Essay on Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin, the author of the letters that compose the book Benjamin Franklin, A biography in his own words, Talks in some depth about his efforts to have the stamp act repealed. Franklin notes at one point he was in an extremely embarrassing situation. Grenville, in order to make the stamp act more palatable to Americans, had asked Colonial agents to recommend reliable men for the job of stamp commissioners in the various Colonies. For Pennsylvania, Franklin recommended his friend John Hughes. This made it seem to many in Pennsylvania that Franklin not only approved of the act but had actually played a part in helping to pass it. Hughes and others were soon writing Franklin letters that brought home to him the seriousness and significance of the American resistance to the Stamp Act. Hughes frankly discussed the possibility of being murdered. The climax to this stream of bad news from American was a report from Deborah that mobs had threatened her and Sally in the house that Franklin had completed building shortly before he left for England. She told her husband that she stood her ground with the aid of her relations and Franklin’s friends. Hearing this news from the colonies Franklin now went to work full time to get the Stamp Act repealed. In a letter dated November 9, 1765 to William Franklin he gave vivid picture of his activities and arguments. He said, “I gave it him as my option, that the general Execution of the Stamp Act would be impracticable without accasioning more mischief than it was worth, by totally alienating the affections of the Americans from this Country, and thereby lessening its Commerce.” He goes on to say, “That particular Colonies might at times be backward, but at other times, when in better temper, they would make up for that backwardness, so that on the whole it would be nearly equal. That send Armies and Fleets to enforce the Act, would not, in my Opinion, answer any good End.”
In Strahan’s London Chronicle, from February 6 to 8, 1766, Franklin published for the first time his letters to William Shirly, which were graphic proof that America’s hostility to taxation without representation had deep roots. Meanwhile, in parliament, Edmund Burke, the Irish-born private secretary of Lord Rockingham, decided that what the House of Commons needed was information, not more windy rhetoric. He proceeded to arrange for a series of experts on America to testify. One of these was Benjamin Franklin. On February 13, 1766 before an August Assembly, relating to the repeal of the Stamp Act, Franklin was ask a series of questions. For the answers to these questions Franklin would have to depend upon his native wit. At two o’clock on the morning of February 22 the committee of the whole House of Commons voted 275 to 167 to repeal the Stamp Act. And there is no doubt that Franklin’s appearance did play a major roll in repealing the Stamp Act, and restoring a state of temporary calm between England and America. He was hailed as the savior of America, and the examination was reprinted in Massachusetts, Virginia, and New York, and became required reading throughout the Colonies.
Robert A. Divine, T.H. Breen, George M. Fredrickson, R. Hal Williams, the authors of America, Past and Present differ with Franklin’s own words in Benjamin Franklin, A biography in his own words. They hardly mention Franklin’s participation in attempting to have the Stamp Act repealed except to note that William Pitt, the architect of Victory in the seven years’ war and a hero throughout America, eloquently defended the colonists’ position and after the Rockingham ministry gathered additional support from prominent figures such as Benjamin Franklin, who happened to be visiting England, parliament felt strong enough to recommend repeal. They even go on to quote the date of the vote in the House of Commons as being March 18, 1766 when in fact March 18, 1766 was the date the Act received the royal assent. The House of Commons voted on February 22 at two o’clock in the morning.
In Strahan’s London Chronicle, from February 6 to 8, 1766, Franklin published for the first time his letters to William Shirly, which were graphic proof that America’s hostility to taxation without representation had deep roots. Meanwhile, in parliament, Edmund Burke, the Irish-born private secretary of Lord Rockingham, decided that what the House of Commons needed was information, not more windy rhetoric. He proceeded to arrange for a series of experts on America to testify. One of these was Benjamin Franklin. On February 13, 1766 before an August Assembly, relating to the repeal of the Stamp Act, Franklin was ask a series of questions. For the answers to these questions Franklin would have to depend upon his native wit. At two o’clock on the morning of February 22 the committee of the whole House of Commons voted 275 to 167 to repeal the Stamp Act. And there is no doubt that Franklin’s appearance did play a major roll in repealing the Stamp Act, and restoring a state of temporary calm between England and America. He was hailed as the savior of America, and the examination was reprinted in Massachusetts, Virginia, and New York, and became required reading throughout the Colonies.
Robert A. Divine, T.H. Breen, George M. Fredrickson, R. Hal Williams, the authors of America, Past and Present differ with Franklin’s own words in Benjamin Franklin, A biography in his own words. They hardly mention Franklin’s participation in attempting to have the Stamp Act repealed except to note that William Pitt, the architect of Victory in the seven years’ war and a hero throughout America, eloquently defended the colonists’ position and after the Rockingham ministry gathered additional support from prominent figures such as Benjamin Franklin, who happened to be visiting England, parliament felt strong enough to recommend repeal. They even go on to quote the date of the vote in the House of Commons as being March 18, 1766 when in fact March 18, 1766 was the date the Act received the royal assent. The House of Commons voted on February 22 at two o’clock in the morning.
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