23 pages 46 minutes read

Benjamin Franklin

The Articles of Confederation

Nonfiction | Essay / Speech | Adult | Published in 1781

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Index of Terms

The Age of Enlightenment

The Age of Enlightenment is not explicitly referenced in Franklin’s Articles of Confederation, but it is clear that its ideas have influenced his writing.

This movement began in Europe in the 17th century and lasted through the end of the 18th. It emphasized reason, logic, and practicality and contributed to the political theory, influencing writers like John Locke and, later, Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson. (Duignan, Brian. "Enlightenment." Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 Mar. 2021. Accessed 2 April 2021.) For Franklin, these ideas also manifested in the theme of progress. Historian Walter Isaacson connects progress to the movement by saying that it was “the concept that individuals, and mankind in general, move forward and improve based on a steady increase of knowledge and the wisdom that comes from conquering adversity.” (Isaacson, Walter. A Benjamin Franklin Reader. Simon & Schuster, 2013.) Franklin was very mindful of progress, and while his Articles of Confederation were not voted on, their ideas contributed to the nation’s progress, finding their space in the United States Constitution in 1789.

Colonies

Franklin uses “colony” to refer to what Americans now call a “state.” At the time of his Articles of Confederation, there were 13 American colonies under British rule.

Related Titles

By Benjamin Franklin

Study Guide

logo

Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

Plot Summary

logo

Poor Richard's Almanack

Benjamin Franklin

Poor Richard's Almanack

Benjamin Franklin

Study Guide

logo

The Way To Wealth

Benjamin Franklin

The Way To Wealth

Benjamin Franklin