1. Impact on American History
Benjamin Franklin
Impact on American History
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2. Founding Father Writer Printer Politician Scientist Inventor Statesman
Diplomat
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3. The Paradox of Franklin
Earlier in life he had owned slaves
He railed against Germans in Pennsylvania
He strongly supported the military
He rejected Christianity
Harbored some undeveloped socialistic views
He had fathered an illegitimate child
He held Americans in low regard
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4. The Man of Many Faces The Oldest of the Founders
Washington, 26 years younger
John Adams, 29 years younger
Jefferson, 37 years younger
Madison and Hamilton, nearly 50 years younger
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5. 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
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6. 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, he used 42 different signatures
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7. Apprenticeship and Printer
Born in Hierarchical New England
Two years of formal education
Candle and soap maker
Apprenticed to his brother James, printer
1721, New England Courant, James’ newspaper
In 1722, at 16, Franklin secretly submitted satires, signed by Silence Dogood
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8. 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
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9. 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 Pennsylvania and New York
Even Cotton Mather expressed an interest in Franklin
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10. The Great Social Divide
Gentlemen and Commoners
Gentlemen were born wealthy
Gentlemen did not work
Puritan hard work ethic was meant for commoners
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11. 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…
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12. 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 than commoners
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13. 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
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14. Freemasonry Secret fraternity in England Emphasized:
Generosity, Goodwill,
and Sociability
Also, allowed artisans to mix easily with gentlemen
Perfect organization for Franklin
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15. Franklin’s Dilemma By the 1730s Franklin was: Successful Wealthy
Civic Minded
But not a Gentleman
Feared being ridiculed as a
…Molatto Gentleman…
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16. Franklin the Entrepreneur
Monopolized printing in Philadelphia
Franchised print shops from New England to Antigua
Was postmaster general
Rented houses
Owned paper mills
Creditor
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17. Retirement at 42 By 1748 Franklin had acquired enough wealth to retire
Timing significant
Purchased several slaves
Moved to a quieter part of town
Franklin attributed his success to
Industry and Frugality
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18. Franklin the Gentleman
Painted by Robert Feke
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19. 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
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20. Fame and Recognition
Honorary Degrees from Yale, Harvard, and William and Mary
Praised internationally for the invention of the lightning rod
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21. Franklin and the Kite
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22. Public Service
More important to Franklin than his scientific achievements
Member of Philadelphia City Council
Justice of the Peace
Member of the Pennsylvania Assembly
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23. A Citizen of the Empire Albany Plan for Union Return to England, 1757
Lived in London for the next 15 of 17 years
Met with Britain’s preeminent figures in science, literature, the arts, etc.
Became a great supporter of the Empire
A Royalist
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24. Changing Fortunes Franklin in London Supported the Stamp Act
His enemies blamed Franklin for the Stamp Act
Franklin’s response to the Stamp Act:
“… a firm loyalty to the Crown… will always be the wisest Course for you and I to take…”
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25. Return to Philadelphia
In 1763 Franklin returned to Philadelphia
was instantly looked at as a colonial leader
inspected the colonies postal service
helped quell the rioters from western Pennsylvania
He returned to London in 1765, as an agent for pro loyalists forces who wanted Pennsylvania to become a royal colony.
They wanted to get the colony out of the Penn family’s control.
Planning a short visit, he stayed another 10 years
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26. Parliament
In the House of Commons, Feb. 1766, he argued against the Stamp Tax
Parliament repealed the Stamp Act
Parliament enacted the Declaratory Act
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27. The Crown vs. Parliament
Franklin viewed the King as a benign power for good
He saw Parliament as the problem for the empire/colonies
He believed only the King could rule the colonies and not Parliament ;
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28. Finally taking up the Cause
After repeated attempts to reconcile, Franklin changed his mind.
Franklin had come to realize the pejorative view many in England had.
Franklin humiliated by the King’s Privy Council.
March, 1775 sailed for America.
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29. Super Patriot Upon returning, Franklin had to become a super patriot.
Member of Second Continental Congress.
Immediately embraced independence.
Some suspected Franklin’s motives.
…Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee
His Son William, the loyalist Governor of New Jersey, was an embarrassment
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30. Franklin the “democrat”
Proposed radical Constitution for
Pennsylvania
Simple democracy and popular radicalism
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31. Franklin the Diplomat July 1776, Lord Howe wrote Franklin
Franklin’s response was swift and strong
After the defeat at Long Island, Howe, again sent out peace offerings.
Franklin and John Adams met with Howe and rebuffed his call to return to conditions that existed in 1763
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32. France the Ally Foreign aid and involvement was essential
Franklin lobbied to go to France
In February 1778 France and the United States signed two treaties: commercial and military
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33. Diplomatic Success
Against tremendous odds, Franklin solely responsible for the Franco-American alliance
Franklin also participated in the peace negotiations with Great Britain
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34. A Stranger in his Nation
By 1784 Franklin had spent 23 of the last 27 years abroad
While he had countless admirers, he had made enemies as well
When he was recalled by Congress, in 1785, Franklin thought he might be a…stranger in his own country…
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35. Returning Home On September 14, 1785 Franklin returned to Philadelphia
Philadelphia had become the leading city in the new nation
Soon Franklin was elected to the ruling executive council in Pennsylvania
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36. Franklin in 1785 Portrait by Charles Willson Peale
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37. The Constitutional Convention
Represented Pennsylvania
Did not know most of the delegates
Did not make any great speeches
Seemed detached for most of the proceedings… and did not agree with much of the final draft…but signed it anyway
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38. Franklin and Slavery
Franklin’s thoughts on African Americans evolved over time
By the early 1780s Franklin had become a leading abolitionist
In February 1790 Franklin petitioned the Congress to abolish slavery
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39. Franklin vs. Congress
Franklin’s petition generated outrage in the Congress and nation
Franklin was accused of upsetting the social order
The petition was rejected as Congress decided it had no authority to interfere in the affairs of the states
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40. Franklin’s Death Religious views kept private
Child of the Enlightenment
Believed in one God, Creator of the Universe
Doubted Christ’s divinity
But recognized Jesus’
significance
Died April 17, 1790
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41. Reaction to Franklin’s Passing
France reacted more then America
Eulogized many times over
In America things were different
While the House adopted a tribute, the Senate did not
John Adams, VP, and others were jealous of Franklin
Others linked Franklin to the French Revolution
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42. Franklin’s: Legacy
In the 1790s many of Franklin’s writings/ autobiography were published
While reviled by the Federalists, many Republicans embraced Franklin
The new rising “middling” class of artisans saw Franklin as their hero
This group now saw themselves as worthy to aspire to higher stations
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43. Franklin’s “Way to Wealth”
Published in 1758 Franklin’s Way to Wealth was a preface in Poor Richards Almanac.
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
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44. 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"
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45. Celebration of Labor Work and virtue became synonymous
Parson Weems praised Washington as a man of industry and later wrote about Franklin
Hard work was now viewed as admirable
Men of low birth were encouraged to work their way to success…..just like Franklin
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46. Franklin as an Inspiration
James Harper, publisher,
mayor of New York City
Thomas Mellon,
founder of Mellon Bank ;
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47. Pat Lyon at the Forge John Neagle, 1829
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48. Changing times, changing attitudes;
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49. Lasting Legacy Important concepts that have defined Americans:
Self made man
Enterprise and opportunity
Innovation
Industry
Work for a living
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50. And in the End
Franklin was the second most important figure in the Revolution
In the early years of the Republic, Franklin personified the American Dream
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51. References The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin, Gordon S. Wood
Benjamin Franklin, Edmund S. Morgan
Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Franklin
Way to Wealth, Benjamin Franklin
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