Benjamin Franklin and His World

Instructor: Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD

Access provided by American University of Bahrain

3,070 already enrolled

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

30 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

30 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Assessments

4 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 4 modules in this course

Welcome to Benjamin Franklin and His World! In this online version of the University of Pennsylvania's SNF Paideia course, we explore the life of one of the United States’ most important historical figures. We examine Franklin’s early life growing up in the American colonies, his professional career as a printer and scientist, and his role in the American Revolution and the founding the United States as a new nation on the world stage.

We will also confront the moral issues that complicate the legacy of Benjamin Franklin, such as his connection to slavery and the racism that was prevalent during his time. We’ll wrestle with how to evaluate Franklin in the present day as we examine his life through both a modern lens and the historical context in which he lived. Support for this course has generously been provided by the SNF Paideia Program at the University of Pennsylvania and the Colton Foundation.

In this first week of the course, we will provide an overview of the course, and introduce the key ideas and themes that will guide our exploration of Benjamin Franklin’s life and legacy. We will take a look at Franklin’s early years in Boston, Philadelphia, and London. Then we will provide a closer examination of what life was like in the British colonies during the 18th Century. <br><br>Knowledge check: After completing each module, you will learn complete brief check in to measure your learning.

What's included

10 videos6 readings1 assignment

10 videosTotal 137 minutes

Who is Benjamin Franklin?12 minutes
Young Benjamin Franklin12 minutes
Benjamin Franklin as a Printing Apprentice and Budding Journalist13 minutes
Franklin in London14 minutes
18th Century British Colonies - Part 114 minutes
18th Century British Colonies - Part 212 minutes
Founder of an American Media Empire15 minutes
In Conversation with Emma Hart about 18th Century - Part 124 minutes
In Conversation with Emma Hart about 18th Century - Part 219 minutes
Keeping Your Own Moral Diary3 minutes

6 readingsTotal 70 minutes

Course Overview15 minutes
Meet the Instructor10 minutes
For January: Honoring Benjamin Franklin's Birthday10 minutes
Week 1 Reflection Activity 10 minutes
Moral Diary - Activity Overview15 minutes
Franklin's List of Virtues10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 10 minutes

Module 1 Knowledge Check10 minutes

This week we will explore Franklin’s professional career as a printer, scientist, inventor, and politician.

What's included

12 videos2 readings1 assignment

12 videosTotal 167 minutes

Franklin’s Ethics and Plagiarism - Part 19 minutes
Franklin’s Ethics and Plagiarism - Part 212 minutes
Franklin's Family Life16 minutes
Franklin's Retirement from Printing8 minutes
Franklin's Civic Engagement14 minutes
Franklin the Politician12 minutes
In Conversation with Patrick Spero - Part 124 minutes
In Conversation with Patrick Spero - Part 213 minutes
Franklin the Inventor11 minutes
Franklin the Scientist, and his Growing Fame11 minutes
Franklin's Experiments in Electricity10 minutes
In Conversation with Daniel Yoshor26 minutes

2 readingsTotal 25 minutes

Week 2 Overview5 minutes
Week 2 Reflection Activity20 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 10 minutes

Module 2 Knowledge Check10 minutes

This week we will explore the lead-up to the Revolutionary War, how Benjamin Franklin became involved in the Colonies' fight for independence, and his role in the drafting of the Constitution.

What's included

10 videos2 readings1 assignment

10 videosTotal 113 minutes

The Seven Years' War13 minutes
Events Leading to the Revolutionary War13 minutes
Franklin and the Hutchinson Letters13 minutes
Ethics in the Hutchinson Letters Affair7 minutes
Franklin and the Continental Congress11 minutes
Franklin in Paris13 minutes
The Constitutional Convention - Part 112 minutes
The Constitutional Convention - Part 29 minutes
Franklin at the Constitutional Convention13 minutes
The End of Franklin’s Life8 minutes

2 readingsTotal 30 minutes

Week 3 Overview10 minutes
Week 3 Reflection Activity20 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 10 minutes

Module 3 Knowledge Check10 minutes

This week we will examine issues from Benjamin Franklin’s life that complicate his legacy, and consider how to evaluate him as a historical figure.

What's included

7 videos3 readings1 assignment

7 videosTotal 94 minutes

Franklin and Racism12 minutes
Franklin and Slavery - Part 111 minutes
Franklin and Slavery - Part 216 minutes
In Conversation with Emma Lapsansky-Werner30 minutes
Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography8 minutes
Evaluating Benjamin Franklin's Life15 minutes
Philadelphia Video Tour1 minute

3 readingsTotal 30 minutes

Week 4 Overview10 minutes
Reflecting On Your Moral Diary10 minutes
Franklin Sites in Philadelphia10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 10 minutes

Module 4 Knowledge Check10 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(23 ratings)

Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD

University of Pennsylvania

2 Courses25,960 learners

Offered by

University of Pennsylvania

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Reviewed on Jan 29, 2026

I very well presented course. Factually, short videos with lots of interest and a wide variety of information both regarding Franklin and especially interesting of the times and the life.

Reviewed on Mar 12, 2026

Outstanding presentation. Excellent material. My only criticism is the lectures could be overly long considering the limited material that was presented.