Eleanor Finch
Benjamin Franklin is considered one of the 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. Franklin was in poor health during the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787 and was an infrequent participant in its creation. However, when he was healthy enough to attend the Constitutional Convention, his contributions were significant. He helped navigate numerous roadblocks, promoting negotiation and compromise, and his skills as an arbitrator between warring factions within the convention were noted.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Franklin's role in the creation of the U.S. Constitution | Franklin was in poor health during the creation of the U.S. Constitution but still made important contributions. |
| Franklin's influence on the U.S. Constitution | Franklin's influence on the U.S. Constitution included his belief in the importance of 'win-win' negotiations and his support for voluntarism as an enduring part of the American ethos. |
| Franklin's thoughts on the U.S. Constitution | Franklin acknowledged the U.S. Constitution's faults but believed it was the best option for a general government and could be a blessing to the people. |
| Franklin's signing of the U.S. Constitution | Franklin was the only person to sign the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, and the Treaty of Alliance with France. |
| Franklin's legacy in relation to the U.S. Constitution | Franklin has been called a Founding Father of the United States and "the most accomplished American of his age". His likeness adorns American $100 bills, and he has been honoured in the names of warships, towns, educational institutions, and more. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Franklin's health during the Constitutional Convention
Benjamin Franklin is considered one of America's Founding Fathers. He is the only person to have signed the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Paris, and the U.S. Constitution. Franklin was 81 years old when he participated in the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. He was in poor health at the time, suffering from gout and kidney stones, which had been brought on by obesity in his middle age. Despite his health issues, Franklin was pleased with the work of the delegates and proudly signed the new Constitution on September 17, 1787.
Franklin's contributions to the Constitutional Convention were significant. He helped navigate roadblocks and promote negotiation and compromise. His decades in business taught him the importance of "win-win" negotiations, and this influenced the structure of the U.S. Constitution. Franklin's skills as an arbitrator between warring factions within the convention were also noted by author Walter Isaacson. Franklin's tolerance and respect for pluralism were seen as core to democracy.
Franklin's health issues during the Constitutional Convention may have limited his public appearances, but they did not diminish his influence or the respect he garnered. He was revered as one of the nation's greatest patriots, and his presence at the convention, alongside George Washington, lent weight to the gathering. Franklin's support for a strong general government and his concerns about the dangers of entrusting too much power to a single individual informed the debate on the role and framework of the national executive branch.
Franklin's influence extended beyond the Constitutional Convention. He served as an early editor and helped with copy edits on Thomas Jefferson's first draft of the Declaration of Independence. Franklin's scientific achievements, including his book "Experiments and Observations on Electricity," further solidified his legacy. He is remembered as "the most accomplished American of his age and the most influential in inventing the type of society America would become."
Exploring Religious Freedom in Russia's Constitution
You may want to see also
His contributions to the Constitution
Benjamin Franklin is considered one of the leading Founding Fathers of the United States. He was the only person to have signed the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Paris, and the U.S. Constitution.
Franklin's influence at the Constitutional Convention was one of his greatest contributions as one of the nation's Founding Fathers. Despite his poor health, Franklin played a crucial role in navigating numerous roadblocks and promoting negotiation and compromise among the delegates. His decades in business taught him the importance of 'win-win' negotiations, and this paradigm is reflected in the U.S. Constitution. Franklin also served as an early editor and helped with the first round of copy edits on Thomas Jefferson's first draft of the Declaration of Independence.
Franklin's skill as an arbitrator between warring factions within the convention was noted by author Walter Isaacson, who wrote a bestselling biography of Benjamin Franklin. Franklin's tolerance and respect for pluralism were seen as essential to democracy. Additionally, Franklin attempted to introduce the practice of daily common prayer at a critical impasse during the Constitutional Convention in June 1787.
Franklin's support for freedom of speech and freedom of the press, as well as his early campaigning for colonial unity, also shaped the vision for the new nation. He was also a proponent of freeing American slaves. Franklin's influence extended beyond the Constitutional Convention, impacting the early history of the nation and solidifying his place as one of America's most influential Founding Fathers.
Supreme Court's Power: Amending the Constitution
You may want to see also
Franklin's influence at the Convention
Benjamin Franklin is considered one of the leading Founding Fathers of the United States. He is 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 at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 was significant, despite his advanced age of 81 and poor health. He was a representative of Pennsylvania at the Convention and played a crucial role as an arbitrator between opposing factions. Franklin's skill in this regard was noted by author Walter Isaacson, who highlighted his "tolerance and respect for pluralism" as a core tenet of democracy.
Franklin's decades of experience in business taught him the importance of "win-win" negotiations. He applied this principle at the Convention, helping delegates navigate roadblocks and promoting negotiation and compromise. This paradigm is reflected in the US Constitution, which requires agreement among a majority rather than a majority imposing its views on others.
Franklin's specific contributions to the Constitution included his proposal for a "second branch" of government, the Senate, with equal representation. This suggestion became the basis for the Connecticut Compromise, which was instrumental in resolving a crisis at the Convention. Franklin also advocated for a framework where executive authority was shared by a small council with frequent changes in members, rather than a single leader. While this proposal was opposed by Hamilton, who favoured an elected monarchy, a compromise was reached with a single executive elected every four years.
Franklin's influence extended beyond the Convention as well. He served as an early editor and provided copy edits on Thomas Jefferson's first draft of the Declaration of Independence. Franklin's experience as a printer and publisher likely contributed to a stronger final version of the Declaration.
The Constitution: Adapting to Change
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$28 $17.99
His support for the First Amendment
Benjamin Franklin is considered one of the leading Founding Fathers of the United States. He was the only person to have signed the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Paris, and the US Constitution.
Franklin's support for the First Amendment was evident even before there was a First Amendment. He championed the freedoms it embodied, particularly freedom of the press, and practised these rights through numerous literary endeavours and ownership of the Pennsylvania Gazette. He was the first to publish Cato's "Essay on Free Speech" in 1722 after his brother was imprisoned for criticising the Massachusetts government. In 1737, as the publisher of the Pennsylvania Gazette, Franklin printed an essay titled "On Freedom of Speech and the Press", which expressed his belief in the importance of free speech for a free society and as a defence against tyranny.
Franklin also vigorously supported the rights of religious freedom, speech, and assembly that were ultimately incorporated into the First Amendment. He viewed the free flow of ideas through freedom of expression as essential to democracy and believed that authority came from the actions of man rather than religious doctrine. He also attempted to introduce the practice of daily common prayer at a critical impasse during the Constitutional Convention in June 1787.
Franklin's influence at the Constitutional Convention was significant. Despite his advanced age and poor health, he served as an arbitrator between warring factions and helped navigate roadblocks through negotiation and compromise. His contributions to the creation of the US Constitution were important, and his pervasive influence in the early history of the nation has led to his being called "the only president of the United States who was never president of the United States."
US Constitution: Who Does It Protect on American Soil?
You may want to see also
Franklin's views on slavery
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 Alliance with France, the Treaty of Paris, and the US Constitution.
In his later years, Franklin became more vocal as an abolitionist. He served as President of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, which was formed in 1775 in Philadelphia. The society advocated not only for the abolition of slavery but also for the integration of freed slaves into American society.
Franklin wrote and published several essays supporting the abolition of slavery. In his writings, he argued that slaves had long been treated as brute animals beneath the standard of human species, and that slavery debased the enslaved and impaired their natural intellectual equality. He also advocated for education and moral instruction for freed slaves to help them adjust to society.
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, just two months before his death, called on Congress to "devise means for removing the Inconsistency from the Character of the American People" and to "promote mercy and justice toward this distressed Race."
Franklin's petition was immediately rejected by pro-slavery congressmen, mostly from the southern states, who argued that the Constitution supported non-interference with the institution of slavery until 1808, that slavery was economically necessary for the South's agricultural industry, and that there was public support for slavery throughout the United States.
Proposing Amendments: A Guide to Changing the US Constitution
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Benjamin Franklin is considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and played a significant role in shaping the U.S. Constitution. He was a representative of Pennsylvania at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and was the oldest signer of the Constitution. However, due to poor health, he was an infrequent participant in the creation of the Constitution.
Ben Franklin's decades in business taught him the importance of negotiation and compromise. These principles are reflected in the U.S. Constitution, which requires agreement to reach a majority rather than a majority enforcing its views on others. Franklin also attempted to introduce the practice of daily common prayer at a critical impasse during the Constitutional Convention.
Benjamin Franklin acknowledged that the Constitution had faults and certain parts that he did not approve of. However, he agreed to it because he believed it was the best option and necessary for a general government. He also recognised that it approached near perfection and would astonish their enemies.
