Simone Lawson
Benjamin Franklin was the senior statesman at the Constitutional Convention, at 81 years old, he was twice the average age of the delegates. Franklin's experience in business taught him the importance of 'win-win' negotiations, and he helped delegates navigate numerous roadblocks, promoting negotiation and compromise. He also sent a copy of the Constitution to a Paris banker, reflecting his optimistic and universal outlook. Franklin's influence at the convention was such that the negotiation paradigm is considered to be baked into the U.S. Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age | 81 |
| Role | Helped navigate roadblocks and promote negotiation and compromise |
| Temperament | Moderate and in search of ways to bring contending parties together |
| Influence | Sent a copy of the Constitution to a Paris banker to raise support for the new nation |
| Outlook | Optimistic and universal |
| Views on the Constitution | Approves of the Constitution despite its faults and believes it is the best option |
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What You'll Learn
Franklin's negotiation and compromise skills
Benjamin Franklin's negotiation and compromise skills were honed over decades in business, where he learned the importance of "win-win" negotiations. These skills were invaluable during the Constitutional Convention, where he helped delegates navigate roadblocks and encouraged a collaborative approach to decision-making.
Franklin's moderate temperament and ability to bring opposing parties together were key factors in fostering agreement among the delegates. He understood that a general government was necessary for the nation and believed that the Constitution, despite its faults, could be a blessing if well-administered. Franklin's pragmatism and willingness to compromise were evident in his famous statement:
> "I agree to this Constitution with all its faults...I doubt too whether any other Convention we can obtain, may be able to make a better Constitution. For when you assemble a number of men...you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an assembly can a perfect production be expected?"
Franklin's influence extended beyond the convention halls. At 81, he was the senior statesman among younger delegates, including Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and George Washington. His reputation and wisdom carried weight, and he used his influence to promote unity and consensus.
Franklin's ability to find common ground and his commitment to creating a unified nation were instrumental in shaping the Constitution. His belief in the importance of agreement over majority rule left a lasting impact on the document and the country's governing principles.
Transcription: Understanding the Process and Its True Nature
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His influence at the Constitutional Convention
Benjamin Franklin was 81 at the Constitutional Convention, making him the senior statesman at a convention of young men. He was three times the age of the youngest delegate, and twice the average age of all the delegates. He was also the most renowned American of the age.
Franklin's decades in business taught him the importance of 'win-win' negotiations, and he used these skills to help delegates navigate roadblocks and promote negotiation and compromise. He also supported the convention by sending a copy of the document to a Paris banker, Ferdinand Grand, to raise both political and financial support for the new nation.
Franklin's moderate temperament helped him to bring contending parties together, and he thought beyond American borders when he considered the possibilities set in motion by the Convention.
In his address, Franklin said:
> 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. It is therefore that the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others. Most men indeed as well as most sects in Religion, think themselves in possession of all truth, and that wherever others differ from them it is so far error.
He continued:
> In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other. I doubt too whether any other Convention we can obtain, may be able to make a better Constitution. For when you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an assembly can a perfect production be expected? It therefore astonishes me, Sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does; and I think it will astonish our enemies, who are waiting with confidence to hear that our councils are confounded like those of the Builders of Babel; and that our States are on the point of separation, only to meet hereafter for the purpose of cutting one another’s throats. Thus I consent, Sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure, that it is not the best. The opinions I have had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good. I have never whispered a syllable of them abroad. Within these walls they were born, and here they shall die. If every one of us in returning to our Constituents were to report the objections he has had to it, and endeavor to gain partizans in support of them, we might prevent its being generally received, and thereby lose all the salutary effects & great advantages resulting naturally in our favor among foreign Nations as well.
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His support for a general government
Benjamin Franklin was the senior statesman at the Constitutional Convention, at 81 years old. He was three times the age of the Convention's youngest delegate and twice the average age of all the delegates. He was also the most renowned American of the age.
Franklin's decades in business taught him the importance of 'win-win' negotiations, and he helped the delegates navigate numerous roadblocks, promoting negotiation and compromise.
Franklin supported a general government, believing that it was necessary for the people. He argued that there was no form of government that could not be a blessing to the people if it was well administered. He thought that the Constitution was likely to be well administered for a course of years, but that it could end in despotism if the people became so corrupted as to need a despotic government.
Franklin doubted whether any other Convention could make a better Constitution, as assembling a number of men to take advantage of their joint wisdom also inevitably meant assembling with those men their prejudices, passions, errors of opinion, local interests, and selfish views.
Franklin's support for a general government was also reflected in his actions after the Convention. In October, before any state had ratified the Constitution, Franklin sent a copy of the document to a Paris banker he had met while on a diplomatic mission to France to raise political and financial support for the new nation.
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His optimistic and universal outlook
Benjamin Franklin's decades in business taught him the importance of 'win-win' negotiations, and he brought this skill set to the Constitutional Convention. He was instrumental in helping delegates navigate roadblocks, promoting negotiation and compromise. This inclusive approach is reflected in the US Constitution, which requires agreement to reach a majority, rather than a majority enforcing its views on others.
Franklin's optimistic and universal outlook is evident in his actions and statements at the Convention. At 81, he was the senior statesman at a convention of young men, and his moderate temperament and renowned wisdom were key to bringing contending parties together. Franklin's outlook extended beyond American borders, and he considered the global impact of the Convention. For example, he sent a copy of the Constitution to a Paris banker, Ferdinand Grand, to raise political and financial support for the new nation.
Franklin's closing statement at the Convention reflects his pragmatic optimism:
> "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. It is therefore that the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others. Most men indeed as well as most sects in Religion, think themselves in possession of all truth, and that wherever others differ from them it is so far error."
Franklin's statement acknowledges the imperfections of the Constitution but expresses faith in the potential for improvement and the wisdom of others. He recognised that a perfect production could not be expected from a group of individuals with their own prejudices and passions. Franklin's optimistic and universal outlook helped shape the Constitution, fostering a spirit of collaboration, openness to change, and respect for diverse perspectives.
Franklin's pragmatic idealism also shone through in his famous observation about the rising sun:
> "Doctr. Franklin looking towards the President Chair, at the back of which a rising sun happened to be painted, observed to a few members near him, that Painters had found it difficult to distinguish in their art a rising from a setting sun. I have, said he, often and often in the course of the Session and the vicissitudes of my hopes and fears at to its issue looked at that behind the President without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting: But now at length I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting Sun."
This metaphor captures Franklin's hopeful outlook, suggesting that despite the challenges and uncertainties of the Constitutional Convention, a brighter future lay ahead.
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His experience and wisdom
Benjamin Franklin was 81 years old when he attended the Constitutional Convention, making him the senior statesman at a convention of young men. He was three times the age of the youngest delegate, and twice the average age of all the delegates. Franklin was also the most renowned American of his age.
Franklin's decades in business taught him the importance of 'win-win' negotiations. He used this experience to help the delegates navigate numerous roadblocks, promoting negotiation and compromise. This paradigm is reflected in the U.S. Constitution, which requires agreement to reach a majority, rather than a majority enforcing its views on others.
Franklin's moderate temperament, which always sought ways to bring contending parties together, served him well during the Convention. He thought beyond American borders when he considered the possibilities set in motion by the Convention. For example, in October, before any state had ratified the Constitution, Franklin sent a copy of the document to a Paris banker he had met while on a diplomatic mission to France. He hoped to raise both political and financial support for the new nation.
Franklin's closing remarks at the Convention reflect his experience and wisdom. He acknowledged that there were parts of the Constitution that he did not approve of, but conceded that his opinions might change with "better information" or "fuller consideration". He agreed to the Constitution with all its faults because he believed a general government was necessary, and that no other convention could make a better Constitution. He also recognised that the joint wisdom of the delegates was inevitably accompanied by their prejudices, passions, errors of opinion, local interests, and selfish views.
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Frequently asked questions
Benjamin Franklin was the senior statesman at the Constitutional Convention, at 81 years old, he was twice the average age of all the delegates.
Benjamin Franklin was not fully satisfied with the Constitution, he is quoted as saying:
> "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".
However, he did agree to the Constitution, believing that it was the best option available and that it would be administered well.
Benjamin Franklin's decades in business taught him the importance of negotiation and compromise, and this influenced the Constitution. He also helped to gain political and financial support for the new nation by sending a copy of the document to a banker in Paris.
Some of the contentious issues in the Constitution included slavery, which was barely addressed despite affecting 18% of the population, the number of Representatives in the House, how treaties should be signed, and how infrastructure projects such as roads and canals should be built.
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