During the late 1770s and early
1780s, many European aristocrats desired to know what opportunities of wealth
awaited them in America. As a diplomat to Paris, Benjamin Franklin encountered these types of questions often. In 1782, less than a decade after
the Declaration of Independence was drafted, Benjamin Franklin responded with
an essay that indicated who should remain in Europe and who should venture to
America. This topic of immigration remains a relevant one for Americans today,
as many hold conscious and subconscious beliefs about who should and should not
be allowed into the United States of America. The people Benjamin Franklin
encouraged to come to America may not share the same characteristics as the
people contemporary citizens of the United States would advocate for, however,
the reason behind the type of immigrant that is desired, by both Franklin and
21st century American citizens, seems to be the same. That reason is economics.
Although contemporary citizens of the United States believe wealthy and
educated immigrants of the upper class who migrate to America will improve the
economy, Benjamin Franklin believed that a surplus of aristocratic immigration
would not be best for the economy of the newly formed country.
Franklin began his essay by
addressing people who had false ideas of what America was truly like. One
misconception can be found in the second paragraph of his essay, in which
Franklin states, “[He imagines] that there are also abundance of profitable
offices to be disposed of, which the natives are not qualified to fill; and
that, having few persons of family among them, strangers of birth must be
greatly respected, and of course easily obtain the best of those offices, which
will make all their fortunes.” Franklin makes it clear that he believes that
those who think they may get by because of their aristocratic birth and those
who think they will amass a fortune by obtaining a position as an elected
official are delusional. Two paragraphs later, Franklin goes on to say,
“[Americans] do not inquire what is he?
But what can he do? If he has any
useful art, he is welcome.” Franklin continues his idea that a person’s status
is irrelevant in America and it’s citizens are more concerned with the skillset
of a person. “Strangers are welcome because there are room enough for them
all,” Franklin says, but there are only certain types of people whom Franklin
believes can excel as an immigrant in America.
“Hearty young laboring men,” Franklin declares
in the seventh paragraph of this essay, “who understand the husbandry of corn
and cattle, may easily establish themselves here.” These type of men stand in
contrast to the aristocrats Franklin spoke of earlier in his essay and
represent determination and a strong will. Benjamin Franklin, not only being a
founding father of America, but a founding father of the “pull yourself up from
your bootstraps” narrative, adds to the formation of that narrative here. He
continues to build this narrative with the next group of people he believes
would prosper in America, which is found in the first sentence of the ninth
paragraph. “Also, persons of moderate fortunes and capitals, who, having a
number of children to provide for, as desirous of bringing them up to industry,
and to secure estates for their posterity have opportunities of doing it in
America, which Europe does not afford.” Franklin is sure to place the word
“moderate” before speaking of the income of this next group of people as he
places their offspring at the center of his argument. Franklin again paints a
picture that those who are willing to work hard and not take any handouts will
prosper in America, this time placing the proverbial light on the children who
have the potential to be laborious. Building a working class seemed to be a
point of interests for Benjamin Franklin. In the eleventh paragraph, Franklin
insinuates that the working class is the key to establishing a strong economy
by saying, “Great establishments of manufacture require great numbers of poor
to do the work for small wages; these poor are to be found in Europe, but will
not be found in America, till the lands are all taken up and cultivated, and
the excess of people, who cannot get land, want employment.”
A key to a nation’s success is a
good economy. Benjamin Franklin, as a founding father of a new nation, desired
for America to be a prosperous nation with a strong economy that could compete
with the European superpowers of that era. Americans of the 21st century also
want a prosperous economy, but in these times of economic hardship, Americans
are not overwhelmingly tolerant towards immigrants. Donald Trump, a
presidential nominee, is using rhetoric encouraging the fear of immigrants as
he promises to build a wall to secure the border between Mexico and Texas. A
lack of tolerance for certain types of immigrants is not a new phenomenon for
the United States of America. Citizen’s tolerance and welcoming of immigrants
has historically been based on the success of the economy.
Works Cited
America In Class.
"INDEPENDENCE: 1783-1791." Independence:
1783-1791. National Humanities Center, 2013. Web. 9 Oct. 2016.
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