Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. List of Illustrations ix
4. Preface xi
5. 1. The Association, 1747–1748 1
6. 2. Electricity 58
7. 3. Astronomy, Weather, and the Northwest Passage: Natural Philosopher, 1748–1757 138
8. 4. Clerk, Councilman, And Magistrate, 1748–1751 161
9. 5. The Academy And College of Philadelphia 176
10. 6. Colonial Union, Dumping Felons in America, and Assemblyman, 1751 217
11. 7. The Fundamental Document of the American Revolution, 1751 240
12. 8. The Pennsylvania Hospital 265
13. 9. Franklin’S First Full Assembly, the Money Bill, and Susanna Wright, 1751–1752 287
14. 10. Insurance: The Philadelphia Contributionship 298
15. 11. Paper Currency, the Coming of War, and a Trip to New England, 1752–1753 304
16. 12. The Carlisle Treaty, Postmaster General, a Trip to New England, and Assembly Sessions, 1753–1754 328
17. 13. The Pennsylvania Germans 351
18. 14. Assembly Sessions, the Snake Cartoon, and the Albany Conference, 1754 362
19. 15. Boston, America and the Empire, and Katy Ray, 1754–1755 392
20. 16. Libels on the Assembly, Quincy’S Mission, and General Braddock, 1755 414
21. 17. Assembly Crises, Crown Point, Parables, and Glimpses of Deborah, 1755 447
22. 18. The French and Indians Attack and Pennsylvania Responds, 1755 474
23. 19. General Franklin on the Frontier, 1755–1756 497
24. 20. Rival Militias, Colonel Franklin, Virginia, New York, and Frontier Fighting, 1756 515
25. 21. The Easton Treaty and Assembly Sessions, 1756–1757 535
26. 22. Franklin in New York and at Sea, 1757 565
27. 23. Assessing Franklin, Age 42 through 51 586
28. Appendices 597
29. List of Abbreviations 637
30. Notes 649
31. Index 703
32. Acknowledgments 745