7 Creating a New Nation

Chapter 7 Creating a New Nation Ben reached Philadelphia on May 5, 1775. The very next morning he was asked to serve in the Continental Congress. This was a meeting of American leaders. It opened in Philadelphia on May 10. Its main job was to win the war against England. At age sixty-nine, Franklin worked twelve- hour days in Congress. One of his jobs was to organize the United States Postal Service. He soon had mail moving swiftly among all thirteen colonies. This was crucial. To win the war, people throughout America had to work together. Another job didn't go as well. In the spring of 1776, Ben was sent north to Canada with three other men. They tried to convince the Canadians to fight on America's side. Their efforts failed.

1775年5月5日，本到达费城。 第二天早上，他就被邀请参加大陆会议。 这是一次美国领导人的会议。 它于5月10日在费城开幕。 它的主要任务是赢得对英国的战争。 69岁时，富兰克林在国会工作，每天工作12个小时。 他的工作之一是组织美国邮政服务。 他很快就让邮件在13个殖民地之间迅速移动。 这一点至关重要。为了赢得这场战争，全美人民必须齐心协力。 另一份工作不太顺利。 1776年春天，本和另外三个人被派往北方的加拿大。 他们试图说服加拿大人站在美国一边。 他们的努力失败了。

Worse still, Ben nearly died from the cold and the strain of the trip. But he made it back to Philadelphia in time to take part in the great question of the day.

更糟糕的是，本差点死于寒冷和旅途的劳累。 但他及时回到了费城，参加了当时的重大问题。

Should America declare its independence from England? The American people were divided. Many thought the war would end quickly and the tax trouble would be solved. Then America could

美国应该宣布脱离英国独立吗？ 美国人民分裂了。 许多人认为战争很快就会结束，税收问题也会迎刃而解。 那么美国就可以

return to English rule. But just as many Americans wanted to break free of England and form a new country. America's leaders were also divided. Benjamin Franklin was a leader of the congressmen who wanted to create a new nation. Congress was to vote on the issue in July of 1776. If the vote came out for independence, America would need to explain exactly why it was breaking away from England. Congress asked five men to write a Declaration of Independence. Benjamin Franklin was one. Thomas Jefferson of Virginia was another.

回归英国统治但是，正如许多美国人想要脱离英国，建立一个新的国家一样。 美国领导人也出现了分歧。 本杰明·富兰克林是想要建立一个新国家的国会议员的领袖。 国会将于1776年7月就这个问题进行投票。 如果投票结果是独立，美国需要解释清楚为什么要脱离英国。 国会要求五个人起草独立宣言。 本杰明·富兰克林就是其中之一。 弗吉尼亚州的托马斯·杰斐逊是另一位。

Jefferson did most of the writing. Ben made a few changes. For example, Jefferson wrote: "We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable." Ben improved it to: "We hold these truths to be self-evident." This was a simpler way to say that some things were plain to see.

杰斐逊完成了大部分的写作。 本做了一些改动。例如，杰斐逊写道：“我们认为这些真理是神圣的，不可否认的。” 本将其改进为：“我们认为这些真理是不言而喻的。” 这是一种更简单的说法，说明有些事情是显而易见的。

Congress voted on July 2. With a little arm- twisting by Ben, the vote came out strongly for independence. The thirteen Colonies were now the United States of America. Congress approved the Declaration two days later. Ever since, Americans have honored that day—July 4, 1776—as the country's birthday. At the signing of the Declaration, Ben reportedly made a famous comment. John

国会于7月2日投票。本施加了一点压力，投票结果强烈支持独立。 十三个殖民地现在是美利坚合众国。 两天后，国会批准了独立宣言。 从那以后，美国人就把1776年7月4日作为国家的生日。 据报道，在签署《宣言》时，本发表了一句著名的评论。 约翰