Publisher's Synopsis
Collected here in this short volume are eight pieces written by Benjamin Franklin during the later years of his life. The first three articles-on immigration, Native Americans, and the general state of the new nation-were written and published around 1784 while Franklin was still in residence in France. The later three articles-all dealing with slavery-are among the last public statements Franklin made before his death in Philadelphia in 1790. Two other pieces compare America and Britain in the aftermath of the revolution and contain Franklin's final comments at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Throughout his life, Franklin maintained an optimistic view of human nature. The goodness he saw in humankind was no different in black slaves or Native Americans than in whites. He lived and died as the truly virtuous citizen he urged others to be, as close as any to achieving the full potential of the human spirit. His vision for society and the country he worked so hard to establish shine through in these eight short papers-a vision still relevant and much needed in modern America. This volume includes an introduction by American history scholar Eric J. Miller, adding background to Franklin's story, the circumstances at the time of publication of the works included, and additional commentary on their relevance and significance even today.
