In the Cause of American Independence

Franklin at once became a member of the Continental Congress, where he was given the task of organizing a postal system and was made postmaster general. He also served as a member of the committee that prepared the Declaration of Independence.

The United States badly needed assistance in fighting the war. A three-man commission, including Franklin, was sent to France in 1776 to try to arrange a treaty. The French government had not recognized the United States, but Franklin was received unofficially with great enthusiasm. His renown and his diplomatic skills were of the greatest benefit in gaining the treaty of alliance, signed in 1778. Shortly afterward, Franklin was appointed sole American agent to France. His main duty the next few years was to raise money for continuing the war.

In 1781 Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay were named to a commission to negotiate peace with Great Britain. Their efforts ended in the Treaty of Paris, signed in 1783. In 1785, Franklin turned over his responsibilities to Thomas Jefferson and returned home.

Back in Philadelphia, Franklin was chosen president of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania. He served in this office for three years. In 1787 he became a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Franklin preached compromise to the other delegates, and when the Constitution was finished, he urged that it be unanimously adopted. His last public act was to sign a petition to Congress for the immediate abolition of slavery. He died April 17, 1790.