Benjamin Franklin

Constitutional Genealogy: Benjamin Franklin’s First Articles of Confederation

by Mike Maharrey | Oct 31, 2022 | Articles of Confederation, Benjamin Franklin, Founding Principles

Most people recognize that the Constitution evolved out of the Articles of Confederation. But the Articles were also part of a long evolution in political thought and constitutionalism that started long before the colonies’ quest for independence. An important...

Today in History: Benjamin Franklin Urges Adoption of the Constitution with a Warning

by Mike Maharrey | Sep 17, 2022 | Benjamin Franklin, Constitution, Constitutional Convention, History

On this date in 1787, James Wilson delivered a speech written by Benjamin Franklin on the last day of the Philadelphia Convention. The speech urged the adoption of the Constitution despite Franklin’s reservations. In the opening words of the speech, Franklin...

Today in History: Benjamin Franklin Introduces Plan for American Confederation

by Mike Maharrey | Jul 21, 2022 | Articles of Confederation, Benjamin Franklin, Founding Principles

On this date in 1775, Benjamin Franklin introduced in the Second Continental Congress a formal plan for a confederation of the American colonies. Franklin introduced his plan, “The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union,” nearly a year before...

Today in History: Benjamin Franklin Born

by Dave Benner | Jan 17, 2022 | Benjamin Franklin, History

Today in 1706, Benjamin Franklin was born. He was a diplomat, writer, printer, inventor, and politician. Beloved in America and Europe, Franklin may very well have been the most popular figure in the world during his lifetime. Born in Boston, Franklin migrated to...

Benjamin Franklin on “Doing Good to the Poor”

by Mike Maharrey | Dec 1, 2021 | Benjamin Franklin, Federal Programs, General Welfare Clause

The federal government lacks any legitimate constitutional authority to establish welfare programs for the poor. Not only that, the federal welfare system fails in its promise to “help the poor” out of poverty. Supporters of the expansive federal welfare...

A Republic, If You Can Keep It

by Dave Benner | Jun 11, 2014 | Benjamin Franklin, Constitution, Founding Fathers

During the fiery hot summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, a woman patiently waited in front of the locked doors at the Pennsylvania State House. Behind the shackles, a group of representatives of the states, meeting in secrecy, convened to debate and craft the United...

The 10th Amendment

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

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