1750's:
Benjamin Franklin became more interested in politics. He went to England as a representative of Pennsylvania and eventually became the representative for Georgia, New Jersey and Massachusetts.
1760's
In 1765, Franklin surprised by the American oppostion of the Stamp Act, helped persuade the Parliment to repeal this law. While in England, Franklin observed widespread political corruption and grew disgusted with it and began earnestly working towards a plan to unite the american colonies.
1770's
Duing the 1770's, Franklin had returned home and began actively working towards Independence. He was elected to the Second Continental Congress and worked on the committe that drafted the Declaration of Independence. In 1776 Franklin signed the Declaration. Shortly afterwards, Benjamin Franklin sailed to France as an ambassador. He was every popular with the French people and was on hand to sign the Treaty of Alliance. This helped secure the necessary loans needed to help America win the American Revolution. After America's victory in the Revoluion, Franklin signed the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
1780's
In his late 70's, Franklin returned to America and became the President of the Executive Council of Pennsylvania. He also served a a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and signed the Constitution. His last act as a statesman was to write a treatise on anti-slavery. He believed that slavery "was a stain upon the nation and dould inhibit true liberty for future generations."