It's unfortunate that Jefferson still gets practically sole credit for the Declaration itself. Benjamin Franklin was critical in his guidance and dozens of revisions to Jefferson's draft to make the final document what it is. Franklin's input was the result of already over 20 years of tirelessly fighting for the idea of uniting the colonies, and arguing for the principles underlying a liberty worth dying for.
Not to mention, Franklin was more consistently in alignment with Natural Law as an abolitionist, in contrast to slaveowning Jefferson. Jefferson wanted Locke's ideal of "property" instead of Franklin's higher Leibnizian ideal of "Pursuit of Happiness", since for Jefferson to ultimatize the right to property would safeguard gentleman landowners like himself who enslaved other humans as additional property to maintain their land property. Thank God Franklin won out on that one.
When you take a step back outside of the 4th celebrations and hear stories like this it puts into perspective just how much each individual sacrificed. We’re taught about the founders, war and outcome in school but never this type of individual detail. Hope it inspires more courage in all of us 🙏🏻
Great question, of all the signers which of them actually helped conform the U.S. government and man it's original positions? Those who never signed amd most who never fought just stepped in after the brave ones took the hit.
It's unfortunate that Jefferson still gets practically sole credit for the Declaration itself. Benjamin Franklin was critical in his guidance and dozens of revisions to Jefferson's draft to make the final document what it is. Franklin's input was the result of already over 20 years of tirelessly fighting for the idea of uniting the colonies, and arguing for the principles underlying a liberty worth dying for.
Not to mention, Franklin was more consistently in alignment with Natural Law as an abolitionist, in contrast to slaveowning Jefferson. Jefferson wanted Locke's ideal of "property" instead of Franklin's higher Leibnizian ideal of "Pursuit of Happiness", since for Jefferson to ultimatize the right to property would safeguard gentleman landowners like himself who enslaved other humans as additional property to maintain their land property. Thank God Franklin won out on that one.
When you take a step back outside of the 4th celebrations and hear stories like this it puts into perspective just how much each individual sacrificed. We’re taught about the founders, war and outcome in school but never this type of individual detail. Hope it inspires more courage in all of us 🙏🏻
Especially when we are so close to letting it all go up in smoke....
Great question, of all the signers which of them actually helped conform the U.S. government and man it's original positions? Those who never signed amd most who never fought just stepped in after the brave ones took the hit.
Sam and John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, lighthorse Lee and Richard lee.
Lighthorse, wow, what a cool name....
I think he was Robert E Lee's father.
This is sooooooo good. All teens should hear this. Paul Harvey knows how to tell a story.
They were serious about pledging their "lives, fortunes, and sacred honor" in those days.
I wish there were more real men like them in our day....
And it looks one hell of a lot like Gaetz, and Co....
But, if I had a time Machine....
At this point in life, some 30+ years late, my regret is that I didn't name my sons Washington Franklin and Jefferson Adams....
I see a pattern there. A good pattern (you raised 3 boys? Someone needs to award you with the equivalent of a 10 karat, grade a diamond.)