About The Film

Ken Burns’s two-part, four-hour documentary, Benjamin Franklin, explores the revolutionary life of one of the 18th century’s most consequential and compelling personalities, whose work and words unlocked the mystery of electricity and helped create the United States.

Franklin’s 84 years (1706-1790) spanned an epoch of momentous change in science, technology, literature, politics, and government — fields he himself advanced through a lifelong commitment to societal and self-improvement.

Stream Part One: Join or Die (1709-1774)

Stream Part Two: An American (1775-1790)

Classroom Resources

Click or tap on the image above to learn more.

Conversations on Franklin

Click or tap on the image above to learn more.

Episode Guide

Click or tap on the image above to learn more.

Thanks to these sponsors for their support of

Ken Burns’ Benjamin Franklin on PBS Fort Wayne.