Should slavery be abolished?

1. WHAT HE SAID (the record)

Record ledger

• BELIEF (undated): Benjamin Franklin believed that debt could expose a man to confinement and a species of slavery to his creditors, implying a view that equated certain conditions with slavery and suggesting a belief in freedom from such conditions. "free from debt which exposes a man to confinement and a species of slavery to his creditors." [1]
• BELIEF (undated): Benjamin Franklin believed that the proprietors of Pennsylvania were 'daily endeavouring to reduce' the people 'to the most abject slavery,' suggesting he viewed their actions as akin to slavery and disapproved of such treatment. "Have extorted from the posterity of those settlers; And are daily endeavouring to reduce them To the most abject slavery;" [2]
• BELIEF (undated): Benjamin Franklin argues that if impressing seamen is considered lawful, then it is equivalent to slavery, implying that such a practice should be abolished. His reasoning is based on the comparison between the two and the injustice of the latter. "If impressing seamen is of right by common law in Britain, slavery is then of right by common law there; there being no slavery worse than that sailors are subjected to." [3]
• ACTION (1773-02-10): Benjamin Franklin commenced an acquaintance with Mr. Granville Sharpe and stated they would act in concert in the affair of slavery. "I have commenced an acquaintance with Mr. Granville Sharpe, and we shall act in concert in the affair of slavery." [4]
• BELIEF (1773-04-10): Benjamin Franklin held the view that slavery should be abolished, as he expressed satisfaction that a disposition to abolish slavery prevailed in North America and noted actions taken by Pennsylvanians and the Virginia Assembly to reduce the importation of enslaved people. "I have since had the satisfaction to learn that a disposition to abolish slavery prevails in North America, that many of the Pennsylvanians have set their slaves at liberty, and that even the Virginia Assembly have petitioned the king for permission to make a law for preventing the importation of more into that colony." [5]
• BELIEF (1779-10-17): Benjamin Franklin expressed a belief in the abolition of slavery, contrasting the actions of the king of France who is giving freedom to slaves with the king of England who is endeavoring to make slaves of freemen. "Who would have thought, a few years since, that we should live to see a king of France giving freedom to slaves, while a king of England is endeavoring to make slaves of freemen." [6]
• BELIEF (undated): Benjamin Franklin believed that slavery should be abolished as part of the evolving law of nations, arguing that it is a step toward improving humanity and reducing the occasions of war. "Humanizing by degrees, it admitted slavery instead of death; a farther step was the exchange of prisoners, instead of slavery;" [7]
• BELIEF (1789-11-04): Benjamin Franklin expressed support for the abolition of the slave trade, citing historical efforts by Quakers and his own past actions in printing anti-slavery materials. He believed that the idea of abolishing slavery, though delayed, was ultimately valid and encouraged by the persistence of good notions. "I wish success to your endeavors for obtaining an abolition of the slave trade." [8]
• BELIEF (1789-11-09): Benjamin Franklin believed that slavery should be abolished, but with careful attention to the transition to prevent serious evils. He argued that emancipation should be accompanied by support for freed individuals to avoid harm to both them and society. (key quote above) [9]
• ACTION (1789-11-09): Benjamin Franklin signed an address from the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery on 9 November 1789. The passage shows that he supported the society's efforts to abolish slavery and promote the welfare of freed individuals, indicating his alignment with the cause of abolition. (key quote above) [10]

What cuts against it

• BELIEF (1790-03-23): Benjamin Franklin suggested that abolishing slavery might cause economic harm to slave owners and social problems for freed slaves, arguing that slavery is not worse in America than in other parts of the world. "Are not Spain, Portugal, France, and the Italian states governed by despots, who hold all their subjects in slavery, without exception? ... Sending the slaves home then would be sending them out of light into darkness." [11]

• BELIEF (undated): Benjamin Franklin equated impressing seamen with slavery, but this does not directly address the institution of slavery itself. "If impressing seamen is of right by common law in Britain, slavery is then of right by common law there; there being no slavery worse than that sailors are subjected to." [3]

• BELIEF (undated): Benjamin Franklin believed that debt could expose a man to a form of slavery, but this is a metaphorical use of the term and does not directly address the institution of slavery. "free from debt which exposes a man to confinement and a species of slavery to his creditors." [1]

2. HOW IT APPLIES (reasoning; inference is marked)

1. Benjamin Franklin expressed a clear belief in the moral and ethical wrong of slavery, calling it an "atrocious debasement of human nature" and advocating for its abolition. [9]

2. He took concrete action by signing an address from the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and by supporting efforts to educate and employ freed individuals. [10]

3. He also engaged with anti-slavery figures like Granville Sharpe and supported historical efforts by Quakers to oppose the slave trade. [4] [8]

4. However, he acknowledged the complexities of abolition, noting that emancipation must be accompanied by support for freed individuals to avoid harm to both them and society. [9]

5. Despite these efforts, he also expressed some reservations about the practical consequences of abolition, suggesting that it might cause economic harm to slave owners and social problems for freed slaves. [11] This shows a tension between his moral stance and pragmatic concerns.

3. HIS TAKE

Record coverage: DIRECT

The record is direct on Benjamin Franklin's belief that slavery should be abolished, but with careful attention to the transition to prevent serious evils.

Extrapolation: Benjamin Franklin believed that slavery should be abolished, but he also recognized the need for careful planning to avoid harm to both freed individuals and society. He supported the cause of abolition through both moral arguments and practical efforts, such as education and employment for freed people.

Competing readings: One reading is that Franklin was a consistent abolitionist who believed in the moral imperative to end slavery. Another reading is that he was pragmatic, acknowledging the institution's entrenched nature and the need for gradual change. The record itself supports both readings, with direct statements on his moral stance and practical concerns.

Confidence: High, as the record includes direct statements of belief and action, though it also shows some tension between moral conviction and pragmatic concerns.