Abstract

From the arrival of colonization in America, the race was on to determine the form of government that would best suit the unique, individualistic, tenacious nature of a group of people that were still seeking freedom from their current governing power: Great Britain. During such an exciting, uncertain time in American history, colonists were not only attempting to liberate themselves from what they viewed to be an overbearing and controlling entity, but to also formulate an agreed upon set of creeds that would constitute their new society. Benjamin Franklin, Philip Freneau, and Thomas Paine all presented their vision of this ideal society, and while there are similarities between three and their individual circumstances and influences, there were also noticeable differences as to how much control government they felt should have in an individual’s life. Each leader’s readings, experiences, and societal exposures helped to form the disparaging views they held, and since they were each such prominent figures at the time, their ideas and writings helped to shape the from of government that the country chose to adopt. 
Benjamin Franklin’s political views were strongly influenced by two key ideas: Deism and Enlightenment. Like many of the founding fathers, he was in favor of a republic, or a state led by the people. An additional leading voice and writer during this period in time was Philip Freneau. However, unlike Franklin, he was more in favor of a direct democracy. Another very prominent and influential figure in the development of government policies was Thomas Paine. Of the three writers, his views were the most radical, controversial, and the most centered on complete autonomy for the people.
 With differing perspectives on what would produce the best leadership for the country, only one form of government could be chosen, and although he certainely was not the sole influence, Benjamin Franklin’s vision of rule was the closest to what came to be. 

Andrea Karn
Dr. Scott Slawinski
English 5220
October 10th, 2006

Democracy, Republic, or Aristocracy: The Struggle for an Ideal Government

These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.[1]
In 1775 Thomas Paine wrote these words in the first of a series of pamphlets, The Crisis, at the advent of the Revolutionary War between Great Britain and the thirteen colonies. Published anonymously in early 1776 in order to boost the morale and spirit of the colonists so they could endure the long struggle that was about to ensue, this message represented the spirit shared by many early Americans, long before the principles, government, and beliefs that this country was founded on were formalized.   
From the arrival of colonization in America, the race was on to determine the form of government that would best suit the unique, individualistic, tenacious nature of a group of people that were still seeking freedom from their current governing power: Great Britain. Seeking to escape from this sovereign nation that ruled by monarchy, these independent people desired a more autonomous manner of living, and while the majority of these newly colonized individuals believed in some form of this self-sufficient ideology, to what extent this freedom of government should be left in the hands of the citizens was a highly debated topic.  
During such an exciting, uncertain time in American history, colonists were not only attempting to liberate themselves from what they viewed to be an overbearing and controlling entity, but to also formulate an agreed upon set of creeds that would constitute their new society. Although these colonists knew they wanted to separate themselves from the views and government that ruled England’s culture, until their own doctrine was devised, these people wouldn’t truly be able to juxtapose themselves. A few individuals that were actively engaged in this topic of debate published several works that were either intended to reach the masses or just to express the writers’ personal sentiments on such topics. “The intellectual and political leaders in the 1760s-1770s closely read history to find models of good and bad government” [2], and then they worked on devising their own idea of a working model that would fit the independent spirit of the early colonists. Benjamin Franklin, Philip Freneau, and Thomas Paine all presented their vision of this ideal society, and while there are similarities between three and their individual circumstances and influences, there were also noticeable differences as to how much control government they felt should have in an individual’s life. Each leader’s readings, experiences, and societal exposures helped to form the disparaging views they held, and since they were each such prominent figures at the time, their ideas and writings helped to shape the from of government that the country chose to adopt. 
Benjamin Franklin was one of the founding fathers and a great inventor and thinker. His early life didn’t show the promise of a great outcome however, as he bounced from city to city and among family members and professions. His rise to success later in life demonstrated to him a thought of prevalence which was that a person could rise from seemingly nothingness with the right amount of determination, knowledge, and a pragmatic nature, and he felt that everyone should be given the chance to rise above their station they were born into; thus a more free, independent, and people-centered government was favorable to that of a monarchy.
 Many of Benjamin Franklin’s writings exhibited two prominent thoughts: he believed in living a very pragmatic life and felt others should strive to do the same and the drive to form a more people-centered government. He continuously strove to be a “common” man, and devoted his life to the betterment of the American people in one fashion or another. At the advent of his writing career in 1771-five years before the start of the Revolutionary War-the colonists during this time were strongly desiring to break free from their ruling country and desirous of devising a more independent nation, not just for themselves, but for generations to come. Franklin spent a considerable amount of time abroad, balancing his time in both England and France, so he was given a very dual perspective of the current political state, but he still strongly favored the plight of the colonists. Throughout the later portions of his Autobiography and other works such as “Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small One” and “Letter to Governor Shirley”, Franklin eludes to his pragmatic sense that he feels citizens should contain: ”Employ thy time well, if though meanest to get leisure” [3].
Franklin’s political views were strongly influenced by two key ideas: Deism and Enlightenment. Similar to many of the other founding fathers, Franklin followed Deism which was a religion of reason in which there are basic and practical truths in life, and this appealed to his very sensible nature. He also believed in certain principles that led him to be one of the founders of the Age of Enlightenment. This was an intellectual movement that:
advocated reason as a means to establishing an authoritative system of aesthetics, ethics, government, and logic, which, they supposed, would allow human beings to obtain objective truth about the universe [4].

Many of his contemporaries also read and related to these principles: 
People like Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin were avid readers of the great philosophers of the European Enlightenment. They treasured the ideas found in the works of such thinkers as Descartes, Voltaire, Bacon and Locke [5]. 

The fact that Franklin identified so strongly with these sentiments-along with his very practical nature-greatly influenced his thinking on the form of government that should lead this impending nation. Again, like many of the founding fathers, he was in favor of a republic, or a state led by the people, “whose political power is based on principles that are not beyond the control of the people of that state or country” [6], but he also felt that this form of government would only work if the majority of people led virtious lives, as he tried to do. And since attaining and maintaining this form of living was certainly a difficult task to accomplish, and therefore the possibility of people governing themselves would likely be a difficult task, the need for a form of a somewhat representative government would be necessary to ensure the success of the impending country.
	An additional leading voice and writer during this period in time was Philip Freneau. He was also very much in favor of the colonys seeking independence and wrote a number of anti-British sentiments that eventually led to a short term of imprisonment aboard a British prison ship which only increased his dislike of the monarchy. Similar to Franklin, he was also very concerned with the welfare of the common man:”He was an idealist who cared only for the res publica, the common well-being, and he desired chiefly that the new American government should serve the needs of a free people” [7]. However, unlike Franklin, he was more in favor of a direct democracy, “which comprises a form of democracy and theory of civics wherein sovereignty is lodged in the assembly of all citizens who choose to participate” [8]. He was very concerned and involved with the quest for independence and wished for complete autonomy among the people: “He put his trust in local self-rule rather than in a coercive state” [9]; whereas, Franklin felt there were some limitations on the power people should be allowed and, even then, the citizens must monitor themselves to an extent. 
Freneau’s life began a bit better than Franklin’s-he he was not shifted among homes and he attended Princeton-but after college he continuously changed professions, never really finding one that fit him, and he suffered many financial hardships.  His personal beliefs also caused him much turmoil as well: 
He felt a deep obligation to perform public service, and his satires against the British in 1775 were written out of fervent patriotism. At the same time he distrusted politics and had a personal yearning to escape social turmoil and war [10]. 
His feverish search to a new and better society and government led him to the belief that people deserved a more independent form of government, and although he spent time abroad as Franklin did, his thoughts and works remained loyal to the freedom of his homeland. 
Freneau’s writing on the topic of independence, some of which were “On Mr. Paines’ Rights of Man”, “Pictures of Columbus”, and “The Rising Glory of America” became quite inspirational to the cause of independence among those like-minded individuals. He was so inspiring, in fact, that, 
He also served, more effectively, as ‘the poet of the Revolution’. Later he became the journalistic voice of the democrats. Ardently devoted to liberty, he believed himself to be a defender of the common man, for whom he fought selflessly and often vitriolicly throughout his life.[11]
Another very prominent and influential figure in the development of government policies was Thomas Paine. Of the three writers, his views were the most radical, controversial, and the most centered on complete autonomy for the people. One of his earlier works, Common Sense, presented his distaste for British rule:
There is something exceedingly ridiculous in the composition of monarchy; it first excludes a man from the means of information, yet empowers him to act in cases where the highest judgment is required [12].

His thoughts on the influence government should, or rather should not, hold as well as the power that should be instilled in the people were also very clearly presented in this pamphlet:
Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil […]Government, like dress, is the badge of lost innocence; the palaces of kings are built on the ruins of the bowers of paradise [13].

Paine presented the most anti-government view of the three, and felt the force exerted over an individual’s life should be extemely minimial, with the average person being informed enough to rule themselves. Paine’s deist beleifs strongly influenced these sentiments, and as his belief in reason and practicalness strengthened throughout his life, they only increased his dislike of government. He continued to write other popular works, such as “Age of Reason” and “The Rights of Man”, that caused just as much controversy.
Similar to Franklin and Freneau, he was also very much influenced by Deism, so he was a firm believer of the thought that reason prevailed, and the ideal of monarchy did not fit this rationale. Another common experience all three writers had was the shifing between several different professions thoughout his life, not quite happy with each one. Like Franklin, he also lived for some time in Europe, but still promoted the colonists sentiments. 
With differing perspectives on what would produce the best leadership for the country, only one form of government could be chosen, and although he certainely was not the sole influence, Benjamin Franklin’s vision of rule was the closest to what came to be. As one of the founding fathers, a visionary, and influencer and friend to many political and powerful people, Franklin’s vision idea of a republic came into fruitition when a combination of a direct and a representative republic was established. His prominence has helped, and is still helping, to shape the country’s ideals today:
He helped invent America's unique style of homespun humor and philosophical pragmatism. And he was the person most responsible, of all the Founders, for instilling in the new nation the virtue that is central to its role in the world struggle: that of tolerance, specifically religious tolerance [14].

So what about Freneau’s and Paine’s visions? Even though his thoughts were influential during this tumultuous time, Philip Freneau lacked any form of staying power with his audience because he continuously tired off war and conflict even though he felt strongly impassioned to devote himself to its cause. Twice, during the height of his popularity, he left to travel overseas and was gone for years at a time, and when he returned to America, he found both times that his work, and thoughts, did not carry the weight it once did. 
In a similar fashion, Thomas Paine’s ideals began to disappear from the collective conscience. For the same reasons that he became well-known-following popular movements of the time such as deism, and controversial writings that spoke to the cause of the people-his later years showed him a lack of interest and respect in both his work and his ideas. One of his later and most infamous works, The Age of Reason, was to, “rescue natural Christianity from unbelievers” [Paine ], but it was received quite differently and many people interpreted as him proclaiming his views on atheism. His controversy that led to his notoriety also led to his downfall; therefore, his short-lived popularity didn’t allow for his influential ideas to permeate the formation of America’s government:
Paine never established a political society or organization and was not responsible for a single reforming measure. His achievements were all with his pen so it is difficult to accurately assess his influence [15].

Even though all three men helped to create and shape the 

nation’s government, society, and beliefs, only Franklin’s 

ideals held real staying power, and Freneau’s and Paine’s 

works became just forms of literature for discussion.

End Notes

1 Penguin Classics, The Thomas Paine Reader. 1987

2 Trevor Colburn, The Lamp of Experience: Whig History and  
  the Intellectual Origins of the American Revolution.  
  1965.

3 Penguin Classics, The Portable Benjamin Franklin. 2005.

4 Wikipedia, “Age of Enlightenment.”

5 Robert, Johnson, “The Deist Roots of the United States of 
  America.”

6 Wikipedia, “Republic.”

7 Vernon, Parrington, Main Currents in American Thought:   
  The Beginnings of Critical Realism in America 1860-1920.

8 Wikipedia, “Direct Democracy”

9 Vernon, Parrington, Main Currents in American Thought:   
  The Beginnings of Critical Realism in America 1860-1920.

10 Emory Elliott, “Philip [Morin] Freneau.” 
 
11 Jacob Alexrad, Philip Freneau: Champion of Democrarcy.             
  1967.

12 Michael Foot and Isaac Kramnick, The Thomas Paine 
   Reader. 1987.

13 Michael Foot and Isaac Kramnick, The Thomas Paine 
   Reader. 1987.

14 Patrick, Stack, “The Amazing Adventures of Ben  
   Franklin.” 2006.

15 Steven, Kreis. “The History Guide: Lectures on Modern 
   European Intellectual History.” 2006.

Works Cited

Axelrad, Jacob. “Philip Freneau: Champion of Democracy.”
	Journal of Southern History V.34 N.1 (1968): 109-110.

Colburn, Trevor.The Lamp of Experience: Whig History and 
the Intellectual Origins of the American Revolution. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1965.

Elliott, Emory. “Philip [Morin] Freneau.” Princeton 
Universtiy Press. 1978.Princeton University. 10 Oct. 2006
http://etcweb.princeton.edu/CampusWWW/Companion/freneau_philip.html

Foot, Michael and Isaac Kramnick. The Thomas Paine 
Reader.London: Penguin, 1987.

Johnson, Robert. “The Deist Roots of the United States of 
America.” 10 Oct. 2006
http://www.deism.com/DeistAmerica.htm

Kreis, Steven. “The History Guide: Lectures on Modern 
European Intellectual History.” 2006.10 Oct. 2006
http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/intellect.html

Parrington, Vernon. Main Currents in American Thought: The 
Beginnings of Critical Realism in America 1860-1920. NEW YORK:  HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY, 1927.

Stack, Patrick.”The Amazing Adventures of Ben Franklin.” 
Time, Online Edition July 2003. Kellogg Community 
College, Battle Creek, MI.10 Oct.2006 http://www.time.com/time/2003/franklin/bffranklin.htm

Wikipedia. “Age of Enlightenment”, “Republic”, and “Direct 
Democracy.” 10 Oct. 2006
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Ziff, Larzer. The Portable Benjamin Franklin.London: 
Penguin Classics, 2005.