Historical Understandings SS1H1 The student will read about and
describe the life of historical figures in American history. a.
Identify the contributions made by these figures: Benjamin Franklin
(inventor/author/ statesman),Thomas Jefferson (Declaration of
Independence), Meriwether Lewis and William Clark with Sacagawea
(exploration), Harriet Tubman (Underground Railroad), Theodore
Roosevelt (National Parks and the environment), George Washington
Carver (science). b. Describe how everyday life of these historical
figures is similar to and different from everyday life in the
present (food, clothing, homes, transportation, communication,
recreation).
Slide 4
Benjamin Franklins Inventions: Franklin Stove- Fireplaces were
the main source of heat for homes in the 18th century. Most
fireplaces of the day were very inefficient. They produced a lot of
smoke and most of the heat that was generated went right out the
chimney. Sparks in the home were of great concern because they
could cause a fire that would quickly destroy the homes, which were
constructed mainly with wood. Benjamin Franklin developed a new
style of stove with a hood like enclosure in the front and an
airbox in the rear. The new stove and reconfiguration of the flues
allowed for a more efficient fire, one that used one quarter as
much wood and generated twice as much heat. When offered a patent
for the fireplace's design, Benjamin Franklin turned it down. He
did not want to make a profit. He wanted all people to benefit from
his invention.
Slide 5
Inventions cont. Lightening Rod -In 1752, Benjamin Franklin
conducted his famous kite flying experiments and proved that
lightning is electricity. During the 1700s lightning was a major
cause of fires. Many buildings caught on fire when struck by
lightning and kept burning because they were built mainly of wood.
Benjamin Franklin wanted his experiment to be practical, so he
developed the lightning rod. A tall rod is attached to the outside
wall of the house. One end of the rod points up into the sky; the
other end is connected to a cable, which stretches down the side of
the house to the ground. The end of the cable is then buried at
least ten feet underground. The rod attracts the lightning and
sends the charge into the ground, which helps to decrease the
amount of fires.
Slide 6
Inventions cont. In 1784, Ben Franklin developed bifocal
glasses. He was getting old and was having trouble seeing both
up-close and at a distance. Getting tired of switching between two
types of glasses, he devised a way to have both types of lenses fit
into the frame. The distance lens was placed at the top and the the
up-close lens was placed at the bottom.
Slide 7
Inventions cont. Map of Gulf Stream: Ben Franklin always
wondered why sailing from America to Europe took less time than
going the other way. Finding the answer to this would help to speed
travel, shipments and mail deliveries across the ocean. Franklin
was the first scientist to study and map the Gulf Stream. He
measured wind speeds and current depth, speed and temperature. Ben
Franklin described the Gulf Stream as a river of warm water and
mapped it as flowing north from the West Indies, along the East
Coast of North America and east across the Atlantic Ocean to
Europe.
Slide 8
Inventions cont. Ben Franklin believed that people should
should use daylight productively. He was one of the greatest
supporters of daylight savings time in summer.
Slide 9
Benjamin Franklin Born in Boston in 1706, Benjamin Franklin
organized the United States first lending library and volunteer
fire department. His scientific pursuits included investigations
into electricity, mathematics and mapmaking. He helped draft the
Declaration of Independence and the U.S Constitution, and
negotiated the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which marked the end of the
Revolutionary War.