How Did Benjamin Franklin Provide Aid To The Poor

Benjamin Franklin had traditional views and attitudes as to what behaviors were essential to lead to industry and thrift. His personal ideologies on these were clearly defined in his writings in the Poor Richard's Almanack and highlighted in what he felt as his teachings to the common people. Frankin believed that "If we are industrious, we shall never starve" he also went on to say that "sloth makes all things difficult, and industry all things easy". These views were reiterated in his stance that providing aid to the poor would create a dependence and generated poverty rather than improving it. He felt that making it difficult for the poor to receive aid would force them out of poverty. By utilizing consequences for the poor such as the workhouse act this would deterrent from public aid because individuals would not want to work for little money and have the supervision of others (Williams, 1994, p. 78). Benjamin Franklin speculated from
He felt that the poor laws increased dependency and poverty and they would increase the numbers of the poor than decrease them. Benjamin Franklin had four standpoints of criticism of the poor laws. His first stance was that everyone did not work for pleasure but for necessity and the poor laws created a security for "idleness" (Williams, 1994, p 83). His second standpoint was that everyone was responsible for their own economic welfare and providing aid would destroy initiative. His third argument states that "idleness, dependence, and vice" are created in the working class by public aid to the poor. Lastly his final stand was that the rich benefit the from poor in the need for their labor (Williams, 1994, p. 86). He suggested that if the poor laws were appealed this would help to increase the industry of the individual by forcing the poor to provide for themselves and in turn this would make the poor be happier (Williams, 1994, p.