Malcolm Rivera
Benjamin Franklin is considered one of the leading Founding Fathers of the United States. He was the only person to sign the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, peace with Britain, and the Constitution. While Franklin did not contribute to the actual writing of the final US Constitution document, he did play a crucial role in the process. He made the final motion to sign the document and delivered a powerful speech in support of it. Franklin also helped write a new constitution for the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery in 1787.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Role in writing the US Constitution | Benjamin Franklin did not contribute to the actual writing of the final document. However, he did play an important role in the process. |
| Attendance at the Constitutional Convention | Benjamin Franklin attended the Constitutional Convention in 1787, despite his poor health at the age of 81. |
| Speech at the Convention | Franklin wrote a speech introducing the motion for the delegates to sign the Constitution. Due to his ill health, he asked James Wilson to read the speech on his behalf. |
| Arguments in the Speech | Franklin acknowledged that there were parts of the Constitution that he did not approve of, but he may approve of them in the future. He argued that no other convention would be able to create a better Constitution, as gathering a group of men to contribute their wisdom also meant gathering their prejudices, passions, errors of opinion, local interests, and selfish views. He concluded by pleading for all the delegates to sign the Constitution. |
| Motion to Sign the Document | Franklin made the final motion to sign the Constitution, which was approved by 10 of the state delegations. |
| Other Contributions to the Convention | Franklin proposed that each state send one Congressman to the House of Representatives per 40,000 in population, while each state would have an equal vote in the Senate. He also suggested that the House of Representatives should have the sole power to increase the salaries of government employees and draft new legislation for fundraising. During a critical impasse, he attempted to introduce the practice of daily common prayer. |
| Signing the Constitution | Benjamin Franklin signed the US Constitution in 1787, making him one of the leading Founding Fathers of the United States. |
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What You'll Learn
Benjamin Franklin's role in the US Constitution's creation
Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, played a significant role in the creation of the US Constitution. Franklin was the only person to have signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the Treaty of Alliance with France in 1778, the Treaty of Paris in 1783, and the US Constitution in 1787.
Franklin's influence extended beyond his signatures on these pivotal documents. During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Franklin actively participated in the debates and discussions that shaped the content of the Constitution. He was a member of the Grand Committee, which was formed to resolve disagreements among the delegates regarding the representation of each state in Congress. Franklin proposed a formula that suggested each state send one Congressman to the House of Representatives per 40,000 in population, while each state would have an equal vote in the Senate. He also put forward ideas about the powers of the House of Representatives, advocating for its sole authority to increase government employees' salaries and draft legislation for fundraising.
Despite his significant influence, Franklin did not directly contribute to the writing of the final Constitution document. However, he made a crucial intervention when the delegates were deadlocked over whether to sign the document. Franklin, in his last great speech, introduced a motion to sign the Constitution, recognising the imperfections in the document but arguing for the necessity of compromise. This speech, written by Franklin, was read by James Wilson due to Franklin's poor health at 81 years old. In his speech, Franklin acknowledged his own reservations about certain parts of the Constitution but appealed for unity and the approval of the document for the good of the nation.
Franklin's speech and motion carried significant weight, and the Constitution was ultimately signed by all members except three dissenters: Elbridge Gerry, George Mason, and Edmund Randolph. Franklin's role in this pivotal moment in American history underscores his enduring legacy as a Founding Father and a visionary who helped shape the course of the nation.
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Franklin's influence on the Constitutional Convention
Benjamin Franklin was the only person to have signed the Declaration of Independence, Treaty of Alliance with France, Treaty of Paris, and the US Constitution. He is considered one of the leading Founding Fathers of the United States. Franklin's influence extended beyond his signature on the US Constitution. He played an important role in the Constitutional Convention, which began in May 1787, and resulted in the signing of the US Constitution on September 17, 1787.
During the Constitutional Convention, Franklin was the appointee from Pennsylvania to the Grand Committee, which was formed when delegates disagreed on how to determine the number of Congressional representatives for each state. Franklin proposed a formula that balanced proportional representation with equal state representation. He suggested that each state send one Congressman to the House of Representatives per 40,000 in population, while each state would have an equal vote in the Senate. Additionally, Franklin proposed that the House of Representatives should have the sole power to increase government employee salaries and draft new legislation for fundraising.
Franklin also made a significant contribution through his speech at the Constitutional Convention. Due to his ill health, he asked James Wilson to read his speech to the delegates. In his speech, Franklin acknowledged his own disagreements with certain parts of the Constitution but argued that the delegates should still approve it, recognising the challenges of reaching a perfect consensus. He concluded with a plea for all the delegates to sign the Constitution. Franklin's speech was influential in encouraging the delegates to adopt and sign the Constitution.
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Franklin's views on slavery and its place in the Constitution
Benjamin Franklin was a Founding Father of the United States and a key figure in the creation of the US Constitution. He was a diplomat, writer, scientist, lawmaker, and postmaster, among other careers.
Franklin's views on slavery evolved over time. As a young man, he owned slaves and advertised their sale in his newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette. However, he also published Quaker pamphlets against slavery and spoke out against it in his private correspondence. After the ratification of the US Constitution, Franklin became an outspoken opponent of slavery. He joined the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, originally formed in 1775, and served as its president from 1787 until his death in 1790. During this time, he wrote and published several essays supporting the abolition of slavery.
Franklin's last public act was to send a petition to Congress on behalf of the Society, asking for the abolition of slavery and an end to the slave trade. The petition, signed on February 3, 1790, appealed to the founding principles of the United States and called for "mercy and justice" for those suffering under the "inconsistency" of American society. It was introduced to the House and Senate in February 1790 but was not acted upon before Franklin's death just two months later.
The US Constitution, signed in 1787, did not contain the words "slave" or "slavery" but included provisions that implicitly protected the institution. For example, it prohibited federal interference with the international slave trade for at least 20 years and required states to return fugitive slaves. The Three-Fifths Clause, which counted three-fifths of a state's slave population for representation purposes, gave the South extra representation in the House of Representatives and the Electoral College. While some delegates to the Constitutional Convention, including Franklin, voiced objections to slavery, they ultimately prioritised political unity over immediate abolition.
In summary, Benjamin Franklin's views on slavery evolved from a young slave owner to a vocal abolitionist and president of an anti-slavery society. His last public act was a petition to Congress calling for an end to slavery and the slave trade. While Franklin did not succeed in abolishing slavery through the US Constitution, he laid the groundwork for future efforts by advocating for the universal ideal that all humans are created free and equal.
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Franklin's final speech and the signing of the Constitution
Benjamin Franklin, one of America's Founding Fathers, played a significant role in the creation and signing of the United States Constitution. On September 17, 1787, the final day of the Constitutional Convention, Franklin gave his longest speech of the Convention, addressing his fellow delegates and reflecting on the importance of unity and compromise.
Eighty-one years old and suffering from gout and kidney stones, Franklin began his speech with a note of humility, acknowledging that there were aspects of the Constitution that he did not fully approve of at the time. However, he emphasized that his opinions could change over time as he gained better information and a fuller consideration of the issues. Franklin's speech highlighted his belief in the core of democracy: tolerance, respect for pluralism, and the pursuit of common ground.
In his speech, Franklin described the Constitution as "near to perfection." He acknowledged his objections to certain points but declared that he would not let these objections stand in the way of unity. Franklin argued that the Constitution was the best possible outcome under the circumstances and that it deserved the support of all the delegates. He appealed to the holdouts, including Gerry, Randolph, and Mason, who had announced their refusal to sign the document. Franklin's speech aimed to convince them to set aside their opposition and join in signing the Constitution.
Franklin's final speech carried significant weight due to his experience and respect among the delegates. He had previously helped write and sign the Declaration of Independence, and his wisdom and compromise were crucial in the Constitutional Convention. Franklin's speech on September 17, 1787, marked a pivotal moment in the formation of the United States Constitution. After his speech, thirty-nine delegates signed the Constitution, marking their agreement and support for the document.
The signing of the Constitution, however, did not legally enact it. The Constitution stipulated that ratification by nine of the thirteen states was required for it to come into effect. Nonetheless, the day the Constitution was signed, September 17, is now celebrated as Constitution Day, commemorating the significant step towards establishing the foundation of the American government.
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Franklin's legacy as one of the Founding Fathers
Benjamin Franklin is remembered as one of the United States' Founding Fathers, a successful printer and publisher, an author, an inventor, a scientist, and a diplomat. He was also the first postmaster general. Born in 1706 in Massachusetts, Franklin became a successful newspaper editor and printer in Philadelphia, publishing The Pennsylvania Gazette at 23. He also published Poor Richard's Almanack under the pseudonym Richard Saunders, which is considered one of the greatest treasures of American literature.
Franklin's influence at the Constitutional Convention, where he helped draft the Declaration of Independence, is considered one of his greatest contributions as one of the Founding Fathers. His decades in business taught him the importance of 'win-win' negotiations, and he helped delegates navigate numerous roadblocks by promoting negotiation and compromise. This negotiation paradigm is reflected in the US Constitution, which requires agreement to reach a majority rather than a majority enforcing its views on others.
Franklin's skill in this regard was noted by Walter Isaacson, who wrote a bestselling biography of him: "The most important thing he brings to our time is his tolerance and respect for pluralism that he believed was the core of democracy. He was always looking for common ground." Franklin's pervasive influence in the early history of the US has led to his being called "the only president of the United States who was never president of the United States."
Franklin's likeness is ubiquitous in the US, adorning the $100 bill since 1914 and appearing on various other denominations of currency. He has been honoured for more than two centuries after his death in the names of warships, towns and counties, educational institutions and corporations, as well as in numerous cultural references and a portrait in the Oval Office.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and played an important role in the writing of the US Constitution.
Yes, Benjamin Franklin signed the US Constitution on September 17, 1787.
Benjamin Franklin was the only Founding Father to have signed the Declaration of Independence, Treaty of Alliance with France, Treaty of Paris, and the US Constitution. He was also the oldest member of the Constitutional Convention at 81 years old.
In his speech, Franklin encouraged the delegates to set aside their differences and approve the document for the good of the nation. He also made a powerful argument for the new Constitution, highlighting the challenges of assembling a group of men with diverse perspectives and interests.
Although Benjamin Franklin did not contribute to the writing of the final document, he played a hands-on role in the process. He proposed a system of representation for the House of Representatives and the Senate, and he suggested that the House of Representatives should have the power to increase government employee salaries and draft legislation for fundraising.
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