Benjamin Franklin goes to France

Benjamin Franklin was the first American Ambassador of France; before him, there had been no American Ambassadors. This specific advancement in his life was quite significant because he had been the first to represent America in a foreign country. At the time, England was France's competitor. They were completely different through their government and general beliefs. Franklin was in Paris as Ambassador during December, 1776. When Benjamin Franklin first got there, it had not been the glorious city it later became. Many Parisians lived in poverty and some lacked shelter. Paris was not in good shape. Normally, Franklin would have seemed like an enemy to the government. But because of his elegant and aristocratic nature, he was not a foe; the government embraced him. Thus, leading to the significance of his position at France, the Americans were allies with the French. Although, it did seem unusual for the Americans to form an alliance with France because they had been much more like the British, which as mentioned before, were the complete opposite of the French. Paris became not only an alliance, but where Benjamin Franklin lived for 9 years. Later, he would leave and return to the United States.