The Political Thought of Benjamin Franklin

, by Ketcham, Ralph Louis; Franklin, Benjamin

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ISBN: 9780872206830 | 0872206831
Cover: Paperback
Copyright: 9/1/2003

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A reprint of the 1965 Bobbs-Merrill edition. Too often dismissed as the least philosophic of the Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin had a deep and lasting impact on the shape of American political thought. In this substantial collection of Franklin's letters, essays, and lesser-known papers, Ralph Ketcham traces the development of Franklin's practical -- and distinctly American -- political thought from his earliest Silence Dogood essays to his final writings on the Constitution and The Evils of the Slave Trade.

Foreword

vii

Introduction

xxvii

Chronology

lvii

Selected Bibliography

lxi

Editor's Note and Acknowledgments

lxvii

PART ONE Business, Civic, and Political Leader, 1722-1757

[ESSAYS IN The New-England Courant, 1722-1723]

Silence Dogood, Number Three

(1)

Silence Dogood, Number Nine

(4)

An Editorial

(2)

On Titles of Honor

(3)

[1729]

The Busy-Body, Number Three

(2)

The Nature and Necessity of a Paper-Currency

(4)

[1731]

Observations on Reading History

(2)

An Apology for Printers

(4)

[1732]

Junto Queries

(3)

[1735]

Natural Religion and Freedom of Thought

(6)

[1740]

Freedom of the Press

(2)

[1741]

The Character of Andrew Hamilton

(2)

[1742]

On Lawful Process

(1)

[1745]

The Evils of Taverns

(2)

[1747]

Speech of Miss Polly Baker

(4)

Plain Truth

(3)

Proposals for a Volunteer and Republican Military Force

(5)

[1748]

Advice to a Young Tradesman

(3)

[1749]

Education and the Public Good: pamphlet and letter to Samuel Johnson

(3)

[1751]

Hospitals, Charity, and the Public Good

(3)

Criminals and Citizenship

(2)

Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind

(10)

[1753]

Poverty and the Effects of German Immigration to Pennsylvania: letter to Peter Collinson

(8)

The Social Value of a Religion of Good Works: letter to Joseph Huey

(2)

The Evils of the Indian Trade

(1)

[1754]

The Albany Plan of Union

(5)

Reasons and Motives for the Albany Plan of Union

(9)

Letters to William Shirley on the Place of the Colonies in the British Empire

(8)

Plan for Establishing English Colonies in the Ohio Valley

105

(4)

[1755]

Humility and the Search for Truth: letter to John Lining

109

(1)

A Parable Against Persecution

109

(2)

The Rights of a Colonial Assembly

111

(22)

A Militia Act Protecting Conscientious Objectors 126

[1756]

A Rebuke to Cowards and Idlers: letter to Augustus Spangenberg

133

(1)

Franklin's Political Principles

134

(4)

Popular Support and Resisting the Proprietors: letter to Peter Collinson

138

(3)

PART TWO Spokesman for America in England, 1757-177

[1757]

Conversation with a Noble Lord on Legislation for the Colonies

141

(1)

The Social Value of Religion

142

(4)

[1758]

The Vices of British Government and the Virtues of William Pitt: letter to Joseph Galloway 144

[1759]

Friends and Foes of America in England: letter to Isaac Norris

146

(3)

[1760]

The Future of the British Empire in North America: letter to Lord Kames

149

(1)

The Interest of Great Britain Considered with Regard to Her Colonies and the Acquisition of Canada and Guadaloupe

150

(8)

[1764]

The Barbarism and Injustice of "White Savages"

158

(4)

Royal Government Better than Proprietary Rule

162

(5)

The Foolishness of British Commercial Restrictions: letter to Peter Collinson

167

(2)

[1765]

On Passage of the Stamp Act: letters to Charles Thomson and to John Hughes

169

(2)

Repeal of the Stamp Act: letters in the London Gazetteer and the Public Advertiser, 1765-1766

171

(11)

[1766]

An Examination Before the House of Commons

182

(9)

The American Interest in Parliament: letter to Joseph Galloway

191

(1)

On a Common Parliament for the British Empire: letter to Cadwallader Evans

192

(1)

[1767]

The Uses of Paper Currency

193

(4)

The Nature of the British Empire: letter to Lord Kames

197

(5)

America and British Politics: letter to Joseph Galloway

202

(2)

On Smuggling

204

(5)

[1768]

Causes of the American Discontents Before 1768

209

(7)

The British Constitution

216

(3)

Corruption in Parliamentary Elections: letters to Joseph Galloway 217

On the Labouring Poor

219

(5)

Riots in London over "Wilkes and Liberty": letters to John Ross and to Joseph Galloway

224

(2)

[1769]

Positions to Be Examined, Concerning National Wealth

226

(3)

A Strategy for Resisting British Oppression: letter to Samuel Cooper

229

(3)

[1770]

Fables on the Mother Country and Her Colonies

232

(1)

The Right to Vote

233

(2)

An Evil Parliament and a Good King: letter to Samuel Cooper

235

(2)

On Office-Holding: letter to Jane Mecom

237

(2)

[1771]

The Seeds of a "Total Disunion" Between Great Britain and America: letter to the Committee of Correspondence in Massachusetts

239

(2)

A Realistic Appraisal of the British Empire: letter to Thomas Cushing

241

(3)

[1772]

The Farmers of Great Britain and New England Compared: letter to Joshua Babcock

244

(1)

Toleration in Old England and New England

245

(6)

[1773]

Advice to the Colonies: Union, Moderation, and Firmness; letter to Thomas Cushing

251

(3)

Rules by which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small One and An Edict by the King of Prussia

254

(16)

The Natural Right of Emigration

270

(5)

[1774]

Defense of Franklin's Career as Agent and the Loss of His Offices: The Hutchinson Letters; tract and letter to Thomas Cushing

275

(3)

The Boston Tea Party: letter to the Committee of Correspondence in Massachusetts

278

(1)

A Final Plea to Preserve the British Empire: letter to Thomas Cushing

279

(1)

Some Good Whig Principles

280

(2)

[1775]

On Corruption in England: letter to Joseph Galloway

282

(1)

Great Britain and Europe at the Beginning of the American Revolution

282

(5)

PART THREE Revolutionist in America, 1775-1776

[1775]

British Vices and American Virtues: letter to Joseph Priestley

287

(1)

Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union

288

(6)

[1776]

First Proposals for Peace with Great Britain

294

(3)

PART FOUR Minister to France, 1776-1785

[1777]

Comparison of Great Britain and the United States

297

(4)

Franklin's Candid View of His Mission in France: letter to Jan Ingenhousz

301

(1)

The American Revolution in Europe: letter to Samuel Cooper

302

(1)

[1778]

The Alliance with France: letters to David Hartley, to Thomas Cushing, and to William Pulteney

303

(4)

Diplomacy in Paris: letter to James Lovell

307

(2)

[1779]

Parable Against English Proposals that America Break the French Alliance: letter to David Hartley

309

(1)

Passport for Captain Cook

310

(2)

The Morals of Chess and Diplomacy

312

(2)

[1780]

Washington's Fame in Europe and America's Future: letter to George Washington

314

(1)

Franklin and John Adams on Franco-American Relations: letter to Samuel Huntington

315

(2)

On State Support for Religion: letter to Richard Price

317

(1)

Spain, The United States, and the Mississippi River: letters to John Jay

318

(1)

[1781]

Franklin's Diplomatic Service: Attack and Vindication; letters to Samuel Huntington and to William Carmichael

319

(3)

[1782]

On Betraying France to Secure Peace with Great Britain: letters to David Hartley

322

(8)

British Barbarity during the American Revolution 324

Human Depravity in War: letter to Joseph Priestley

330

(1)

On Reconciliation between Great Britain and The United States

331

(3)

Progress, Prosperity, and Peace: letters to Sir Joseph Banks

334

(2)

Information to Those Who Would Remove to America

336

(10)

The Art of Diplomacy: letter to Comte de Vergennes

346

(1)

[1783]

Proposals to Make Wars Less Likely and Less Destructive

347

(4)

The Advantages of a Free Trade: letters to Comte de Vergennes and to Robert R. Livingston

351

(1)

Dispute with John Adams over Gratitude Toward France: letter to Robert R. Livingston

352

(2)

The Foundations of American Foreign Policy: letters to Thomas Muffin, to Samuel Mather, and to Charles Thomson

354

(3)

The Obligation to Pay Taxes: letter to Robert Morris

357

(1)

[1784]

On Hereditary Societies and the Eagle as an American Symbol: letter to Sarah Franklin Bache

358

(4)

On Dueling: letter to Thomas Percival

362

(1)

Selfish Interests, Commerce, Necessities, and Luxuries: letter to Benjamin Vaughan

363

(5)

Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America

368

(5)

[1785]

Crime and Punishment: letter to Benjamin Vaughan

373

(2)

The Legitimate Powers of Elected Assemblies: letter to George Whateley

375

(1)

American Loyalty to the Ancient English Liberties: letter to Francis Maseres

376

(3)

PART FIVE Sage at Home, 1785-1790

[1786]

The Progress of Government and Prosperity in The United States: letters to Jonathan Shipley and to William Hunter

379

(2)

The Internal State of America

381

(6)

[1787]

Speeches at the Constitutional Convention

387

(16)

The Constitutional Convention and the Foolishness of War: letter to Jane Mecom

403

(1)

[1788]

On the Abuse of the Press: letter to the editors of The Pennsylvania Gazette

404

(4)

A Comparison of the Conduct of the Ancient Jews and of the Anti-Federalists in The United States of America

408

(5)

On the New Constitution and Prospects for Government Under It: letters to friends in France

413

(4)

[1789]

On Abuses of Freedom of the Press

417

(4)

A Unicameral Legislature and Extension of the Suffrage

421

(5)

Education for Emancipated Slaves

426

(1)

On The French Revolution: letters to Jean-Baptiste LeRoy and to David Hartley

427

(1)

[1790]

The Evils of the Slave Trade

428

(5)

Analytical Table of Contents

433

(8)

Index

441

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The Political Thought of Benjamin Franklin

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