America breaks free: "this nation," declared Benjamin Franklin, "was established in spite of [any number of] obstacles, with an expedition, energy, wisdom, and success which the whole history of human affairs has not, hitherto, given an example.".

• Author: Skousen, Mark
• Position: USA Yesterday - The Completed Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin - Excerpt

Congress and the Declaration of Independence, 1775-76. I found at my arrival all America, from one end of the 13 united provinces to the other, busily learning the use of arms, all trade and business being at a stand. The attack upon the country people near Boston, where without the least necessity, they barbarously plundered and burnt a fine, undefended town, had rous'd everybody, and exasperated the whole continent; the tradesmen of Philadelphia were in the field twice a day, at five in the morning and six in the afternoon, disciplining with the utmost diligence, all being volunteers. The same spirit appeared everywhere and the unanimity was amazing.

A delegate to Congress. I was unanimously chosen by the General Assembly of Pennsylvania as a delegate for the Continental Congress. We were directed to consult on the alarming situation in the colonies and recommend further measures of obtaining redress of American grievances with Great Britain. We met at nine in the morning, and often sat till four. I was also appointed to the Committee of Safety, which met at six in the morning. There was not a dissenting voice among us in any resolution for defense, and our Army, which was already formed, would soon consist of above 20,000 men.

With difficulty we carried another humble petition to the Crown, to give Britain one more chance, one opportunity of recovering the friendship of the colonies, which she did not have sense enough to embrace, and thus had lost forever. As Britain began to use force, it seemed absolutely necessary that we should be prepared to repel force with force. We were preparing and determined to run all risks rather than comply with her mad demands. The defeat of a great body of the King's troops by the country people at Lexington, and the action at Bunker's Hill, in which they were twice repulsed, was enough to convince the ministers that the Americans can fight.

you are now my enemy, and I am ... Yours. I addressed (but never sent) the following letter to Mr. Strahan:

Philada. July 5, 1775

Mr. Strahan,

You are a member of Parliament, and one of that majority which has doomed my country to destruction. You have begun to burn our towns, and murder our people. Look upon your hands! They are stained with the blood of your relations! You and I were long friends: You are now my enemy, and

I am,

Yours,

B FRANKLIN

If a temperament naturally cool and phlegmatic can, in old age, be thus heated, you will judge by that of the general temper in America, which was little short of madness.

We gave up our commerce with Britain, and in our minds we gave up our sea coast to the barbarous ravages of English ships of war; but the internal country we promised to defend. It was, with our liberties, worth defending, and would itself by its fertility enable us to defend it.

Great frugality and industry became fashionable: Gentlemen who used to entertain with two or three courses began treating with simple beef and pudding. Our savings in the article of trade ,amounted to nearly five million sterling per annum. The Congress voted me 1,000 dollars per annum as Postmaster General, and I devoted the whole sum to the assistance of the disabled in defense of their country, that I might not be suspected of having the least interested motive for keeping the breach open. By these means, we were better able to pay our voluntary taxes for the support of our troops.

The Rattlesnake as a symbol of America: "Don't tread on me." I observed on one of the drums belonging to the Marines a painted rattlesnake, with this modest motto, "Don't tread on me." It occurred to me that the rattlesnake, being found in no other quarter of the world besides America, might be chosen to represent her. As I ran over in my mind every property by which she was distinguished, I recollected that her eye excels in brightness and that she has no eye-lids. She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance. She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders; she is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. The weapons with which nature has furnished her she conceals in the roof of her mouth so that she appears a most defenseless animal; even when those weapons are extended for her defense, they appear weak and contemptible. But their wounds are decisive and fatal. She never wounds till she has generously given notice, and cautioned against the danger of treading on her. I counted

Benjamin Franklin's celebrated autobiography, published after his death, had remained incomplete for more than 200 years--until now. Franklin ended his life story in 1757, when he was 51. He lived another 33, eventful years, during which time he played a vital and historic role in the formation of the U.S. In celebration of the 300th anniversary of his birth, Franklin descendant Mark Skousen painstakingly has gone through the Founding Father's personal papers to produce the rest of the story--in Franklin's own words. What follows is a fascinating account of the Revolutionary" War and its aftermath.

the rattles and found them just thirteen, exactly the number of the colonies united in America; this is the only part of the snake that increases in numbers.

'Tis amazing to observe how distinct and independent the rattles are, and yet how firmly they are united together, so as never to be separated but by breaking them to pieces. One of those rattles singly is incapable of producing sound, but the ringing of thirteen together is sufficient to alarm the boldest man living. The rattlesnake is solitary except when association is necessary for preservation. In winter, the warmth of a number together...