[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

The 174 Questions about the Stamp Act and the Colonies presented to Ben Franklin on February 13, 1766 by the Parliament in London showed that Franklin could outflank his enemies both in England and the American Colonies. It also proved that his love of the Colonies was no façade as had been pitched by many of his enemies. As soon as the answers by Franklin to these 174 Questions reached his neighbors in Philadelphia the mob hatred of some soon abated. A barge christened The Franklin saluted him and free drinks were given in the colonies to men who came in with news of Franklin's triumphs as the Stamp Act --a tax on the colonies with no representation in Parliament when enacted-- was repealed. I. His Examination Before the House of Commons by Benjamin Franklin. America: I. (1761-1837). Vol. VIII. Bryan, William Jennings, ed. 1906. The World's Famous Orations Of course, this would not solve the problem of money needed by Parliament but did prove the adage that you cannot get blood from a turnip. American Revolution - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Benjamin Franklin became a lighting rod of sorts when the Townsend Acts were passed in 1767. Townshend Acts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia These five acts were needed as seen by Parliament to pay for the debt created by the Seven Years' War as well as for billeting of British troops in the colonies. Mirroring the present, these troops' officers were supporters of various Members of Parliament-- kind of a British 18th century military-industrial complex. As expected by Franklin, these Acts created a virus of protest much of it coming from the Boston area where a governmental agency enforced parts of these Acts which were duties on various goods and provided the means of enforcing these taxes. http://www.masshist.org/revolution/townshend.php This led to much decay in colonial relations with the Mother Country as well with Franklin's reputation as he was still very much in love with the Empire and his stellar position in it having the pleasure of being a scientist with a huge international fan base based on his many experiments but especially with those he did with electricity. While the name sake of these 5 Acts, Charles Townsend http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Townsh...-1767)_(DNB00) died on the Fourth of September 1767 before the full effect of those laws took place on the health of relationship between Mother Country and colony. This was the beginning of the end of the American Colonies and the spark of the American Revolution. Benjamin Franklin would really have to have his wits about him to get out of the mess created by the Townsend Acts. http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/...sponse1767.pdf