Question

Franklin is quite clear in seeing America as a place where “white” people have an opportunity to increase their numbers, and they should do so. He asserts that the number of “purely white” people on the planet is proportionately small in comparison to the “black” and “tawny” people of the rest of the world, and he sees America as the place where white people spread. Due to factors addressed in his writing, Franklin predicts the population of the colonies would double every 20 years and that those people would be coming from England. Eventually this would mean there would be more Englishmen in America than in England itself, something Franklin saw as a value to the overall interests of the empire.

In deed, Franklin believed only people from England should be allowed to migrate to the colonies. He believed others took away from the "whiteness" of the colonies. He was quite specific in not wanting people from Germany coming to American and failing to assimilate, stating that people of "that color" would not be able to give up their traditional ways. As an Englishman, he saw the Germany as too dark-skinned. Of course, the “tawny” Native-American population would be another inconvenient barrier to Franklin’s view of the future.

For you discussion topic this week, address the following questions:

1. Is Franklin’s position surprising to you? Do you think his views on race require us to rethink his position in history?

2. Do you see any similarities to arguments of racial purity or white supremacy today?

Answer 1

1. To answer your first question, yes, I find Franklin's position on race to be quite surprising. It is shocking to see someone who is otherwise regarded as a founding father of the United States hold such views on race and ethnicity. His belief that only people from England should be allowed to migrate to the colonies and that the colonies should be reserved for "white" people is disturbing and unsettling. It definitely requires us to rethink his position in history, and to consider the implications of his views on race for the founding of the United States.

2. As for the second question, unfortunately, there are similarities to arguments of racial purity and white supremacy today. While the language and terminology may be different, the underlying beliefs are similar. There are still people who believe that certain ethnic and racial groups are superior to others, and who seek to maintain the purity of their own group through exclusion and discrimination. This is evident in the rise of far-right political movements in many parts of the world, as well as in the continued prevalence of racial discrimination and prejudice in many societies. It is important to be aware of these issues and to work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society.