112 Franklin, Benjamin
about the prospects for revolutionary social change
and human liberation.
Further Reading
Wiggershaus, R. The Frankfurt School: Its Histories, Theories, and
Political Significance.Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1995.
Franklin, Benjamin (1706–1790) American
statesman, scientist, and writer
Benjamin Franklin is best known for his active role in
the American Revolution and the founding of the
CONSTITUTIONand as providing a classic American phi-
losophy of DEMOCRACY, EQUALITY, hard work, and
CHRISTIAN ETHICS. He was raised a Quaker in Philadel-
phia and served in both the Continental Congress
during the American Revolution and the Constitu-
tional Convention. In the latter, he is remembered,
during a difficult conflict in the proceedings, for urg-
ing the delegates to prayer and the seeking of God’s
guidance in forming the new government. When a cit-
izen asked Franklin what form of government the
new Constitution created he said “A REPUBLIC, if you
can keep it.” Alternately advocating popular govern-
ment; freedom of speech, press, economics, and reli-
gion; progress; and scientific knowledge, Franklin still
remained skeptical of human motives and VIRTUE. He
expressed the common American culture of realism,
humor, the Protestant work ethic and faith in
PROGRESS through his publications The Pennsylvania
Gazetteand Poor Richard’s Almanac.Simple homespun
wisdom, unpretentious manners, and common sense
found expression in Franklin’s thought. It affected
generations of young Americans who read his Autobi-
ographyin which his life showed the success of fol-
lowing 13 virtues: temperance, silence, order,
resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, mod-
eration, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility.
This distillation of CLASSICAL and CHRISTIAN virtues
formed the American creed until the latter 20th cen-
tury, when consumerism, moral decadence, and rebel-
lion ridiculed these virtues as quaint and ridiculous.
Still the American ethic of honesty, hard work, and
piety draw from Franklin’s legacy. The American cul-
ture that sees material success resulting from moral
conduct is embodied in Franklin’s life.
Politically, he favored universal SUFFRAGE, free
public education, unicameral legislatures, and a
government-stimulated economy. He opposed slavery,
encouraged benevolent projects (libraries, hospitals),
and rejected welfare programs that caused sloth
and laziness. A self-made man, he became wealthy
through hard work, invention, and political con-
nections. As a colonial trade diplomat to England
and ambassador to France, Franklin associated with
the famous and prominent leaders in Europe and
gained a cosmopolitan sophistication. His scientific
discoveries in electricity made him world famous. A
deist in religion, he nevertheless supported the Chris-
tian revivalist George WHITEFIELDand saw Christian
morality as essential to American democracy and
social harmony.Further Readings
Becker, C. Benjamin Franklin: A Biographical Sketch.Ithaca,
N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1946.
Conner, P. Poor Richard’s Politics: Benjamin Franklin and the
New American Order.New York: Oxford University Press,
1965.
Franklin, B. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, L. W.
Labaree et al., eds. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University
Press, 1964.
———. The Complete Poor Richard’s Amanacks published by Ben-
jamin Franklin,W. J. Bell, ed. Barre, Mass.: Imprint Society,
1970.Benjamin Franklin, portrait by Charles Willson Peale.(LIBRARY
OFCONGRESS)