User:Robbie/Franklin here: Difference between revisions

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On this substack, we study what Benjamin Franklin then foresaw in adding “if you can keep it” to his response. With Franklin, we ask, How might we, the American people, eventually lose our republic? What must we the people do to keep it? To start, let’s attend closely to a short speech Franklin had given a couple hours before voicing this doubt that we could keep our republic they were then engaged in creating for us.

* * *

In late February, 1787, the Continental Congress had voted to set up a convention to ~~revise~~ the Articles of Confederation ~~to strengthen~~ their ~~cetral~~ governing powers. 12 of the 13 states elected slates of delegates by various procedures. By ~~mid~~ May, the delegates ~~had begun to assemble~~ in Philadelphia, ~~starting~~ to deliberate officially ~~late that month~~. 55 delegates took some part in deliberations, of whom a number left for various reasons, personal and substantive, with 39 signing ~~the~~ draft Constitution on September 17th.

In late February, 1787, the Continental Congress had voted to set up a convention to amend the Articles of Confederation, strengthening their central governing powers. 12 of the 13 states elected slates of delegates by various procedures. By late May, the delegates, slowly assembling in Philadelphia, reached a quorum and began to deliberate officially. Through the summer, 55 delegates took some part in deliberations, of whom a number left for various reasons, personal and substantive, with 39 signing their completed draft Constitution on September 17th.

Among the delegates, George Washington, then 55, and Franklin, then 81, both immensely experienced and world famous, imparted a sense of gravitas to the Convention in public opinion. The delegates unanimously elected Washington to serve as president of the Convention, a role he performed with ~~asiduous~~ impartiality. Franklin, a ~~delegates~~ from Pennsylvania, served quietly, speaking up as needed to preserve the inclusive sense of unity among the delegates by promoting compromises when serious deadlocks were potentially arising. Younger, then less prominent ~~delegates like~~ James Madison, shaped the substantive course of deliberations.

Among the delegates, George Washington, then 55, and Franklin, then 81, both immensely experienced and world famous, imparted a sense of gravitas to the Convention in public opinion. The delegates unanimously elected Washington to serve as president of the Convention, a role he performed with assiduous impartiality. Franklin, a delegate from Pennsylvania, served quietly, speaking up as needed to preserve the inclusive sense of unity among the delegates by promoting compromises when serious deadlocks were potentially arising. Younger delegates, then less prominent such as James Madison, shaped the substantive course of deliberations.

Through the summer of 1787, the delegates had deliberated about governing powers and their checks and balances. They worked through specifics, and arrived at a consensus on each; in August, they consolidated the particulars into a working draft; and in early September, they polished the text for style. Mid September, the time to conclude had arrived. A few delegates opposed the draft and a few more wavered, but most believed they had achieved their common purpose—to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new Constitution, based on the sovereignty of the people, and to establish a strong central government, one that could act wisely and vigorously within the nation and for the nation within the world.

On the 17th, Franklin had a short speech read out on his behalf initiating the signing of the Constitution by the assembled delegates. It ended, “I hope therefore that for our own sakes, as a Part of the People, and for the sake of our Posterity we shall act heartily and unanimously in recommending this Constitution, wherever our Influence may extend, and turn our future thoughts and Endeavours to the Means of having it well administered.”

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 <p>On this substack, we study what Benjamin Franklin then foresaw in adding “if you can keep it” to his response. With Franklin, we ask, How might we, the American people, eventually lose our republic? What must we the people do to keep it? To start, let’s attend closely to a short speech Franklin had given a couple hours before voicing this doubt that we could keep our republic they were then engaged in creating for us.</p>
 <p class="cent">*  *  *</p>
-<p>In late February, 1787, the Continental Congress had voted to set up a convention to revise the Articles of Confederation to strengthen their cetral governing powers. 12 of the 13 states elected slates of delegates by various procedures. By mid May, the delegates had begun to assemble in Philadelphia, starting to deliberate officially late that month. 55 delegates took some part in deliberations, of whom a number left for various reasons, personal and substantive, with 39 signing the draft Constitution on September 17th.</p>
+<p>In late February, 1787, the Continental Congress had voted to set up a convention to amend the Articles of Confederation, strengthening their central governing powers. 12 of the 13 states elected slates of delegates by various procedures. By late May, the delegates, slowly assembling in Philadelphia, reached a quorum and began to deliberate officially. Through the summer, 55 delegates took some part in deliberations, of whom a number left for various reasons, personal and substantive, with 39 signing their completed draft Constitution on September 17th.</p>
-<p>Among the delegates, George Washington, then 55, and Franklin, then 81, both  immensely experienced and world famous, imparted a sense of gravitas to the Convention in public opinion. The delegates unanimously elected Washington to serve as president of the Convention, a role he performed with asiduous impartiality. Franklin, a delegates from Pennsylvania, served quietly, speaking up as needed to preserve the inclusive sense of unity among the delegates by promoting compromises when serious deadlocks were potentially arising. Younger, then less prominent delegates like James Madison, shaped the substantive course of deliberations. </p>
+<p>Among the delegates, George Washington, then 55, and Franklin, then 81, both immensely experienced and world famous, imparted a sense of gravitas to the Convention in public opinion. The delegates unanimously elected Washington to serve as president of the Convention, a role he performed with assiduous impartiality. Franklin, a delegate from Pennsylvania, served quietly, speaking up as needed to preserve the inclusive sense of unity among the delegates by promoting compromises when serious deadlocks were potentially arising. Younger delegates, then less prominent such as James Madison, shaped the substantive course of deliberations. </p>
 <p>Through the summer of 1787, the delegates had deliberated about governing powers and their checks and balances. They worked through specifics, and arrived at a consensus on each; in August, they consolidated the particulars into a working draft; and in early September, they polished the text for style. Mid September, the time to conclude had arrived. A few delegates opposed the draft and a few more wavered, but most believed they had achieved their common purpose—to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new Constitution, based on the sovereignty of the people, and to establish a strong central government, one that could act wisely and vigorously within the nation and for the nation within the world.</p>
 <p>On the 17th, Franklin had a short speech read out on his behalf initiating the signing of the Constitution by the assembled delegates. It ended, “I hope therefore that for our own sakes, as a Part of the People, and for the sake of our Posterity we shall act heartily and unanimously in recommending this Constitution, wherever our Influence may extend, and turn our future thoughts and Endeavours to the Means of having it well administered.” </p>