The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin

Rating:
Summary: BF's legacy saved by his Autobiography and Poor Richard
Review: This book reads like a novel and is difficult to put down. The author tries to get into BF's mind, not an easy task. While Wood doesn't leave out BF's failures, it is easy to be overwhelmed with how talented this man was. Although his whole life is reviewed, I would like to cover in this review something only hinted at in the last chapter.

When BF was in his young to middle aged working life, he created, among other things, Poor Richard's Almanac. This was first published in 1733; full of common sense, admonitions to industry and frugality, and homespun proverbs. His last edition was in 1758, reprinted separately as "The Way To Wealth," and attributed to a "Father Abraham."

Later, when in a rare depression following a political failure in England, a friend convinced him he owed it to the public to write an autobiography. He began the first installment as advice to his son, William, and wrote additional entries over a number of years.

BF loved Europe, and they loved him. His work in electricity in his early 40's earned him in international reputation, complete with multiple honorary degrees. Perhaps because he spent so much time abroad, perhaps because his political enemies set the tone, he was not as appreciated in his home country. Interestingly, he made it back for the writing of the both the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution 11 yrs. later.

After BF died, he was virtually ignored in America, while France proclaimed 3 days of mourning and made him a national hero. This contrast is more than striking. There were lots of signers to the Declaration of Independence, but only a few of them stand out in America as household names. The rest of them have varied lesser legacies, with perhaps only short encyclopedia entries.

BF's legacy would possibly have shared that fate, had it not been for his writings, particularly his Autobiography and Poor Richard's Almanac. Vitally important to the popularity of BF's writings were the changes that were occuring in American society, lessening the mindless esteem of the seemingly non-working upper class, and celebrating the working man. Perhaps his books helped to expedite these changes.

In the early 1800's these two books became standard issue for those working men who aspired to get ahead in America. "The Way To Wealth" alone had over a hundred editions in over a dozen languages. His "list of virtues" comprised 13 traits (virtues), each one to be concentrated on for a week at a time. At the end of thirteen weeks, they would have all been practiced once, so one starts over. At the end of a year, each one would have been worked on for four weeks. BF admitted in writing the difficulties he personally experienced while trying to be virtuous, but maintained there was virtue in attempting perfection. One of his famous statement concerns his difficulty conquering vanity. He wrote that in trying to keep his vanity under control during "humility" week, he found himself succumbing to proudness for having achieved so much humbleness (or something like that).

Indeed, in 1836, a copy of the Autobiography was amongst Davy Crockett's few possessions found at the Alamo. This excellent book about one of my heroes, though relatively short, captures BF's exemplary abilities and a few human weaknesses, and I recommend it highly.

Rating:
Summary: Really 3.5
Review: This is an extended essay on Benjamin Franklin by the distinguished historian Gordon Wood. Wood explores Franklin's career and his later significance in American life. This concise book gives an outline of Franklin's life and then concentrates on Franklin's role in the American Revolution. Wood uses Franklin to show the evolution of many colonials from thinking of themselves as English and enthusiastic supporters of the British Empire to revolutionaries. Franklin is an extreme example of this general phenomenon. Resident for many years in England, Franklin was enamoured of the cosmopolitanism of English life and an enthusiastic imperialist. Many many colonials, he was disillusioned by the maladroit handling of colonial affairs after the Seven Years War. Once he converted to the cause of the Revolution, he became a fervent supporter and his diplomacy at the French court was crucial to the success of the Revolution. Woods deals also with Franklin's transition from craftsman to gentleman and his later adoption by the American public as the symbol of successful capitalism. These discussions provide some insight into the changing nature of social and political life engendered by the Revolution.
Like all of Wood's work, this is a well written and insightful book. It is, especially in comparison with his prior monographs, relatively slight. Well worth reading but not a major work of scholarship.

Rating:
Summary: Well Worth It
Review: While many biographers consider Franklin the first American, Wood is interested in what Americanized him. Wood lays out how Franklin's experiences pushed him away from Britain, and how Franklin's own hard work became a hallmark for American behavior through the years. In a sense, we learn why Franklin became an American and why we consider him such a quintessential one.

It's not usually stressed that Franklin loved the British Empire and wanted to be a player in London politics. After retiring from the Printing business, Franklin spent most of the next 20 years in England making friends and influencing colonial policy. His scientific experiments and inventions made him famous the world over and the colonies looked rather small to him.

What made the difference was Franklin's work as an agent for Pennsylvania and Mass. While those associations got Franklin in the middle of British politics, they also made him suspect when the colonies began to rebel. Though Franklin had no pulse on the colonies and wanted to remain loyal to the King, he was a readily available target to British Politicians who felt America was ungrateful. Franklin eventually understood that the colonists would never be treated as equals and they were wasting their time as part of the empire.

He may have been one of the last to get the message, but he was one of the most fervent converts thereafter. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and almost solely responsible for bringing France into the American Revolution without which America never would have gained independence.

Just as important as to why we see Franklin as the first American is his legacy of entrepreneurship. Franklin's example of humble beginnings to riches is a uniquely American phenomenon. Franklin's reputation has grown a bundle since his death in 1790 and much of it has to do with his Autobiography that stresses thrift and hard work. These were unusual ideas in Europe and never fully embraced as they were here. As America built a stronger nation, Franklin continued to be one of the patron saints.

Wood makes you wonder how different America would be if Franklin hadn't been Americanized.