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The Electric Dr. Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was not just a Founding Father, but a scientist. From 1746 to 1752, he conducted experiments that changed peoples' understanding of electricity. The sparks of his inventive mind drove research and led to new inventions.
Those sparks crackle with complications of his time. Enslaved people helped build his fortune, and may have participated in his research. We still have much to learn about that part of his scientific work.
The discoveries he made, and the circumstances in which he made them, continue to affect us today. Wondering how? Look no further than the smartphone in your hand. |