Franklin Charms Paris, by Tom Fleming

Through the article and other documents in this collection, students will have an opportunity to answer the guiding questions by looking at the American Revolution from a different perspective than is normally found in textbooks. Students should have some background knowledge of both Ben Franklin’s and France’s role in the American Revolution. Students will be able to answer the guiding questions by synthesizing what they already know of Ben Franklin, the American Revolution, and France’s role in the Revolution with the information provided in the article and documents. Additionally, students could analyze how our relationship with France evolved from the French/Indian Wars to the Revolutionary War. Also consider comparing the American French alliance of the Revolutionary War to those of other revolutions (for example French Revolution or modern revolutionary movements like those of the Arab Spring).

Literature Connections:

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin; The Contrast by Royall Tyler