Franklin to France to enlist that nation’s help with the Revolutionary War. In February 1778, the French signed a military alliance with America and went on to provide soldiers, supplies and money that proved critical to America’s victory in the war.

As minister to France starting in 1778, Franklin helped negotiate and draft the 1783  Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War.

Benjamin Franklin’s Later Years

In 1785, Franklin left France and returned once again to Philadelphia. In 1787, he was a Pennsylvania delegate to the Constitutional Convention. (The 81-year-old Franklin was the convention’s oldest delegate.) At the end of the convention, in September 1787, he urged his fellow delegates to support the heavily debated new document. The U.S. Constitution was ratified by the required nine states in June 1788, and George Washington (1732-99) was inaugurated as America’s first president in April 1789.

Franklin died a year later, at age 84, on April 17, 1790, in Philadelphia. Following a funeral that was attended by an estimated 20,000 people, he was buried in Philadelphia’s Christ Church cemetery. In his will, he left money to Boston and Philadelphia, which was later used to establish a trade school and a science museum and fund scholarships and other community projects.

More than 200 years after his death, Franklin remains one of the most celebrated figures in U.S. history. His image appears on the $100 bill, and towns, schools and businesses across America are named for him.

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