Benjamin Franklin By Edmunds Morgan Summary
The biography “Benjamin Franklin” by Edmund S. Morgan starts his book by telling us about Franklin's passions. Then he briefly talks about one of the most famous parts of his autobiography, Franklin’s list of thirteen virtues. He then jumps into telling us about how the common thought that Jefferson’s main goal was to acquire wealth. He did say that debt and poverty were his puritan ancestors conception of hell, but according to Morgan Franklin's idea of heaven was not riches, but actually contentment (a state of happiness or satisfaction). Morgan says if he wanted only to become wealthy he wouldn't have retired at the age of forty-two. He says that Franklin’s desire in life was to be useful to others.
Even though Benjamin Franklin had so
many contributions to his city of Philadelphia, England was his first love. He tried to preserve a connection between England and the Americas. Franklin's love for England made him the perfect candidate to be the representative for Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania wanted to become royal and have a monarchy instead of the government we have now. Franklin lived in England and even considered staying there and running to be part of parliament. Even after England started to tax the Americans in the 1760s Franklin still wanted to have royal rule rather than proprietary rule. When England made the 1765 stamp act Franklin knew it was wrong, but he didn't think Americans would go as far as completely abstaining from buying paper
Franklins blindness to the feelings of America was evident when 1767 Townshend acts happened. He supported the Townshend acts. Even after the Boston tea party happened, he hoped that America and England could still talk things out. Massachusetts would pay the East india company for the tea and England would stop taxing the colonies. Obviously none of this happened, but he still didn't give up on America and England coexisting together. He actually doesn't start declaring america's independence until around 1775 when he starts referring to the colonies as “us” and England as “you”. He may have been declaring our independence subconsciously, but declaring independence nonetheless
Even though Benjamin Franklin had so
many contributions to his city of Philadelphia, England was his first love. He tried to preserve a connection between England and the Americas. Franklin's love for England made him the perfect candidate to be the representative for Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania wanted to become royal and have a monarchy instead of the government we have now. Franklin lived in England and even considered staying there and running to be part of parliament. Even after England started to tax the Americans in the 1760s Franklin still wanted to have royal rule rather than proprietary rule. When England made the 1765 stamp act Franklin knew it was wrong, but he didn't think Americans would go as far as completely abstaining from buying paper
Franklins blindness to the feelings of America was evident when 1767 Townshend acts happened. He supported the Townshend acts. Even after the Boston tea party happened, he hoped that America and England could still talk things out. Massachusetts would pay the East india company for the tea and England would stop taxing the colonies. Obviously none of this happened, but he still didn't give up on America and England coexisting together. He actually doesn't start declaring america's independence until around 1775 when he starts referring to the colonies as “us” and England as “you”. He may have been declaring our independence subconsciously, but declaring independence nonetheless