09.23.2009

**Wednesday, September 23 **
__Preparation for September 23:__ Read Gordon Wood’s //Ben Franklin// Read from Wood’s //The Purpose of the Past//: Introduction, Chapters 2, 4, 8, and 12. __//**Projects due.**//__

Comments on Washington’s views on slavery; many teachers felt that it was unknown, although others felt that his views were inconsistent. - A moral issue - Freed his slaves in his will (after Martha’s death); also, his slaves should have some form of education (to be paid for by his inheritance money) - Washington had vigorously pursued in finding a runaway slave; had moved slaves across state lines “George Washington has a gift of silence.” – John Adams; little to no written evidence of George Washington’s position on slavery. Historians can only base their findings on what is known. On __The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin__, by Gordon Wood Some thoughts and revelations: - Regard B. Franklin as a Founder; social mobility, hard work, strive to do better - Importance of the term, //Gentleman// - Emphasis on reading; importance of writing – at age 17, he wrote on issues from the viewpoint of a middle-aged woman - G. Wood: virtue and service above wealth (money) - Emotional intelligence - Franklin sees himself as an Englishman - As a scientist; he was obsessed with electricity; fundamental laws of… - Personal (human) quality of Franklin; relations with his wife and son - Hutchinson letters, leak of; Bailyn’s book on the Thomas Hutchinson letters - PBS video: The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin - Patronage was an important aspect in eighteenth century politics - Masonry; enlightened ideals and ‘networking’ - Leading prison reform, as an ideal of republicanism <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msolist: Ignore;">- Pioneers English language instruction <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msolist: Ignore;">- Practical; Jefferson regards B. Franklin as a good listener and never contradicts others <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msolist: Ignore;">- (see p. 127) On conspiracies and impersonal forces <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msolist: Ignore;">- Regarded as the “old man” at the Constitutional Convention <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msolist: Ignore;">- G. Wood regards B. Franklin as the greatest diplomat America ever had <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msolist: Ignore;">- Becoming the symbol of the American man B. Franklin on John Adams: “He was rational, he was patriotic, but he was out of his mind.”
 * A More Perfect Union ** Notes – September 23, 2009

// __Preparation for October 28:__ //
Read John Kaminski’s //The Founders on the Founders//