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Toni-Moi Dewar Benjamin Franklin, born on 17 January 1706, is considered one of the Founding Fathers due to his involvement in the Committee of Five, which assisted in the writing of the Declaration of Independence. According to Bernstein, “The Founding Fathers were creators of the United States and of American national identity, symbols of constitutional democracy and icons of disinterested statesmanship” (Bernstein, 2009). However, evidence reveals that Benjamin Franklin as well as other Founding Fathers contradicted their fight for freedom by their ownership of hundreds of slaves, thus considered slave owners. This essay seeks to highlight Franklin’s response to the New American Nation and the issue of slaves and slavery. Franklin’s political career grew when he was elected and represented the state of Pennsylvania in the Second Continental Congress. He assisted in the Declaration of Independence which voiced the complaints of the colonists and stated that the colonies were no longer under British rule. Franklin was forced to send his son to jail due to opposing views of the revolution but he believed freedom was more important. After the Declaration of Independence, members of Congress created a plan for this New American nation known as the Articles of Confederation. Franklin was not involved in this writing process, however, still offered his insights into creating a common treasury and an executive committee which were adopted in the articles. In the creation of the Constitution, Franklin was appointed to a Grand Committee to resolve disagreements with delegates. He proposed that each state should send one Congressman to the House of Representatives per 40,000 in population. He also suggested that an increase in government employees’ salaries should be a function of the House of Representatives. Upon approval, Franklin’s proposal was referred to the Connecticut Compromise. Franklin, although a slave owner, was the President of a Society in Pennsylvania for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery. During the year of his death, Franklin signed a petition to end slavery. Franklin’s treatment of his slaves was not inhumane. He taught his slaves how to read and write and cared for some of them dearly. For example: Peter, his slave, was ill while traveling and Franklin wrote a letter to his wife describing Peter’s condition and how he took care of him. Also, in his will, he requested freedom for Peter and his wife. It is unclear his reasoning for supporting an end to slavery. However, it is assumed that he as well as other Founding Fathers had slaves due to the period and the world’s economy. In conclusion, despite Franklin being a slave owner, he made great strides in the abolishment of slavery. Additionally, he signed the Declaration of Independence and contributed to the Constitutional Convention. It is safe to say that Franklin wanted what was best for the nation despite the differences that existed. One of his famous quotes “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are” speaks volumes to his character.
amara bamba- Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers, had a substantial impact on the formation of the United States and held a nuanced position on the matter of slavery. Although Jefferson voiced his disapproval of slavery and saw it as a moral wrong, he paradoxically owned slaves and did not actively pursue political measures to eradicate slavery during his tenure in government.
Thomas Jefferson’s perspective on slavery was multifaceted and underwent changes as time progressed. Jefferson expressed his strong disapproval of slavery in his early writings, including the Declaration of Independence. He asserted that all individuals are inherently equal and have fundamental rights to life, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness. He acknowledged that slavery was a direct violation to these beliefs.
Nevertheless, despite Jefferson’s personal misgivings with slavery, he did not actively pursue political actions to eliminate it. Being a slave owner, he depended on enslaved labor to achieve economic prosperity for his plantation. Moreover, he encountered difficulties in garnering backing for abolitionist policies as a result of the economic reliance of the fledgling nation on enslaved labor.
Politically, Jefferson’s activities about slavery were constrained. In his initial version of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson suggested a prohibition on the importing of slaves. However, he was unable to gather enough support to include this proposal. Throughout his rule, he championed the incremental liberation of slaves and endorsed measures that limited the spread of slavery into uncharted regions. Nevertheless, their endeavors did not yield substantial alterations in legislation.
It is crucial to recognize that the Founding Fathers, including Thomas Jefferson, were influenced by the prevailing attitudes and beliefs of their era, and the institution of slavery was intricately connected to the economic and social structure of the newly formed nation. Several of the Founding Fathers, including those who were slave owners, had contradictory ideas and faced difficulties in reconciling their ideals of freedom with the institution of slavery.
Ultimately, although Thomas Jefferson voiced his disapproval of slavery and acknowledged its inconsistency with the ideals of equality, he did not enact significant legislative measures to eradicate slavery during his tenure in office. The fact that he personally owned slaves and the economic factors of the new nation had an impact on his political position. The intricate nature of the problem and the dependence on enslaved labor in the early American economy posed considerable obstacles to achieving substantial advancements in abolishing slavery during the time of the Founding Fathers.
