After Benjamin Franklin was sent to France by Congress, John Adams was soon sent to join and assist him in his labors. Adams and Franklin were very different personalities. Ben was very patient, diplomatic, affable and even affectionate.
John Adams, on the other hand was terse, undiplomatic, impatient, and even gruff at times. Ben and John didn’t see eye to eye on how to proceed. Finally John became so impatient that he uncharacteristically left his assignment and travelled to Amsterdam where he was able to be introduced to some Dutch bankers. Men who controlled money. He was able to convince them to come to the aid of the Colonies, and save the Revolution at desperate time in the War. Thus saving the armies of Washington.
When Ben Franklin was sent to France to try to obtain an agreement from the French King for support in the Revolutionary War, he knew he would have to get himself noticed. Ben knew he had to make a great first impression! The French expected him to dress like their image of the Colonials. So he dressed that way.
Of course you remember learning about Benjamin Franklin’s Farmer’s Almanac titled “Poor Richard’s Almanac”. As a printer, Ben knew of the business of Almanacs. Farmers relied on them to prognosticate the weather for their planting and harvesting seasons.
Did you know that no American President has been an only child in his family?
And James Madison, known as “The Father of the Constitution” also had no children of his own. He married Dolley Madison, who had children from a prior marriage, and who, like Martha Washington, was a widow when she married James Madison. He helped raise her children, but again they had no children together.
When the U.S. Constitution was ratified and George Washington was elected as the first President of the United States of America, not only was a new nation created, but also a new culture.
My three grandchildren are living with me at this time. Three very handsome boys. Since school is out for the summer, they have to find things to keep them occupied—or their mother has to!
Yesterday I wrote about the amendment amending an amendment to the Constitution. I hope you read about it. Today more about Amendments.