Benjamin Franklin
TAKING A STAND
National History Day Paper by : Anna Berger
“Tis a common observation here that our cause is the cause of all mankind, and
that we are fighting for their liberty in defending our own.”1 Those are the words of the
great revolutionary leader, Benjamin Franklin. He said this after America had been
through a war, trying to overcome the power of British rule. Benjamin Franklin was a key
leader in the conflict and helped during various parts of the escape of the harsh
government. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence with some of the other
founding fathers. The Declaration that formed our free country that we have today. With
other leaders of the free society, he developed parts of the Constitution, which formed the
national government of the United States and established basic rights for the citizens of
America. Benjamin also was part of the Treaty of Paris which was signed to display a
symbol of peace and ended the Revolutionary War. Benjamin Franklin was a
strong-willed leader who took a stand against the injustices of British rule to help create
and promote a free society and an independent America.
Benjamin Franklin always knew what was right. From his early years he had a
desire to ensure things were fair for everyone and wanted to improve daily life. Benjamin
was always outspoken and wanted the beliefs of people to be respected, as well as the
rights of everyone. He wanted to impact the quality of life for people. Franklin had a
​“Tis a common observation here that our cause is the cause of all mankind, and that we are fighting for their liberty
in defending our own.”
1
difficult time trying to find an outlet for his ideas in his early years, but Benjamin was
determined to find his way in the world.
Benjamin Franklin’s early life influenced his attitude, actions, and beliefs in his
later years. At the age of ten, Benjamin quit school and worked in the family printing
business. He taught himself to write, and ended up enjoying the literature. This interest
made him spend most of his earlier life writing and printing in his hometown of
Philadelphia. As a sixteen year old, Benjamin developed a help column in his brother’s
newspaper, and called himself Silence Dogood. His brother wouldn’t let Benjamin
express his opinions in his paper, so the only way Franklin could write is if he was
disguised. He used this column to share his ideas and especially show the dislike of
leadership with excessive power over others. Benjamin grew irritated with his
apprenticeship with his brother. The power that Benjamin’s brother held over him added
to the fact that he despised the capability of others who enforced rules and power onto
people.
In Benjamin’s later life, he had escaped the hold of his brother and family business
and started to become a successful printer. Benjamin started to get a larger income and
focussed on what he believed is right. He started to get invested in ideas about improving
life and making it the best it can be. Benjamin developed and started to refine inventions
that gained his interest. Some of the things were a postal system, college, street lighting,
library, fire and police service, a stove, and bifocals. All of these improvements and
inventions were targeted towards making everyone’s life better and more efficient. This
showed that Benjamin really cared about the wellbeing of others, and that he focused on
improving our everyday life.
In 1757, Benjamin traveled to live in London as a representative in the
Pennsylvania Assembly. For many years he dealt with issues of the colonies and
Pennsylvania citizens. In the 1760s the British government developed the Stamp Act. The
Stamp Act said that the British wanted to tax any paper that had been printed and used in
the colonies for business and personal purposes. The money raised would help pay for
troops and protection of the colonies. The tax cost was not a problem, but the British idea
of the entire Act was to make them pay. Since this was not the colonies’ idea it caused an
uproar because they worried it would lead to the British increasing in power. Benjamin at
first agreed with the Stamp Act, but in further study of the subject, he found that the
colonists argued and were against the entire idea. Benjamin testified against the Stamp
Act, since he wanted to represent the colonists. The British government asked him
questions and his answers helped the people in Britain to understand the exact viewpoint,
and idea the colonists had of the Act. In America this boosted his popularity and
therefore, the Stamp Act was repealed. Along with the Stamp Act, Benjamin traveled to
Ireland, and seeing their struggle under British rule, he was not content with the way the
entire government was controlling the people. Benjamin then realized that if America
stayed under the rule of the British government, that the entire nation would crumble.
Benjamin makes an attempt to warn the Rebels about the harsh government and ends up
getting banished from Britain.
Benjamin returned to Philadelphia and wanted to become Second Continental
Congress. When he is in the Congress, he joins with Thomas Jefferson to help develop
the Declaration of Independence, to create a free society for America. Congress changed
the Declaration to what they wanted it say, and accepted in on July 4th, 1776, but the
paper was not signed until August.
Franklin took a stand in various parts of the development of a free country. He
shared his ideas, used his intelligence to express his feelings on injustice, and helped
create a document that would lead America against British rule.
The Revolutionary War begins and America needs supplies and weapons. To get
these materials they send Benjamin to France to negotiate with the French. Benjamin was
well known in France from his experiments with lightning, ​Poor Richard’s Almanack​,
and fashion. He convinces the French leaders into supplying America with money,
soldiers, and many other materials. During of the negotiation, two other representatives
with Benjamin felt that he was eating and drinking with the French too often, and that it
seemed unprofessional. Benjamin saw that if he celebrated and got close with the French
people, that this would create close bonds and would be key into getting the materials
they needed.
Eventually, the French help end the war between America and Britain by
supporting the American side. At the end of the war, to settle all conflict, America,
Britain, and France all needed to sign a peace treaty. Benjamin assisted the formation of
the Treaty of Paris. The two other representatives that traveled to France with Benjamin
made an agreement with Britain. This causes France to become angry, but Franklin
reassured them that everything was fine the way it was executed. The French said that
this wouldn’t cause any trouble unless everything was signed on the same day, September
3rd, 1783. The Treaty of Paris brought recognition that America was its own independent
country, America agreed to pay back money to Britain, and that the soldiers were able to
go back unharmed.
Benjamin’s stand and role in getting the extra support America needed effected
three entire nations. Without his relationship with the French, the intelligence to persuade
for materials, and the development of the peace treaty, America may had never become
free.
Several years later, America needed a rules system, and without one the nation
would not be as successful. Benjamin at the age 81, felt ill, but still wanted to help
develop and sign the Constitution. He joined the Constitutional Congress to add his ideas
and thoughts to the group. Without the Constitution America would fall apart. Some
members of Congress wanted a life-long ruler, but Benjamin felt that a ruler with
prolonged power would represent a monarchy. Also, he had the idea to have everyone
vote, not just landowners and that if the President was acting unjustly that he could be
impeached.
After the Constitution was written, it needs to be signed. However, some of the
Congress members did not agree with the ideas. Benjamin was concerned that if the
Constitution was not signed, that America would not be untied. He wrote a speech to give
to the members of Congress expressing his feelings on the situations. Franklin thought
that if they made compromise by accepting what the majority wanted, that America
would finally have law to abide by. In the conclusion of Benjamin’s speech he said, “On
the whole, Sir, I cannot help expressing a Wish, that every Member of the Convention,
who may still have Objections to it, would with me on this Occasion doubt a little of his
own Infallibility, and to make manifest our Unanimity, put his Name to this instrument.”2
This speech helped convince a few more to sign and get the Constitution finalized.
2
“​On the whole, Sir, I cannot help expressing a Wish, that every Member of the Convention, who may still
have Objections to it, would with me on this Occasion doubt a little of his own Infallibility, and to make
manifest our Unanimity, put his Name to this instrument.”
Even though Benjamin did not ask for it not to be in the Constitution, he wanted
slavery to come to an end. He had owned slaves before in his life, but he now realized it
was wrong to have power over a fellow human being. Benjamin talked to Congress about
abolishing slavery. Congress ignored his request, and put it aside. Franklin joined an
anti-slavery group to take a stand against slavery.
Ben Franklin’s involvement with the Constitution shows his leadership
characteristics. Being older and having ailments, he still wanted to support America, and
make it the best it can be. Franklin’s impact on the Constitution helped others support the
ideas in the document and therefore it kept the unity of America.
All things considered, no one can deny that Benjamin Franklin always took a stand
for what he believed. As a young man, he found a way to express his opinions and ideas
through his writing. Benjamin felt that he should help others by improving their lives
through his inventions. He used his communication skills and connections he made with
others to negotiate through difficult times for the good of his country. He helped create
documents that are still considered the foundation of our nation. Benjamin Franklin’s
dedication to the greater good, makes him one of America’s most well-known leaders
who never sat down in difficult times. He ​stood​ for America.
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The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin by H.W. Brands
Publisher: Anchor; Reprint edition (March 12, 2002)
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin Dover Publications;
New edition edition (June 7, 1996)
“On the whole, Sir, I cannot help expressing a Wish, that every Member of the
Convention, who may still have Objections to it, would with me on this Occasion doubt a
little of his own Infallibility, and to make manifest our Unanimity, put his Name to this
instrument.”
“Tis a common observation here that our cause is the cause of all mankind, and that we
are fighting for their liberty in defending our own.”