Was Benjamin Franklin a supporter of the Constitution?
Asked by: Kiley Watsica | Last update: April 4, 2026Score: 4.5/5 (28 votes)
Yes, Benjamin Franklin was a strong supporter of the U.S. Constitution, famously urging its ratification on the final day of the Constitutional Convention by giving a speech (read by James Wilson) that acknowledged its imperfections but stressed the necessity of a strong federal government, believing it was the best possible document achievable. Despite having some disagreements, his endorsement was crucial, and he signed the Constitution, famously remarking it would be a republic "if you can keep it".
Did Benjamin Franklin support the Constitution?
On 17 September 1787, as the Convention's final session finished reading the Constitution, an enfeebled Franklin asked his fellow Pennsylvania delegate James Wilson to read a speech that contained Franklin's reasons for supporting the Constitution—even though he did not approve every provision.
What did Franklin say about the Constitution?
I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them: For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I ...
Did Benjamin Franklin have anything to do with the Declaration of Independence?
Franklin returned to Philadelphia in 1775. There he served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, where he was instrumental in drafting the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation to form a new union.
What does Franklin believe that any Constitution?
Franklin believed that any constitution approved by the Convention will be an imperfect document because "when you assemble a number of men.... you inevitably assemble with those men all their prejudices..." How can imperfect men produce a perfect document?
Benjamin Franklin was the Greatest Founding Father
Does Franklin think the Constitution will work?
Ben Franklin stood up at the Constitutional Convention, who in his old age had people read his speeches at the CC. He basically said, this Constitution isn't the best but let's get it done and fix it later.
What was Benjamin Franklin's famous saying?
For example, one of the most-popular sayings attributed to Franklin is, “a penny saved is a penny earned.” This appears to be a combination of two Franklin proverbs. Other famous Franklin quotes are well-documented. In “Advice To A Young Tradesman,” Franklin writes that, “Remember that time is money.”
What were Ben Franklin's last words?
Benjamin Franklin's reported last words were, "A dying man can do nothing easily," uttered to his daughter, Sarah, when she suggested he move to a more comfortable position in bed as he was struggling to breathe. He died on April 17, 1790, at the age of 84, with these words reflecting his struggle with his final illness, according to The National Constitution Center.
What was Benjamin Franklin's religion?
Benjamin Franklin's faith was a complex blend of his strict Puritan upbringing and Enlightenment-era deism, leading him to embrace a "doctrineless" Christianity focused on morality and public virtue rather than dogma or Jesus' divinity, though he respected Christ as the greatest moral teacher and valued religion for societal good, even proposing prayer at the Constitutional Convention. He believed in a God who created and governed the world, advocating for worship through good deeds, prayer, and thanksgiving, while rejecting institutional churches as corrupt.
Why is Benjamin Franklin on a $100 bill?
Benjamin Franklin is on the $100 bill because of his immense contributions as a statesman, inventor, diplomat, and Founding Father, representing American innovation and intellect, even though he never served as President. His role in securing French support during the Revolutionary War, drafting key documents like the Declaration of Independence, and founding vital civic institutions like public libraries cemented his status as a foundational figure, earning him a place on the highest-denomination currency.
Who contributed the most to the US Constitution?
James Madison, also present, wrote the document that formed the model for the Constitution. Other U.S. Founding Fathers were not there, but made significant contributions in other ways. Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the Declaration of Independence, was serving as ambassador to France at the time of the Convention.
What was Ben Franklin's famous quote after signing the Declaration of Independence?
At the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, Benjamin Franklin reportedly quipped "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately".
How long did Benjamin Franklin think the US Constitution would last?
Benjamin Franklin did not predict an exact duration for how long the Constitution would last, but he viewed it as an important experiment in governance. He was optimistic about its potential to endure if its basic principles were upheld.
Who hand wrote the Constitution?
Jacob Shallus or Shalus (1750–April 18, 1796) was an American calligrapher who was the engrosser or penman of the original copy of the United States Constitution.
Are there any living descendants of Benjamin Franklin?
Yes, Benjamin Franklin has many living descendants, primarily through his daughter Sally Franklin Bache, as his son William had no surviving male heirs, and his only son with Deborah Read, Francis, died young. Descendants have been identified through projects by organizations like the {Friends of Franklin} (FOF), with some participating in campaigns like {Ancestry's "Declaration Descendants"}.
What did Benjamin Franklin say about Jesus?
Benjamin Franklin admired Jesus' moral teachings, calling His system the "best the world ever saw," but had doubts about His divinity, viewing him as a great moral teacher rather than God, though he didn't dwell on the question, focusing instead on living virtuous lives by imitating Jesus and Socrates. He believed revealed religion had corrupted Jesus' original message and sought a rational, virtuous life grounded in doing good, a path accessible to people of all faiths.
Do deists believe in Jesus?
Yes, deists generally acknowledge Jesus as a historical figure and moral teacher, but they reject his divinity, miracles, and role as Savior, viewing him as a wise man whose ethical teachings align with natural law rather than supernatural revelation. While historical deists like the American Founders admired Jesus's morality, they denied doctrines like the Trinity and the Bible's divine inspiration, seeing God as a "clockmaker" who set the universe in motion without interference.
Which founding fathers believed in Jesus?
Founders who fall into the category of Christian Deists include Washington (whose dedication to Christianity was clear in his own mind), John Adams, and, with some qualifications, Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was more influenced by the reason-centred Enlightenment than either Adams or Washington.
What was Ben Franklin's IQ?
While Benjamin Franklin's IQ wasn't formally tested, historical estimates place his intelligence in the genius range, with sources citing figures around 160, consistent with his extraordinary polymathic achievements in science, invention, diplomacy, and writing, often ranked alongside other historical geniuses like Einstein in theoretical estimations.
What is Benjamin Franklin's 1 hour rule?
Ben Franklin's "1 Hour Rule" is actually the Five-Hour Rule, a concept attributed to him where successful people dedicate at least one hour daily to focused learning, reading, or reflection, totaling five hours a week, to continuously improve skills and knowledge, a practice adopted by modern figures like Elon Musk and Bill Gates. It involves intentional activities like reading, deliberate practice, problem-solving, or discussing ideas, fostering discipline and growth beyond daily tasks.
Did Benjamin Franklin have slaves when he died?
Throughout his lifetime there were up to 7 named slaves in the Franklin household. By the late 1780s, Franklin had become a staunch abolitionist and as part of his will, all remaining slaves were freed upon his death in 1790.
Was Benjamin Franklin a flirt?
Yes, Benjamin Franklin was widely known as a flirt and a ladies' man, especially during his time in France, using wit and charm (and sometimes suggestive letters) with many women, though most relationships were likely amorous friendships rather than outright affairs, a practice the French called amitie amoureuse. He admitted to youthful dalliances that produced an illegitimate son, but his flirtations in later life, while frequent, were often playful and intellectual, involving intimate conversation and letters rather than just physical intimacy.
What did Benjamin Franklin say about beer?
As Benjamin Franklin said: “In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.” In a number of carefully controlled trials, scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 liter of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than one kilo of Escherichia coli, (E.
What does it say on Benjamin Franklin's tombstone?
Franklin's actual grave, however, as he specified in his final will, simply reads “Benjamin and Deborah Franklin.” Yes, he was married, although the common-law Mrs.