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Benjamin Franklin's Complex Relationship with Slavery and the American Revolution

Terry Bell

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Published in Runaway America: Benjamin Franklin Slavery And The American Revolution

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Benjamin Franklin was one of the most important figures in American history. He was a scientist, inventor, politician, and diplomat. He played a key role in the American Revolution, and he helped to shape the United States Constitution. However, Franklin's legacy is also complicated by his views on slavery.

Franklin was born in Boston in 1706. He grew up in a devout Puritan family, and he was educated at the Boston Latin School. Franklin was a brilliant student, and he showed a talent for science and writing at an early age.

Runaway America: Benjamin Franklin, Slavery, and the American Revolution

by David Waldstreicher

4.9 out of 5

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In 1723, Franklin moved to Philadelphia, where he worked as a printer and publisher. He also became involved in politics, and he served in the Pennsylvania Assembly from 1751 to 1764.

Franklin was a strong advocate for American independence from Great Britain. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, and he helped to draft the Declaration of Independence. Franklin also played a key role in the negotiations with France that led to the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War.

After the war, Franklin served as the first Postmaster General of the United States. He also helped to found the University of Pennsylvania, and he was a member of the American Philosophical Society. Franklin died in Philadelphia in 1790.

Franklin's Views on Slavery

Franklin's views on slavery evolved over the course of his life. In his early years, he owned slaves. However, he gradually came to believe that slavery was morally wrong. In 1751, he wrote an essay titled "A Plan for the Abolition of Slavery," in which he argued that slavery was "a crime against the laws of Nature."

Franklin's views on slavery were influenced by his Quaker upbringing. The Quakers were a religious group that believed that all people were equal. Franklin also came to believe that slavery was economically inefficient. He argued that free workers were more productive than slave workers.

Franklin's views on slavery were not always consistent. He sometimes made statements that supported slavery. However, he also took actions that helped to promote the cause of abolition. For example, he helped to found the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, and he supported the efforts of the American Colonization Society, which sought to resettle free blacks in Africa.

Franklin's Role in the American Revolution

Franklin played a key role in the American Revolution. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress, and he helped to draft the Declaration of Independence. Franklin also played a key role in the negotiations with France that led to the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War.

Franklin's role in the American Revolution was complicated by his views on slavery. Some of his fellow revolutionaries were slave owners, and they were reluctant to support a cause that might lead to the abolition of slavery. However, Franklin was able to persuade many of these men to support the Revolution by arguing that it was a just cause.

Franklin's role in the American Revolution is a testament to his diplomatic skills. He was able to build relationships with people who had very different views on slavery, and he was able to persuade them to work together for a common cause.

Franklin's Legacy on the Issue of Racial Equality

Franklin's legacy on the issue of racial equality is complex. He was a slave owner, but he also came to believe that slavery was morally wrong. He supported the cause of abolition, and he helped to found the Pennsylvania Abolition Society.

However, Franklin's legacy is also marred by his involvement in the African slave trade. In 1753, he published a pamphlet titled "Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind," in which he argued that slavery was necessary to prevent the overpopulation of Africa. Franklin's views on slavery were typical of his time, but they are still offensive to many people today.

Franklin's legacy on the issue of racial equality is still being debated today. Some people argue that he was a racist, while others argue that he was a complex figure who was trying to do the best he could in a difficult situation.

Benjamin Franklin was a complex figure with a long and complicated relationship with slavery. He was a slave owner, but he also came to believe that slavery was morally wrong. He supported the cause of abolition, but he also benefited from the African slave trade. Franklin's legacy on the issue of racial equality is still being debated today.

Runaway America: Benjamin Franklin, Slavery, and the American Revolution

by David Waldstreicher

4.9 out of 5