When I think about the creation and evolution of technologies, and how they have affected the way we as a society communicate, never once did I think to consider the power of the U.S. Postal Service. In today's world, everything is digital so the postal service as a means of communication is no longer needed.
Today the postal service is mainly used as a way for individuals to send and receive packages, and less about spreading news and information. So I was shocked to find out that during the 18th century, the US Postal Service was considered to be a crucial form of communication.
The creation of the US Postal Service in 1775, became a pivotal, if not the most, pivotal moment in American history. It reflected the growing need for a reliable form of communication and the growth of technological advancements.
Having been formed just a few months before the Revolutionary War, the Postal Service couldn't have come at a more perfect time. Once the war began, the need for an effective and efficient way of communicating became necessary. News and information needed to be sent out and received as fast as possible, since the surivial of the colonies depended on it. It's amazing to watch how the world works because you never realize how much you may need something or how much it's going to change your life until you are exposed to it.
Before the service, mail was delivered by locals either on foot or by horseback and it would take weeks if not months for it to arrive at its destination. Was it inconvenient? Absolutely. But it's just how the world operated back then. There wasn't a need for rapid change. Society didn't know any better and on some level we can relate and understand what it's like to have to be patient in the face of something new. We can also understand the fear of being introduced to a new wave of communication and not knowing what the outcome will look like.
What I was also shocked to learn about was the fact that Ben Franklin was appointed the role of the first Postmaster General. Taking on this role, reflected who Ben was as a person and who he would be, as the first leader of this country. It's very comforting to know that he had this job before becoming president,because it made it very clear that he was a leader and had the future country's interests at heart.
Franklin recognized the need and the importance of having fast communication within the colonies during the war, so he established offices and hired locals to run them. This demonstrated his leadership skills and his ability to create solutions.
His work with the Service, allowed him to connect with the American people, beyond just building his network or political career. It was mainly about showing getting people to know who he is, see him in a leadership role and also understand what he stood for. So when the war ended, people would know who to vote for. People could confidently put their lives into the hands of Ben Franklin knowing that he would lead this new country into uncharted waters.
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