Analysis Of Ben Franklin's StatementIt's A Luxury We Can't Affordin The Movie 1776

1776

Sherman Edward's "1776" is a musical that portrays the events surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Its storyline mainly focuses on the efforts of John Adams to sway his fellow representatives to fight for American independence and sign the document. As the Second Continental Congress ensued, the topic of slavery raised subject. Initially, the Declaration stated that slavery would be abolished. However, the Southern states refused to sign a document that permitted the end of slavery. Therefore, the contradiction between the claim that "all men are created equal" and the existence of American slavery attracted comment when the Declaration was first published. In the words of Benjamin Franklin referring to the abolishment of slavery, "It's a luxury we can't afford."

The date is July 2, 1776. The delegates gather to finalize the Declaration of Independence. Thomas calls on each of the states for their vote. When Edward Rutledge, who is representing South Carolina, is asked for his vote, he says that his vote is "nay" only until Jefferson and Adams remove the slavery clause from the Declaration. If not, however, Rutledge explains that all the Southern colonies will not join in the fight for independence and "will bury now and forever your dream of independence." Benjamin Franklin implores with John Adams to get rid of the slavery clause, saying, "We have no choice John, the slavery clause has got to go. It's a luxury we can't afford." In response to all this, Jefferson himself walks across the meeting room to the Declaration and crosses the slavery clause out. Rutledge changes his vote to "yea".

The reason why Benjamin Franklin declared that the outlawing of slavery was "a luxury we can't afford" is because he knew that in order to convince the Southern states to sign the Declaration, they would have to remove the slavery clause. Franklin realized that there was no way they would reach American Independence if the Southern states refused to assent to the Declaration. It was not that Franklin did not believe that America would be a better nation without slavery; he just thought it made more sense to attain independence from Britain first: "First things first, John ... Independence. America. If we don't have that, what is the rest worth?"

The argument between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, and Edward Rutledge was quite distinct. When

...