Essay: The Patriotism and Politics of Benjamin Franklin’s Lasting Works

Research Paper
10 April 2018
The Patriotism and Politics of Benjamin Franklin’s Lasting Works
Benjamin Franklin was a complex and thought-provoking individual. He relayed his political, social, and revolutionary ideas through direct writings that he penned under his name and under anonymity. During a time when the American colonies were under imperial rule and such writing would have been labeled as treasonous and punishable by jail or death.
Before he was the influential author and philosopher that he was known best for, Franklin faced hardships in his youth. Franklin was the eighth of ten children and was born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 17, 1706. His father was a candle maker and skillful mechanic and his mother mostly worked around the house, Franklin was denied basic education as a child solely because of his family’s poverty. His household was strictly Puritan although over time, as Franklin delved into the works of Isaac Newton and the philosophies of John Locke, he soon began to reject his father’s Calvinist theology. Avidly reading the works of the 3d earl of Shaftesbury and other deists, Franklin thus strengthened his lifelong belief in a rational and practical religion rather than formal doctrine. In absorbing his new learning through books and periodicals, he virtually memorized the English Spectator, with the satires of Addison and Steele, and otherwise accepted the values and philosophy of the English age of Enlightenment.(7) Following in the steps of his favorite authors he developed his own philosophical views based upon the good sense, tolerance, and urbanity mixed with his Puritan beliefs.
Wanting to broaden his scope on the world of literature Franklin became an apprentice to his brother James, a printer at an early Boston newspaper, the New England Courant. While working there he learned the trade and all the handlings of being in the writing business and he broadened his literature understanding by reading and just always being around print as he worked. While working with his brother, he even began writing criticisms of the Boston establishment under the pen name of Silence Dogood. These multiple articles he wrote under his anonymous pen name are considered the earliest of his revolutionary literature. Soon though his Brother James was imprisoned for criticisms against the crown and Franklin feared he was next, so he dropped everything and ran away to Philadelphia. There he established himself as a skilled printer where he worked in both America and London for a period of about . Upon returning back to Philadelphia from London he published a newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette, which would print the first political cartoon in America, Join, or Die, and then began to write his now famous Poor Richard’s Almanack. Franklin wanted to improve the city that he lived in so he also turned his attention to civic improvement, “Franklin organized the Junto, a club of aspiring tradesmen like himself who met each week for discussion. He led the Junto in establishing a circulating library (1731); a fire company (1736); the American Philosophical Society (1743); a college chartered as an academy, later to become the University of Pennsylvania (1749); and an insurance company and a city hospital (1751).” (7)  Aside from being a successful author, publisher, and civil improvement advocate, Franklin was also a very prominent figure in the science field, he was credited for inventing the “Franklin Stove”, and the lightning rod but at the height of his science career he turned his attention fully to the political spectrum. He became the clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly, as well as postmaster of Philadelphia and even operated his own bookshop. Abroad he was an agent in England for about 5 years and then later appointed as the minister to France after the American Revolution. Benjamin Franklin’s literary works and ideology would help to form the United States of America in 1776 and still continue to influence politics and popular culture today.
The Revolutionary Era of literature spanned from 1750 to 1830. It was about gathering support for the Revolutionary War by instilling pride and patriotism in American citizens. Benjamin Franklin was one of the most influential writers of the time. Literary works in this era came in the form of political pamphlets and short stories with a lesson. The style of the writings was influential and elaborate. The Revolutionary War significantly influenced the literature of this time by providing the people with a new line of thinking. American writers could write about freedom not only from England but also from the classical European style of writing.  Benjamin Franklin’s most famous works included “Poor Richard’s Almanac” and his autobiography.  Benjamin Franklin’s work predominantly featured lessons on the value of life; saving money; the value of knowledge and health.  (1)
Benjamin Franklin wrote his writings in aphorisms, which are concise statements with a principle (2).  A perfect example of this is the statement “an apple a day, keeps the doctor away”.  Apples are a healthy food and are good for you; this statement is simple and concise. If you eat healthily, a good diet will prevent visits to the doctor.
Franklin’s greatest literary feat was in politics that Franklin made his greatest impact.  Franklin’s political writings are full of fascinating reflections on human nature, on the character of good leadership, and on why the government is such a messy and problematic business. He further had thoughts on citizenship, federalism, constitutional government, the role of civil associations, and religious freedom. Franklin had an unrivaled understanding of the individual human soul. At the heart of his political vision is a view of democratic citizenship, a rich understanding of the qualities of the heart and mind necessary to support liberty and sustain happiness. Franklin’s valuable insight into political issues continues to be relevant today. (3)
Franklin gives a list of virtues in his writings (4):
Temperance (Eat not to Dulness. Drink not to Elevation.)
Silence (Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.)
Order (Let all your Things have their Places. Let each Part of your Business have its Time.)
Resolution (Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.)
Frugality (Make no Expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing.)
Industry (Lose no Time—Be always employed in something useful—Cut off all unnecessary Actions.)
Sincerity (Use no hurtful Deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.)
Justice (Wrong none, by doing Injuries or omitting the Benefits that are your Duty.)
Moderation (Avoid Extremes. Forbear resenting Injuries so much as you think they deserve.)
Cleanliness (Tolerate no Uncleanliness in Body, Clothes or Habitation.)
Tranquility (Be not disturbed at Trifles, or at Accidents common or unavoidable.)
Chastity (Rarely use Venery but for Health or Offspring; Never to Dulness, Weakness, or the Injury of your own or another’s Peace or Reputation.)
Humility (Imitate Jesus and Socrates.)
Franklin shares his aphorisms’ and in doing so is laying a solid foundation for democratic citizenship. The first building blocks of that foundation are not less important for being so humble. It is important to bear in mind that the audience for whose edification Franklin proposed his list was the common folk of America, not its elite. These were the people on whose virtues a prosperous democracy would be built or on whose vices it would founder. Franklin recognized two distinctive features of American society. First, Americans began life with little and needed to make their own way. Second, America provided sufficient opportunity that prosperity was within the reach of almost anyone who was willing to work for it. This is a recipe for tremendous economic development and social happiness, but only if the human soil is properly prepared. (5)
The reading in class of Benjamin Franklin “The Way To Wealth” suggests the way to be self-sufficient on an individual level and as a nation.  The writing from Franklin in 1758, first presented in Franklin’s periodical Poor Richard’s Almanac as a collection of advice and commentary, talks about virtues such as frugality, diligence, frugality, debt, and knowledge. Franklin states “The taxes are indeed very heavy, and if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us”. (6) Prior to moving to Florida, I was a resident of Connecticut.  In addition to paying Federal taxes, Connecticut has personal state income taxes, gas taxes, and most likely roadway use taxes in the form of 60 plus tolls that are being proposed.  Further the burden of local property taxes on real property.  The question is was Franklin teaching us personal financial responsibility or was he trying to teach us about the financial responsibility of the government? The answer to that would be he is trying to teach us both, but there is more of an emphasis on personal wealth.  There is an important lesson to take out of “Father Abraham’s” speech, more money can always be made, but time is lost forever and there is no way to get more. The essay contains many ways in which one can achieve wealth, by simply being smart and making the most of their time.
Franklin goes on to state “Would you not say, that you are free, have a right to dress as you please, and that such an edict would be a breach of your privileges, and such a government tyrannical?  And yet you are about to put yourself under that tyranny when you run in debt for such dress!  Your creditor has authority at his pleasure to deprive you of your liberty, by confining you in jail for life, or to sell you for a servant, if you should not be able to pay him!”(6)  Franklin seems to view debt as a barrier and depicts it as a tyrannical force that is acting upon a person. It bounds them to debt but did not initially force it upon them. It was by choice that the person would be under such tyranny of debt by buying a dress which they knew would put them in this situation. Therefore he is saying that debt can be avoided by just making the smart choices that allow you to protect your wealth and prosper. The essay is even a common theme of business classes today, we are educated to always make the smart decisions with our money such that we do not incur an economic loss, to put it in terms of Franklin’s essay if we knew we could not afford the dress because it would plunge us into debt, we are educated to not purchase it. The teachings of this essay are incorporated in our education today and it is very interesting to be able to read some of the earliest forms of business edicate.
As we also discussed in class we are now approaching 260 years later, and as much as Franklin’s literary works are adored, his image is also used today as a part of popular culture. From personal experience I know that city of Philadelphia idolizes him and you can not turn a corner without seeing his face on a shirt or his name on a building. People walk around wearing Benjamin Franklin souvenir shirts and there are even golf balls with depictions of Franklin performing his kite experiment, which I display in my room as a souvenir from my visit to Philadelphia. Most of us also walk around with Franklin in our pockets on 100 dollar bills to which we may spend or deposit, everyday we open our wallet and there is a good chance that you will see an image of Benjamin Franklin. Whether we realize it or not Benjamin Franklin continues to be an influence in everyone’s lives perhaps just as much as he while he was helping to found our country all those years ago.
Class discussions aside, the writings of Benjamin Franklin are timeless. They teach us about the good and evil that is inherent in man (people). If you have moral conviction and principles it will guide you to do the right thing and something that we need in the American society today. Furthermore, as it relates to the moral guidance and responsibility of our elected leaders. His writings and advice are relevant today as much as they were 260 years ago.
Linde, Diane. Introduction to Revolutionary literature Period, Prezi.com, 20 Jan. 2016. Accessed 15 Mar. 2018.
“Aphorisms.” Merriam-Webster. . Accessed 15 Mar. 2018.
Smith-Pangle, Lorraine. The Political Philosophy of Benjamin Franklin. John Hopkins University Press, 2007. Accessed 15 Mar. 2018.
Franklin, Autobiography, in Writings, pp. 1384–1385.
Forde, Steven. “Benjamin Franklin: The Sage of America.” www.Heritage.org. Accessed 17 July 2013.
Franklin, Benjamin. “‘The Way To Wealth’ (1758).” Https://Liberalarts.utexas.edu, liberalarts.utexas.edu/coretexts/_files/resources/texts/1758%20Franklin%20Wealth.pdf.
Ketcham, Ralph. “Franklin,Benjamin (1706–1790).” Scholastic Grolier Online, go.scholastic.com/content/schgo/L/article/016/484/0164840-00.html. Accessed 13 Apr. 2018.