Omar Bennett
Benjamin Franklin was a Founding Father of the United States, known for his work as a printer, publisher, author, inventor, scientist, and diplomat. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and played a crucial role in the creation and signing of the US Constitution. On September 17, 1787, Franklin, at 81 years old and in poor health, delivered a speech introducing a motion for the delegates to sign the Constitution. Despite expressing his own reservations about certain parts of the document, Franklin argued for the new Constitution and made a final plea for all delegates to sign it. This topic explores Franklin's involvement in the Constitutional Convention, his reasons for signing the Constitution, and the impact of his actions on the formation of the US government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Did Benjamin Franklin sign the Constitution? | Benjamin Franklin did not sign the Constitution. |
| Why didn't he sign it? | Franklin was in poor health and too weak to read his speech, so he asked James Wilson to read it for him. |
| What was his role in the signing of the Constitution? | Franklin made the final motion to sign the document, which was approved by 10 of the state delegations. |
| What was his speech about? | Franklin admitted that there were parts of the Constitution that he did not approve of, but he might approve of them in the future. He also acknowledged the diversity of opinions among the men in the room and the difficulty of finding common ground. He ultimately consented to the Constitution, recognizing that it was the best option available. |
| What was the outcome of the signing? | The Constitution was signed by all members except Edmund Randolph, George Mason, and Elbridge Gerry, who refused to give their sanction. |
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What You'll Learn
Benjamin Franklin's role in the signing of the US Constitution
Benjamin Franklin played a crucial role in the signing of the US Constitution. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, which began in May 1787 in Pennsylvania's State House, now known as Independence Hall. Franklin, despite his advanced age and poor health at 81, delivered a powerful and influential speech in support of the Constitution.
In his speech, Franklin acknowledged that while he did not approve of every part of the Constitution, he recognized the challenges of achieving unanimity among the diverse opinions represented in the room. He humbly expressed his willingness to change his opinions based on better information or fuller consideration, even on important subjects. Franklin's wisdom and experience lent weight to his argument for signing the document.
Franklin's speech concluded with a passionate plea for all the delegates to sign the Constitution. He recognized that it was a nearly perfect system and that expecting perfection from such a diverse assembly was unrealistic. Franklin's words carried significant influence, and his motion to sign the Constitution was approved by 10 of the state delegations.
Franklin's role in the signing of the US Constitution exemplifies his commitment to the nation-building process and his ability to persuade others through reasoned argument and appeal to unity. His contribution to this pivotal moment in American history underscores his legacy as one of the foremost Founding Fathers of the United States.
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Franklin's speech introducing the motion to sign the Constitution
On September 17, 1787, Benjamin Franklin, at the age of 81, made a motion to sign the US Constitution in his last great speech. Franklin, in poor health, wrote the speech but was too weak to read it himself, so he asked James Wilson to read it for him.
Franklin's speech aimed to convince the three delegates who had refused to sign the Constitution—Gerry, Randolph, and Mason—to abandon their opposition. He began his address with a note of humility, acknowledging that there were parts of the Constitution that he did not approve of at present but that he might approve of them in the future. Franklin argued that the Constitution was the best possible outcome under the present circumstances and that it ought to receive unanimous support. He recognized the challenges of assembling a group of individuals with diverse perspectives and interests, and that no other convention could create a better Constitution.
Franklin's speech concluded with a passionate plea for all the delegates to sign the Constitution. He observed that their signatures would demonstrate their support and commitment to the document. He also made a personal appeal to Randolph, begging him to sign. However, despite Franklin's persuasive words, Gerry, Randolph, and Mason remained steadfast in their refusal to sign.
Franklin's speech, delivered with wisdom and persuasion, highlighted his belief in the importance of unity and compromise. He understood that while the Constitution might not be perfect in everyone's eyes, it was a critical step towards establishing a new form of republican government in the United States.
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The three delegates who refused to sign the Constitution
Benjamin Franklin did sign the Constitution, despite having reservations about it. On the final day of the Constitutional Convention, Franklin delivered an address strongly endorsing the Constitution, despite its imperfections. He said:
> "There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them... I expect no better and... I am not sure that it is not the best."
Franklin, at 81 years old, was the oldest signer of the Constitution. He was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.
Of the 74 delegates chosen to attend the Constitutional Convention, 55 attended, and 39 signed. Several attendees left before the signing ceremony, and three of the 42 who remained refused to sign. The names of these three delegates are not known. However, several delegates were disappointed by the numerous compromises contained in the final document, believing that they had impaired its quality. Alexander Hamilton, for example, called the Constitution a "weak and worthless fabric", certain to be superseded.
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The form of the signing
Benjamin Franklin played a pivotal role in the signing of the US Constitution, giving a speech to introduce the motion for the delegates to sign the document. In poor health at the age of 81, Franklin was unable to read his speech himself and so asked James Wilson to read it on his behalf.
In his speech, Franklin made a powerful argument for the new Constitution, acknowledging that while it was not perfect, it was the best that could be expected from a group of men with diverse opinions:
> "I confess that there are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them. For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise."
Franklin's speech concluded with a plea for all the delegates to sign the Constitution. However, three delegates—Elbridge Gerry, George Mason, and Edmund Randolph—objected to the final version and refused to sign. Franklin then made a final motion for the form of the signing, which was approved by 10 of the state delegations:
> "Done in Convention by the unanimous consent of the States present, the seventeenth of September, &c."
This form had been devised by Gouverneur Morris, who gave it to Franklin in the hope that Franklin's esteem would lend it credence. The wording of the form did not explicitly state that the signer was endorsing the Constitution, only that they were affirming the states' unanimous approval of it. The idea was to get Gerry, Mason, and Randolph to sign by making their personal objections irrelevant to their signatures. However, Randolph still refused to sign, stating that the proposed form for the signatures didn't change anything—signing the Constitution would still imply that he supported it, which he did not.
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Franklin's response to whether the US was a republic or a monarchy
Benjamin Franklin was one of the signatories of the US Constitution, which was signed on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia. Franklin, in his last great speech, made a powerful argument for the new Constitution, despite his poor health at the age of 81.
Franklin's response to the question of whether the US was a republic or a monarchy was: "A republic, if you can keep it." This response was recorded in the journal of James McHenry, a Maryland delegate to the Constitutional Convention. The journal entry describes how a lady, later identified as Elizabeth Willing Powel, asked Franklin, "Well Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?". Franklin's response has been quoted many times since, including by federal legislators in the aftermath of the violent events at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The phrase "a republic, if you can keep it" has been interpreted as a recognition of the fragility of the democratic experiment and the active involvement required by citizens to maintain it. The US Constitution has indeed survived numerous crises and become a powerful symbol of unity, far preferable to a monarchy.
Franklin's response also reflected his view of the new Constitution, which he believed was near to perfection and better than any alternative that was likely to emerge. Despite his advanced age and health issues, Franklin played a pivotal role in convincing reluctant delegates to sign the document, including those who had announced their refusal to do so, such as Gerry, Randolph, and Mason.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Benjamin Franklin signed the Constitution.
Benjamin Franklin signed the Constitution because he believed it was the best option available at the time. In his speech, he acknowledged that the document was not perfect and that there were parts he did not approve of, but he also recognized that it was unlikely that any other assembly could create a better one. He also understood the importance of unanimity among the states present at the Convention.
Benjamin Franklin was a respected Founding Father and one of the foremost minds of his day. His signature carried weight and helped to lend credibility to the document. Franklin's support for the Constitution was crucial in convincing others to sign and played a significant role in its eventual ratification.
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