Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. He invented the lightning rod, bifocals, the Franklin stove and a carriage odometer. He facilitated many civic organizations, including a fire department and a university.
However a recent discovery of a cache of letters that a young Franklin had sent to his close friend and relative Dwight Howe has now shown a disturbing side to the otherwise revered Founding Father. The collection of letters were sent to the Historic Reconstruction Council of the University of British Columbia by a descendant of Dwight Howe after their discovery in an inherited mantel piece by the family. The Canadian Research Authority were promptly notified to record all information as well to bring context to some of the letters implications.
The following pictures and transcripts are of the before mentioned letters:
First letter: 01/13/1736
Dear Faithful Dwight
I have the utmost hope that this letter makes it to you as I feel the issue we discuss require great urgency. In reply to your first and foremost question which interests me greatly.
I fully agree with General Washington, that we must protect this young nation from an insidious influence and impenetration. The menace, gentlemen, is the jews.
In whatever country jews have settled in any great number, they have lowered its moral tone; depreciated its commercial integrity; have segregated themselves and have not been assimilated; have sneered at and tried to undermine the Christian religion upon which that nation is founded, by objecting to its restrictions; have built up a state within the state; and when opposed have tried to strangle that country to death financially, as in the case of Spain and Portugal.
For over 1,700 years, the jews have been bewailing their sad fate in that they have been exiled from their homeland, as they call Palestine. But gentlemen, did the world give it to them in fee simple, they would at once find some reason for not returning. Why? Because they are vampires, and vampires do not live on vampires. They cannot live only among themselves. The iews must subsist on Christians and other people not of their race.
I hope that this answer may clear up and doubts you had, which may become deadly through the coming years which I predict will be filled with turmoil.
Sincerely yours,
Benjamin
Last letter (chronologically): 07/04/1739
Dear Dwight,
It has come to my attention that several events may be working towards a conquer of the Americas by the zion. I feel that if you do not exclude them from these United States, in their Constitution, in less than 200 years they will have swarmed here in such great numbers that they will dominate and devour the land and change our form of government, for which we Americans have shed our blood, given our lives our substance and jeopardized our liberty.
If you do not exclude them, in less than 200 years our descendants will be working in the fields to furnish them substance, while they will be in the counting houses rubbing their hands. I warn you, gentlemen, if you do not exclude jews for all time, your children will curse you in your graves.
Jews, are Asiatics, let them be born where they will nor how many generations they are away from Asia, they will never be otherwise. Their ideas do not conform to an American’s, and will not even thou they live among us ten generations. A leopard cannot change its spots. Jews are Asiatics, are a menace to this country if permitted entrance, and should be excluded by this Constitutional Convention. We must stop these jews, not for ourselves, but for our children’s children.
Forever thankful for your time.
Sincerely yours,
Benjamin
Both example letter’s detail slanderous information towards the Jews as well as other anti-Semitic views professed by Franklin. Further letters not yet process also detail various controversial views on slavery relating to Franklin approval of it and the benefits he saw through its economic effects. Many historians have stated that Franklin was very much against slavery but these facts stem from speeches later in his life. These letters from a younger Franklin show a slightly perplexing view of the man which will be further researched. The possibility of these letters being fake are also being investigated however so far the carbon-dating of the letters has matched the time period as well as Benjamin Franklin’s signature matching with verified signatures.
Contextual References:
- “Inventor”. The Franklin Institute. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
- H.W. Brands, The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin (2000)
- Isaacson 2003, p. 491
- Isaacson 2003, p. 492
- H.W. Brands. The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin. Random House Digital; 2010. p. 390.
- “William Goddard and the Constitutional Post”. Smithsonian National Postal Museum. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- Isaacson 2003, p. 14
- a b Salzman, Rob. “Thomas Franckline / Jane White”. e-familytree.net. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
- Salzman, Rob. “Benjamin Franklin / Deborah Read”. e-familytree.net. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
- (1901) [1771]. “Introduction”. Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Macmillan’s pocket English and American classics. New York: Macmillan. p. vi. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
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This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged american enlightenment, benjamin franklin,canada, da, Founding Fatathers, Founding Fathers, racism, university of british columbia, USA on September 27, 2012.
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Canadian Research Authority 
If true, this only makes me think ever more highly of him. Today, the Jews have all but destroyed America. Just imagine if Franklin had gotten his way with a ban on Jews in the Constitution! How much better off we would’ve been.
Here is a question. How does Franklin refer to Washington as a General in 1736 when Washington was all of 4 years old when the letter was written…
He was very talented for his age
Excellent observation. Notice also it has letters apparently written by Mr. Franklin, but copies of the anti-Jew alleged letters are not shown in his handwriting.
“I fully agree with General Washington, that we must protect this young nation from an insidious influence and impenetration. The menace, gentlemen, is the jews.
In whatever country jews have settled in any great number, they have lowered its moral tone; depreciated its commercial integrity; have segregated themselves and have not been assimilated; have sneered at and tried to undermine the Christian religion upon which that nation is founded, by objecting to its restrictions; have built up a state within the state; and when opposed have tried to strangle that country to death financially, as in the case of Spain and Portugal.
For over 1,700 years, the jews have been bewailing their sad fate in that they have been exiled from their homeland, as they call Palestine. But gentlemen, did the world give it to them in fee simple, they would at once find some reason for not returning. Why? Because they are vampires, and vampires do not live on vampires. They cannot live only among themselves. They must subsist on Christians and other people not of their race.
If you do not exclude them from these United States, in their Constitution, in less than 200 years they will have swarmed here in such great numbers that they will dominate and devour the land and change our form of government, for which we Americans have shed our blood, given our lives our substance and jeopardized our liberty.
If you do not exclude them, in less than 200 years our descendants will be working in the fields to furnish them substance, while they will be in the counting houses rubbing their hands. I warn you, gentlemen, if you do not exclude jews for all time, your children will curse you in your graves.
Jews, gentlemen, are Asiatics, let them be born where they will nor how many generations they are away from Asia, they will never be otherwise. Their ideas do not conform to an American’s, and will not even thou they live among us ten generations. A leopard cannot change its spots. jews are Asiatics, are a menace to this country if permitted entrance, and should be excluded by this Constitutional Convention.”
– Benjamin Franklin at the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention of 1787
supposedly he said this at the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention of 1787
The letters are not authentic.
Benjamin Franklin did not say the above at the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention of 1787.
Here is a link to Ben Franklin’s address: https://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/133/historic-american-documents/4961/address-to-the-federal-convention-philadelphia-pa-september-17-1787/
I’m sure there were anti-Semites in the late 18th century you’d be able to quote verbatim but it’s no good trying to put invented words into the mouths of the founding fathers.
The photos indicate that Franklin wrote these letters while at the Army Air Force Tech School. That time-travelin’ sunuvabitch.
From what I heard Franklin was in a private conversation so these words were not part of any official speech, they were reportedley written down by Charles Pinckney of South Carolina who happened to be there.