Franklin : the autobiography and other writings on politics, economics, and virtue / edited by Alan Houston.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790, author.

Contributor:

Houston, Alan Craig, 1957- editor.

Series:

Cambridge texts in the history of political thought.

Cambridge texts in the history of political thought

Standardized Title:

Works. Selections. 2004

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790.

Franklin, Benjamin.

Statesmen--United States--Biography.

Statesmen.

Political culture--United States--History--18th century.

Political culture.

Political science--Early works to 1800.

Political science.

Political science--United States--History--18th century.

Virtue.

Social values.

United States--Economic conditions--To 1865.

United States.

United States--Politics and government--To 1775.

United States--Politics and government--1775-1783.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (lii, 381 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Other Title:

Franklin: The Autobiography & Other Writings on Politics, Economics, & Virtue

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2004.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Benjamin Franklin is one of the best known and most widely admired figures in American history. His wit and charm make him endearing; his practical intelligence and commitment to middle-class virtues like thrift and industry make him admirable. Indeed to many he is 'the first American'. Ironically, this identification of Franklin with American popular culture diminishes the breadth and depth of his contributions to modern political thought. The present volume provides the textual foundation for a fuller understanding of Franklin's thought, and represents a major addition to the Cambridge Texts series. Readers interested in the Autobiography will find a new and complete edition based on the original manuscript. Those interested in the full range of Franklin's political ideas will find a selection of his most important letters, essays and pamphlets. Alan Houston's lucid introduction brings life to these texts and sets them in their proper historical context.

Contents:

Cover; Half-title; Series-title; Title; Copyright; Contents; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Chronology; Bibliographical note; Biographical guide; A note on the texts; CHAPTER 1 The Autobiography; CHAPTER 2 Plan of Conduct (July-October 1726); CHAPTER 3 A Modest Enquiry into the Nature and Necessity of a Paper

Currency (3 April 1729); CHAPTER 4 Apology for Printers (10 June 1731); CHAPTER 5 Rules for a Club Formerly Established at Philadelphia (1732); CHAPTER 6 Dialogue Between Two Presbyterians (10 April 1735); CHAPTER 7 To Josiah and Abiah Franklin (13 April 1738)

CHAPTER 8 A Proposal for Promoting Useful Knowledge Among the British Plantations in America (14 May 1743)CHAPTER 9 The Speech of Miss Polly Baker (15 April 1747); CHAPTER 10 Plain Truth: or, Serious Considerations On the Present State of the City of Philadelphia, and Province of Pennsylvania (17 November 1747); CHAPTER 11 Form of the Association into which Numbers are daily entering, for the Defence of this City and Province

With Remarks on each Paragraph (3 December 1747); CHAPTER 12 Advice to a Young Tradesman, Written by an Old One (21 July 1748)

CHAPTER 13 Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania (October 1749)CHAPTER 14 Observations concerning the Increase of Mankind, Peopling of Countries, &c. (1751); CHAPTER 15 To James Parker (20 March 1751); CHAPTER 16 Rattle-Snakes for Felons (9 May 1751); CHAPTER 17 To Peter Collinson (9 May 1753); CHAPTER 18 To Peter Collinson (September 1753-January 1754); CHAPTER 19 Join or Die (9 May 1754); CHAPTER 20 Reasons and Motives for the Albany Plan of Union (July 1754); CHAPTER 21 To Governor Shirley (December 1754), with a Preface (8 February 1766)

CHAPTER 22 Preface to Poor Richard Improved: Father Abraham's Speech (7 July 1757)CHAPTER 23 To

(13 December 1757); CHAPTER 24 To Lord Kames (3 May 1760); CHAPTER 25 On the Price of Corn, and Management of the Poor (29 November 1766); CHAPTER 26 To Lord Kames (25 February 1767); CHAPTER 27 Causes of the American Discontents Before 1768 (7 January 1768); CHAPTER 28 The Somersett Case and the Slave Trade (20 June 1772); CHAPTER 29 Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small One (11 September 1773); CHAPTER 30 An Edict by the King of Prussia (22 September 1773)

CHAPTER 31 On a Proposed Act to Prevent Emigration ([December?] 1773)CHAPTER 32 Proposed Articles of Confederation (21 July 1775); CHAPTER 33 The Morals of Chess (before 28 June 1779); CHAPTER 34 To Madame Brillon: The Whistle (10 November 1779); CHAPTER 35 To Joseph Priestley (8 February 1780); CHAPTER 36 To Joseph Priestley (7 June 1782); CHAPTER 37 To Richard Price (13 June 1782); CHAPTER 38 To Robert Morris (25 December 1783); CHAPTER 39 Remarks Concerning the Savages of North-America (1783); CHAPTER 40 To Sarah Franklin Bache (26 January 1784)

CHAPTER 41 Information to Those Who Would Remove to America (February 1784)

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-107-16117-7

1-280-70216-8

0-511-80688-4

0-511-23058-3

0-511-23135-0

0-511-22896-1

0-511-31661-5

0-511-22980-1

OCLC:

252528050