Benjamin Franklin and the U.S. Postal Service (a special episode for Taylor)
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Did you know that Benjamin Franklin helped establish America’s postal system before the United States even declared independence?
In Episode 192 of Real Cool History for Kids, we’re kicking off our special You’ve Got Mail! mini-series with an exciting story requested by Taylor!
Travel back to colonial America, when letters traveled by horseback, mail delivery could take weeks, and the person receiving a letter often had to pay the postage! Discover how Benjamin Franklin used his curiosity and problem-solving skills to improve colonial mail routes, speed up deliveries, and eventually become the first Postmaster General appointed by the Continental Congress in 1775.
Along the way, we’ll explore colonial geography, learn about Franklin’s clever use of an odometer, and discover why delivering letters and newspapers was so important during the American Revolution.