Benjamin Franklin

Known for his influential role in the debates that established the founding documents of the United States, Benjamin Franklin was not only an astute politician, but also an Atlantic citizen whose commitment to the American cause was informed by years spent in England and France. The life of this iconic founder provides an ideal opportunity for students to take a closer look at eighteenth century colonial society and the contested formation of the early American nation.In this carefully contextualized account, Nathan R. Kozuskanich considers the many facets of Franklin’s private and public lives, and shows how Franklin grappled with issues that still concern us today: the right to bear arms, the legacy of slavery, and the nature of American democracy. In a concise narrative bolstered by supporting primary documents, Benjamin Franklin: American Founder, Atlantic Citizen introduces students to the world of the burgeoning United States and enables them to understand the journey from imperial colonies to an independent nation dedicated to the premise that all men are created equal.

1. Elizabeth Dunn (Indiana)The book could be used in US History surveys and perhaps a general survey of Colonial America. Also a political history survey or general education course on leadership... The Roueldge seeies would NOT be complete without including Benjamin Franklin. 2. Paul A. Gilje (Oklahoma)This book might be used to replace a biography of a founding father... I know a number of colleagues who use Franklin's autobiography in a survey course. This book might replave such a book if it were coupled with significan passages from the biography.Students enjoy reading biographies and professors like to use primary sources. So combining the two has a certain appeal. 3. Neil York (BYU) Surely there is a way to take the Franklin of the autobiography andthe Franlikn of the American Philosophical Society and discuss him along with Franklin the lobbyist., "Nathan Kozuskanich’s Benjamin Franklin: American Founder, Atlantic Citizen gives us a well-constructed and comprehensive exploration of the life of one of the greatest figures of the American age of revolution. Presenting an account of his life as a printer, scientist, and statesman against the backdrop of the wider Atlantic world, this book draws on the latest thinking of a generation of historians in a style that undergraduates will enjoy."—John Brooke, author of Columbia Rising: Civil Life on the Upper Hudson from the Revolution to the Age of Jackson"Kozuskanich's elegant little biography of Benjamin Franklin is both engaging and accessible. Perfect for classroom use, it offers significant insights into the times and the man. Most importantly, it explains how an ordinary man, born and raised in ordinary circumstances, became such a extraordinary political and intellectual force in his own time and in our own."—Sheila Skemp, author of Benjamin and William Franklin: Father and Son, Patriot and Loyalist

Nathan R. Kozuskanich is Associate Professor of History at Nipissing University in North Bay, Ontario.