Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Being written partly during the American Revolution as well as the early years of the country’s formation, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin provides a look into the development of American identity at the founding of its union. In his text, Franklin stresses the importance of educational opportunities and community spaces, such as religious centers, philosophical clubs, and libraries. In doing so, he advocates for the citizens of the colonies to have modes of self-expression and the opportunities to obtain knowledge.

Franklin’s own Junto club emphasizes freedom of speech, providing a space for the consistent practice of writing and speaking to others on philosophical, political, and academic topics. His introduction of his subscription library also provides the groundwork for widespread access to information. As Franklin proudly claims, “These Libraries have improv’d the general conversation of the Americans, made the common Tradesmen and Farmers as intelligent as most Gentlemen from other Countries” (67). For Franklin, having access to information allows for the entire country to better themselves, even the “common Tradesmen and Farmers,” a detail that emphasizes Franklin’s republican ideals. By increasing literacy and the knowledge base of ordinary Americans, Franklin hopes to strengthen the country as a whole. This new American identity thus derives heavily from opportunities for each citizen to engage through community spaces and to develop their own intellects, fostering an air of democratic civic participation.

Furthermore, Franklin advocates for progressive social change, speaking openly in favor of educating American women. He uses the example of a woman who took over her husband’s printing business in Charleston. He claims this woman “manag’d the Business with such Success that she not only brought up reputably a Family of Children, but at the Expiration of the Term was able to purchase [from Franklin] the Printing-House and establish her Son in it” (93). By having this belief in the worth of educating women as well as men, Franklin suggests that the development of American identity can and should include aspects of gender equality.

The development of American identity therefore centers around access to knowledge and the opportunity to utilize this knowledge. Franklin’s own ability to improve his financial status and social class illustrates this identity in practice. When discussing the establishment of a public library in Philadelphia, Franklin indicates that this “was imitated by other Towns and in other Provinces” because “Reading became Fashionable” and propelled American citizens to become “more intelligent than People of the same rank generally are in other Countries” (75). By allowing even working-class Americans access to information, the spread of knowledge among different social classes enables the colonies to establish their own ideas and ways of life, giving them a nascent sense of democratic community and independence that will eventually allow them to break away from Britain.