The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress on the 4th of July 1776 and the signing by the delegates began on the 2nd of August. The Declaration of Independence formally declared that the thirteen American colonies were independent of Great Britain. 56 members signed the Declaration of Independence and Benjamin Franklin was one of them. Benjamin Franklin was not only a member of the Continental Congress that drafted the Declaration of Independence but was an able diplomat who was known for his wit, scientific achievements and kind, unpretentious manners (Benjamin Franklin). Benjamin Franklin was also the oldest person to sign the document.
Benjamin Franklin’s role in the signing of the Declaration of Independence was important as he started out his political career as a contented Englishman who was happy with the Royal Rule and distrusted populist movements (Benjamin Franklin). He also thought that a peaceful solution between the British and the colonists was possible when hostilities began between the colonists and the British soldiers on the continent. His views however changed after the Albany Congress where he called for the unity of the thirteen colonies during the French and Indian War. As an agent of pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Georgia and New Jersey he went to London to represent their interests and claims. It was here that he started believing and advocating the theory that the Parliament did not have the right to levy taxes on the colonies and that the colonies and America were a union just like Scotland and England were an union under the Sovereign. Soon after he returned to America, he became a member of the Continental Congress and became a leading voice in the Patriot Cause calling for Independence of the colonies from Great Britain. Benjamin Franklin also came up with a plan that would have formed a government for the United Colonial Confederation. Although it was read in Congress on July 21, 1775, the members of the congress did not initiate any action on it at that time (benjamin Franklin in his own words). He was also a member of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence. The other members of the committee entrusted with drafting the Declaration were Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston. Known for his legendary wit, it is said that the some of the members were reluctant about him drafting the Declaration as they thought he might fit in some joke in the document.
If the War of Independence had not gone in favor of the colonies the Declaration would have become a death warrant for the Continental Congress members who had signed it as the claims made in the Declaration could have easily been considered sedition under colonial laws. It was Benjamin Franklin who best summed up the situation and reflected the mood of the members (albeit with his usual wit) when he said “"Gentlemen, we must now all hang together, or we shall most assuredly all hang separately (Dickey 120)." Although Thomas Jefferson came up with the draft for the Declaration of Independence Benjamin Franklin and John Adams reviewed and made some changes in the draft, especially cutting out sections they thought were damaging to the British people. They cut out the part which blamed the King for the transatlantic slave trade and which condemned the British people instead of their government (Milestones). Benjamin’s role in the American Independence and the signing of the declaration is all the more important that at the time of the signing his son, William who was a Loyalist and the Last royal governor of New Jersey was in jail. It was also Benjamin Franklin as a member of the Secret Committee of Correspondence who played his diplomatic card well and hinted to the French and other friendly governments late in 1775 that Independence was likely. He did this as aid for the Independence War was necessary and it was also important that other countries recognize the United States as an Independent country. When the Declaration of Independence came in front of the committee for acceptance and many changes were proposed, it was Benjamin Franklin who sat next to Jefferson and consoled him. He made jokes and shared personal anecdotes with Jefferson so he would not feel bad about so many changes being made in his draft. Although he was not the author of the Declaration of Independence and did not write the draft, his role in the signing was important as he served to increase the support for the draft and also was a calming influence on Jefferson. It was his long political career, ability to diffuse tense situations with his wit and his age which made it possible for him to play this role and be accepted by everyone in the committee.
Works Cited
“Benjamin Franklin”. history.army.mil. n.d. Web. 27 April 2015.
“Benjamin Franklin in His Own Words.” loc.gov. 16 August 2010. Web. 27 April 2015.
Dickey, Jeff. The Rough Guide to Washington. D.C. New York: Penguin. 2011.
“Milestones: 1776-1783.” history.state.gov. n.d. Web. 27 April 2015.
