Benjamin Franklin
Constitutional Genealogy: Benjamin Franklin’s First Articles of Confederation
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...
Benjamin Franklin Urges Adoption of the Constitution with a Warning
On September 17, 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 – and prediction that the system would...
Today in History: Benjamin Franklin Introduces Plan for American Confederation
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
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...