Omar Bennett
Benjamin Franklin was a prominent figure at the Constitutional Convention, serving as an unofficial host for delegates and actively participating in the debates. Despite doubts about his political skills, Franklin had a lengthy political career, serving as an emissary and ambassador for the colonies and the newly liberated nation. He was the only person to sign all three key documents in the birth of the United States: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, and the Constitution. Franklin's most notable contribution to the Constitution was his suggestion to amend a phrase, substituting natural law for divine sanction. He also advocated for a federal government, believing it was necessary to work together to defeat the British. In addition, Franklin supported abolition and circulated anti-slavery medallions.
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What You'll Learn
- Franklin was the only man to sign all three key documents in the birth of the US: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, and the Constitution
- He acted as an unofficial host for delegates, offering them dark beer or tea
- He suggested a key change to the text, substituting natural law for divine sanction
- Franklin supported the abolition of slavery, despite having previously owned enslaved people
- He was an emissary and ambassador for the colonies and the newly liberated nation
Franklin was the only man to sign all three key documents in the birth of the US: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, and the Constitution
Benjamin Franklin played an important role in the birth of the United States. At 81, Franklin was the senior statesman at the Constitutional Convention, three times the age of the youngest delegate. He was also the most renowned American of his age, celebrated as a scientist and inventor.
Franklin's political career began in 1736 when he was appointed clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly. He served as Pennsylvania's agent in England and as the United States' minister in France, negotiating long-standing disputes and raising political and financial support for the revolution.
Franklin's role at the Constitutional Convention was significant. He was an active participant, helping the process to move forward and recommending the adoption of the document despite its faults. He wrote a closing speech, delivered by a colleague due to his ill health, in which he encouraged delegates to put aside their disagreements and approve the document for the good of the nation. Franklin's ideas became known as the Connecticut Compromise, which the general assembly adopted on July 17, allowing the process to move forward.
Franklin's influence extended beyond the US. He believed that the framework for a federal government could be applied to Europe, writing:
> "I do not see why you might not in Europe carry the Project of good Henry the 4th into Execution, by forming a Federal Union and One Grand Republick of all its different States & Kingdoms; by means of a like Convention."
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He acted as an unofficial host for delegates, offering them dark beer or tea
Benjamin Franklin was 81 years old and nearing the end of his life when the 1787 Constitutional Convention took place. He was the senior statesman at a convention of young men, three times the age of the youngest delegate and twice the average age of all delegates. He was also the most renowned American of his age.
Franklin was a celebrated scientist and inventor, and his genius was internationally acclaimed. He had already been an active participant in many of the pivotal moments in the founding of the United States, signing the Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Paris. He also played an important role in the Constitutional Convention, helping the process to move forward and recommending the adoption of the document despite its faults.
Franklin acted as an unofficial host for delegates, offering them dark beer or tea. He was well-known for his loquaciousness, and a chaperone accompanied him to social gatherings to ensure no information leaked. Franklin's hands-on role in the process was significant. When delegates couldn't agree on how to determine the number of Congressional representatives for each state, they decided to form a Grand Committee, with Franklin as Pennsylvania's appointee. Franklin proposed that each state send one Congressman to the House of Representatives per 40,000 in population, and his ideas became known as the Connecticut Compromise, which the general assembly adopted on July 17.
Franklin wrote a closing speech that a colleague delivered to the assemblage due to his ill health. In it, he encouraged the delegates to put aside their disagreements and approve the document for the good of the nation. Subsequently, they voted to adopt the Constitution and released it to the public.
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He suggested a key change to the text, substituting natural law for divine sanction
Benjamin Franklin was 81 years old when he attended the 1787 Constitutional Convention, making him the senior statesman at a convention of young men. He was three times the age of the Convention's youngest delegate, and twice the average age of all delegates. Despite his advanced age, Franklin played an important role in the process of drafting the Constitution.
When delegates could not agree on how to determine the number of Congressional representatives for each state, they formed a Grand Committee, with Franklin as Pennsylvania's appointee. Franklin proposed that each state send one Congressman to the House of Representatives per 40,000 in population, while every state would have an equal vote in the Senate. These ideas became known as the Connecticut Compromise and allowed the process to move forward.
Franklin also suggested a key change to the text, substituting natural law for divine sanction. He argued that a general government was necessary and that any form of government could be a blessing to the people if well administered. Franklin believed that the Constitution was likely to be well administered for a course of years, but he also recognised the potential for it to end in despotism if the people became corrupted and incapable of any other form of government.
In his closing speech to the Convention, Franklin encouraged the delegates to put aside their disagreements and approve the document for the good of the nation. Despite his ill health, his words carried weight, and the delegates voted to adopt the Constitution, which was then released to the public.
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Franklin supported the abolition of slavery, despite having previously owned enslaved people
Benjamin Franklin was a prominent figure in the creation of the US Constitution. At 81, he was the senior statesman at the Constitutional Convention, and he was involved in the lengthy drafting process. Franklin sent a copy of the Constitution to a banker in Paris, seeking political and financial support.
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He was an emissary and ambassador for the colonies and the newly liberated nation
Benjamin Franklin was a prominent figure in the American Revolution and the decades preceding it. He was a celebrated scientist, inventor, and writer, known for his electrical experiments and inventions such as the lightning conductor and the glass armonica. Franklin was also a statesman and diplomat, serving as an emissary and ambassador for the colonies and the newly liberated nation.
Franklin's political career began in 1736 when he was appointed clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly. In 1757, he accepted the nomination as Pennsylvania's agent in England to negotiate long-standing disputes with the Proprietors, serving as an emissary for the colonies. Franklin's moderate temperament and skill in bringing contending parties together served him well in this role and during the Constitutional Convention.
As an ambassador for the newly liberated nation, Franklin played a crucial role in the War of American Independence. As the United States' minister in France from 1776, he brought the French into the war against Britain and kept them engaged. This made him second only to George Washington in importance to the American victory. Franklin also signed the 1778 Treaty of Alliance with France, further solidifying his diplomatic achievements.
In addition to his diplomatic roles, Franklin was actively involved in the creation and promotion of the Constitution. He was a senior statesman who lent his authority to the compromises deemed necessary to forge a Constitution capable of serving the new nation. Franklin worked alongside George Washington in this endeavour, and his influence extended beyond the borders of the United States. Franklin sent a copy of the Constitution to Ferdinand Grand, a Paris banker, to raise political and financial support for the newly formed nation.
Franklin's role at the Constitutional Convention is also notable. He was present when delegates signed the Constitution and wrote a speech to be delivered on the last day of the Convention in 1787. However, he was too weak to deliver it himself, so James Wilson read it to the audience. Franklin's speech acknowledged the faults in the Constitution but emphasized the need for a general government and the potential for the Constitution to be well-administered.
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Frequently asked questions
Benjamin Franklin was a senior statesman who lent his authority to the compromises deemed necessary to forge a Constitution capable of serving the new nation. He was also the only man to sign all three key documents in the birth of the United States: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, and the Constitution.
Benjamin Franklin was present at the Constitutional Convention and was involved in four months of debate during the summer of 1787. He wrote a speech to be given on the last day of the Convention, but he was too weak to deliver it, so it was read to the audience by James Wilson.
In his speech, Benjamin Franklin confessed that there were several parts of the Constitution that he did not approve of, but he believed that a general government was necessary. He also acknowledged that the Constitution did not include many rights and freedoms considered part of the American identity and did not resolve slavery.
Benjamin Franklin had a lengthy career in politics, serving as an emissary and ambassador for many years. He was known for his moderate temperament and his ability to bring contending parties together. Franklin's skills and temperament served him well during the Constitutional Convention.
