George Washington and Benjamin Franklin - II

Another person who made immense contribution towards American Freedom was Benjamin Franklin, the genius from Philadelphia who was also a scientist, who famously invented lighting rod which saved many a buildings from getting destroyed. Philadelphia's importance and influence those days was next only to Boston. The were only 13 states called colony, including Georgia in the extreme south. The state of Georgia then was mostly consisted of the North and the Eastern part of the present state. Savannah was a major trading port with rich denizens, interestingly rice being one of their major exports. Atlanta wasn't heard of and Florida was still a Spanish colony. As warmer weather and unexplored fecund soil in South made bountiful harvest, many started settling in. But as they were far from the hinterland, news from outside was slow to percolate in. So whenever someone from outside visited them, they were warmly greeted. It gave birth to the term "Southern Hospitality".

In the meantime Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia, called the 13 initial states to form "The United States". Comparing the 13 states as fragmented pieces of a snake, the need to stay together to strike back hard. He also visualized the power of media, so published his " con-jointed snake" concept with illustrations in "Philadelphia Gazette" to drive his point. The smart person him figured out that more than the military, the real strength of their British adversaries was their extraordinary ability to "divide and conquer". They tried their best to play the same amongst their subject, considering a majority of them can trace their origin to their Island. The British had succeeded in their conquest to conquer the globe, supplementing their military skills with "divide and conquer" policy. But they spectacularly failed to do so with the Americans, who would soon became the only power in history to have defeated the British and driven them away from occupation.

After the independence, delegates arrived at the "Independence Hall" where the United States constitution was formed. The 81 year old Benjamin Franklin, ailing but in high spirit, made a colorful appearance and was welcomed with a well deserved standing ovation. It was the fitting finale to the fag end of a genius who was a scientist, scholar  and a politician extraordinaire, being one of the founding fathers who gave the great nation its solid foundation. United States was really blessed to have such leaders at that time to guide them. If they did not remain united, the English would have ruled and taxed them much longer. Only thing they left was the English language and the FPS (foot pound system).