The life of American colonists was not always an easy one. From the settlers of Jamestown to the heroes of the American Revolution, the American colonists faced many challenges in their daily lives, and the changes they made shaped what we now know today as the United States of America. In this section, you will read about some of the American colonists who made an impact on the American colonies socially and economically.

Adam Roelantsen, from the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, founded the first school in the North American colonies, which socially enriched the lives of children whose families could afford to send them to school.

Another American colonist who contributed to the lives of American colonists was Edward Winslow. He was a Pilgrim who was also a printer and smart businessman. He conducted trade on behalf of the Pilgrims. On one of his return trips from London, he brought back cattle to Plymouth, Massachusetts.

→ Think about this - How did the introduction of cattle impact the colonies? Did it make a social impact (a change to the daily lives of individuals) or economic impact (a change to the economic decisions of people)?

There were many other American colonists who added to the richness of the American colonies in a variety of ways. Benjamin Franklin was such as an American colonist.

Franklin was known as a scientist and an inventor. He was a journalist, an editor, and a publisher. Franklin was a statesman who was elected to the Second Continental Congress and worked on the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence, which he also signed. He is an example of how one person can impact a society in many ways. Franklin made a political, social, and economic impact on America.

Click on each of the images below to see examples of Franklin's contributions.

Those are just a few of Franklin's inventions. He also created a furnace, called a Franklin Stove. He invented the lightening rod; he studied and mapped the Gulf Stream. He also published Poor Richard's Almanac, as seen below. Franklin published the almanac, which contained weather forecasts, household hints, and puzzles, annually. The almanac was a popular type of book in the American colonies. There were countless contributions that Benjamin Franklin made to the American colonies.

In your notes, complete the following questions.

• Explain how Benjamin Franklin made a political impact on the United States.
• Choose one of Franklin's inventions, writings, or other creations, and determine if it made a social, political, or economic impact on America. (For more information about Franklin and his work, click here: Benjamin Franklin's Inventions)
• Can you think of a modern day American who has contributed to the United States socially, politically, and/or economically? Name that modern-day American and list three ways that he or she is similar or different from Benjamin Franklin.