Benjamin Franklin Impact on American History
Dec 30, 2015
The Paradox of Franklin
Owned slavesRailed against Germans in PANot a feministSupported the militaryRejected Christianity
Socialistic views Fathered an illegitimate child
Held Americans in low regard
The Man of Many Faces
Prior to the Revolution, Franklin was already world famous:
Member of the prestigious Royal Society
Honorary degrees from St. Andrews and Oxford
A world leader in science and philosophy
The Man of Many Voices
Pseudonyms:
Silence Dogood, Alice Addertongue, Cecilia Shortface, Polly Baker, Busy Body, Obadiah Plainman, Anthony Afterwit, Richard Saunders, Poor Richard, An American, A New-England Man, A Briton, A London Manufacturer
While in London, used 42 different signatures
Apprenticeship and Printer
Hierarchical New EnglandTwo years of formal educationCandle and soap makerApprenticed to his brother James, printer1721, New England Courant, James’newspaperIn 1722, at 16, Franklin secretly submitted
satires, signed by Silence Dogood
Leaving Boston
• James’ paper was shut down
• Franklin found apprenticeship intolerable
• Franklin had become– “a little obnoxious to the governing Party”
He was viewed as an “Infidel or Atheist”
In 1723, left Boston for Philadelphia
Young Franklin and Social Mobility• Patronage was the accepted way of
achieving upward social mobility
• Not uncommon for men of humble birth to rise to prominence
• Franklin’s talents were soon recognized by the governors of PA and NY
• Even Cotton Mather expressed an interest
The Great Social Divide
• Gentlemen and Commoners
• Gentlemen were born wealthy
• Gentlemen did not work
• Puritan hard work ethic were meant for commoners
A Gentleman
• By 18th century standards, Gentlemen did not labor or toil with their hands
• They inherited wealth
• Income was generated through rents, or interest on money
• They were free to pursue interests or leisure
• This is what Franklin aspired to…
Changing Times
• By the middle of the 18th century a new economic class was emerging– This group was neither born into wealth nor
commoners– They were the known as “middling” men– Included: commercial farmers, artisans,
merchants, traders, shopkeepers, etc– They were becoming wealthy and saw
themselves as better then commoners
Middling Men
• Franklin epitomized this new man– Wealthy and Industrious– Interested in learning – Interested in giving back to society– Franklin organized local artisans who met to
discuss common issues
Franklin’s Dilemma
By the 1730s Franklin was:
Successful
Wealthy
Civic Minded
But not a Gentleman
Feared being ridiculed as a
…Molatto Gentleman…
Franklin the Entrepreneur
• Monopolized printing in Philadelphia
• Franchised print shops from New England to Antigua
• Was postmaster general
• Rented houses
• Owned paper mills
• Creditor
Retirement at 42
• By 1748 Franklin had acquired enough wealth to retire
• Purchased several slaves
• Moved to a quieter part of town
• Franklin attributed his success to – Industry and Frugality
Franklin’s Experiments• Time to read, write, and experiment…
…with electricity
Proved that lightning was electricity
Published Experiments and Observations on Electricity in 1752
Made him an international figure
Fame and Recognition
• Degrees from Yale, Harvard, and William and Mary
• Praised internationally for the invention of the lightning rod
Public Service
• More important to Franklin than his scientific achievements
• Member of Philadelphia City Council
• Justice of the Peace
• Member of the Pennsylvania Assembly
The Constitutional ConventionRepresented PennsylvaniaDid not know most of the delegatesDid not make any great speechesSeemed detached for most of the
proceedings… and did not agree with much of the final draft…but signed it anyway
Franklin and SlaveryFranklin’s thoughts on African Americans
evolved over timeBy the early 1780s Franklin had become a
leading abolitionist In February 1790 Franklin petitioned the
Congress to abolish slavery
Franklin vs. CongressFranklin’s petition generated outrage in the
Congress and nationFranklin was accused of upsetting the social
orderThe petition was rejected as Congress
decided it had no authority to interfere in the affairs of the states
Franklin’s DeathReligious views kept privateChild of the EnlightenmentBelieved in one God, Creator of the
UniverseDoubted Christ’s divinityBut recognized Christ’s significanceDied April 17, 1790
Franklin’s: LegacyIn the 1790s many of Franklin’s writings/
autobiography were publishedWhile reviled by the Federalists, many
Republicans embraced FranklinThe new rising “middling” class of artisans
saw Franklin as their heroThis group now saw themselves as worthy
to aspire to higher stations
Franklin’s “Way to Wealth”
Published in 1758 Franklin published his influential work as an essay.
Franklin used adages and advice that he had dispensed in Poor Richard’s Almanac.
Franklin Way to Wealth was and continues to be very influential
Franklin’s Way to Wealth, quotes• "There are no gains, without pains" • "One today is worth two tomorrows" • "Time is money" • "A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things" • "Get what you can, and what you get hold" • "Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears, while the used
key is always bright" • "Have you somewhat to do tomorrow, do it today" • "The eye of a master will do more work than both his hands"
• "Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and
wise"
Lasting LegacyImportant concepts that have defined
Americans:
• Self made man• Enterprise and opportunity• Innovation• Industry• Work for a living