Letter regarding the poor by Ben Franklin... Engraving of the Corsican chief Pascal Paoli...

• Research suggests Franklin believed the poor should work hard and be self-reliant, not depend on welfare, which he thought could encourage idleness.
• It seems likely that Franklin saw society’s role as supporting the poor through taxes and laws, but he criticized systems that made poverty comfortable, favoring those that promote industry.
• The evidence leans toward Franklin advocating for policies that “lead or drive” the poor out of poverty, not sustain them in it, with some controversy over his views on welfare’s impact.

Franklin’s Views on the Poor’s Responsibilities

Benjamin Franklin emphasized that the poor should rely on their own efforts to improve their condition. He argued that welfare or public provisions could make poverty too easy, discouraging work and encouraging idleness. For example, he noted that in places with more support, the poor often did less for themselves and became poorer, while in places with less aid, they worked harder and improved. He suggested enforcing work, like the biblical “Six days shalt thou labour,” to counter habits like wasting time in alehouses, and criticized the poor for sometimes using wage increases to drink more and work less, perpetuating their distress.

Society’s Obligation to Care for the Needy

Franklin acknowledged society’s duty to support the needy, noting England’s system as the best in Europe with taxes on the rich (5–6 shillings per pound) and funding for schools and hospitals. However, he believed these systems often failed by fostering dependence rather than self-sufficiency. He praised laws that raised prices to support the poor but felt true help lay in enabling them to rise out of poverty through work, not just sustaining them in it.

Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Benjamin Franklin’s Thoughts on Poverty and Society’s Role

This section provides a comprehensive examination of Benjamin Franklin’s views on the responsibilities of the poor and society’s obligation to care for the needy, drawing from his 1768 letter in The Gentleman’s Magazine and other writings, as well as scholarly analyses. The discussion aims to reflect Franklin’s nuanced perspective, balancing his emphasis on self-reliance with his recognition of societal duties, while acknowledging the complexity and historical context of his views.

Background and Context

Franklin, a prominent figure of the 18th century, was known for his roles as a statesman, scientist, and philosopher. His writings on poverty and welfare, particularly from the 1760s, reflect his observations during his time in England, where he engaged with social and economic issues. The letter from April 1768, published in The Gentleman’s Magazine, titled “On the Laboring Poor,” provides a key insight into his thoughts, supplemented by earlier works like “On the Price of Corn and the Management of the Poor” (1766).

Franklin’s Views on the Responsibilities of the Poor

Franklin’s core belief was that the poor should be industrious and self-reliant, viewing dependence on welfare as detrimental. He argued that making the poor “easy in poverty” through public provisions could encourage idleness and prodigality, ultimately perpetuating poverty. This view is evident in several quotes and observations:

• In his 1768 letter, he wrote, “I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it.” This reflects his preference for policies that push the poor toward self-sufficiency rather than comfort in their current state.
• He observed, based on his travels, that “the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer.” Conversely, he noted, “the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves and became richer,” highlighting a correlation between reduced welfare and increased self-reliance (Virginia Institute for American History: Benjamin Franklin on Welfare).
• Franklin criticized specific behaviors among the poor, such as using wage increases to “drink more and work less,” which he believed maintained their distress during sickness, age, or scarcity. In the 1768 letter, he suggested enforcing the biblical principle of “Six days shalt thou labour” to counteract habits like wasting time in alehouses, particularly on “St. Monday,” a day often taken off for leisure.

His 1766 essay, “On the Price of Corn and the Management of the Poor,” further elaborated on this, criticizing England’s welfare system for making the poor “more idle, dissolute, drunken, and insolent.” He argued that welfare laws removed incentives for industry, frugality, and sobriety by offering dependence instead of encouraging accumulation during youth and health. He proposed that repealing such laws would lead to changes in poor manners, reducing holidays like St. Monday and St. Tuesday, and reinstating the commandment as a “respectable precept,” increasing industry and plenty among the lower classes (Heritage Foundation: Poverty and Welfare in the American Founding).

Society’s Obligation to Care for the Needy

While Franklin emphasized the poor’s responsibility, he also recognized society’s role in supporting the needy, particularly through legal and charitable mechanisms. In his 1768 letter, he noted that England had the best provisions for the poor in Europe, thanks to historical legislation like Tudor laws and the 1601 statute, which were not replicated in places like Scotland or Ireland. These provisions included:

• A tax on the rich, described as 5–6 shillings per pound of annual income, which Franklin saw as a form of inheritance from the rich to the poor, vesting estates in the poor’s maintenance.
• Funding for numerous schools that educated, fed, and clothed poor children gratis, as well as hospitals for the sick, lame, wounded, insane, lying-in women, and deserted children, all at immense expense to the rich.
• Laws discouraging foreign manufactures through heavy duties or prohibitions, which raised prices paid by the rich, thereby supporting the laboring poor. Franklin noted, “all the difference of price between our own and foreign commodities, being so much given by our rich to our poor,” though he acknowledged the effectiveness was limited by the poor’s behavior (Founders Online: On the Laboring Poor, [April 1768]).

However, Franklin was critical of how these systems were implemented, arguing they often failed to achieve their intended goal. He believed that true help for the poor lay in enabling them to rise out of poverty through work and industry, rather than sustaining them in it. This critique is echoed in modern analyses, with the Heritage Foundation noting, “We see in Franklin’s diagnosis a striking anticipation of today’s welfare state, in which, as we will see, poverty has remained stagnant as the welfare system has swelled since the 1960s” (Heritage Foundation: Poverty and Welfare in the American Founding).

Comparative Analysis and Controversy

Franklin’s views have been subject to interpretation, with some seeing them as harsh critiques of welfare, while others view them as pragmatic calls for reform. His emphasis on self-reliance aligns with 18th-century economic thought, particularly the emerging ideas of capitalism and individual responsibility. However, his observations have sparked debate, especially in modern contexts, where welfare systems are seen as essential for social equity. The controversy lies in balancing his belief that welfare can foster dependence with the need for safety nets, a tension evident in comments like, “We should have listened to him!” on historical blogs, reflecting ongoing discussions (Virginia Institute for American History: Benjamin Franklin on Welfare).

Detailed Table of Franklin’s Observations

To organize Franklin’s key points, the following table summarizes his views on the poor’s responsibilities and society’s obligations, based on the sources reviewed:

Conclusion

Franklin’s thoughts, as expressed in his 1768 letter and other writings, reflect a balance between advocating for the poor’s self-reliance and acknowledging society’s role in support. He believed the poor should be driven to work and improve, while society should structure aid to foster industry, not dependence. This perspective, while rooted in 18th-century context, continues to inform debates on welfare and poverty, highlighting the enduring relevance of his observations.

Key Citations

• Founders Online On the Laboring Poor April 1768
• Virginia Institute for American History Benjamin Franklin on Welfare
• Heritage Foundation Poverty and Welfare in the American Founding