He made sure everyone was open to education, especially women. Despite 18th-century social norms, Franklin did not view gender as a means of dichotomizing the roles of opposing genders. She recommended that education for our youngest women be essential for themselves and children (Franklin 77). By using the term “our,” Franklin emphasizes his care for people and that the general public plays a crucial role in his effort at self-improvement. Furthermore, with the help and grant of the American government and Great Britain, Benjamin Franklin was able to establish an institution of higher education, the University of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania). Because without the heroic Benjamin Franklin, education would be a lacking aspect of America and the value of knowledge perhaps would not have been as diverse and open as it is.