Bollman 1

Cole Bollman
Mr. DeAngelo
Gold 6 APUSH
1 March 2011
Research Paper Outline
I. Benjamin Franklin’s Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind, a
short essay on population augmentation, delivered a new and “fresh” approach
on the best way for Britain to develop its empire by arguing that Britain
should increase its population and power by expanding its empire over the
Americas, he also explained that further expansion in Europe would be futile
as a result of it being too crowded.
II. Ben Franklin’s life was heavily intertwined in politics and economics and it
was no surprise that he wrote Observations Concerning the Increase of
Mankind which revolved around political and economic thoughts that would
be used to increase the population of the British Empire, while at the same
time still balancing sustainability.
A. Benjamin Franklin became involved with politics at a very young age.
1. Ben Franklin was born in
2. Benjamin grew up in the early 1700’s, a very influential time
period for expansions, and became involved in politics by
becoming a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly at the age of
45.
3. Ben Franklin traveled to the Americas in 1723 and took notes
and learned more about civilization there, which in turn provided
him with the knowledge that he used to write his essay.
B. Benjamin played a large part in convincing expansion of the British
Empire into the Americas.
1. In 1751 Ben Franklin published his Observations Concerning
the Increase of Mankind, an essay that placed him in the running
for an influential position regarding the Americas and how
development should be handled.
C. The British colonization and expansion into the Americas began in 1607
in Jamestown, Virginia, history and lessons from that time period were
used by Ben Franklin to write his Observations Concerning the Increase
of Mankind.
1. Ben Franklin visited the Americas for the first time in 1723
where he received his inspiration for writing this novel. He
realized the great expanse of the Americas and the true potential
that they held.
2. In 1721 South Carolina was named a royal colony and the
information and statistics that were taken from it really aided
Ben Franklin in writing his essay.
III. The main point of Ben Franklin’s essay was to explain the optimal way to
expand the British Empire while maintaining sustainability for the empire.
A. The main purpose of Ben Franklin’s essay, Observations Concerning the
Increase of Mankind, was to convince the monarch’s to expand the empire
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over into the Americas because Europe was beginning to become over
populated and sustainability would be very difficult to obtain.
1. Ben Franklin states that “There is ... no Bound to the prolific
Nature of Plants or Animals, but what is made by their crowding
and interfering with each other's Means of Subsistence.” and this
showed everyone that in Europe crowding has occurred which
will make it hard to achieve sustainability.
2. Ben Franklin also states that “Land being thus plenty in America,
and so cheap as that a labouring Man, that understands
Husbandry, can in a short Time save Money enough to purchase
a Piece of new Land sufficient for a Plantation, whereon he may
subsist a Family; such are not afraid to marry; for if they even
look far enough forward to consider how their Children when
grown up are to be provided for, they see that more Land is to be
had at Rates equally easy, all Circumstances considered.” this
gives a few reasons why Ben believed that America would be a
more suitable place for British expansion.
3. Franklin also shares his thought that “In fine, A Nation well
regulated is like a Polypus; take away a Limb, its Place is soon
supply'd; cut it in two, and each deficient Part shall speedily
grow out of the Part remaining. Thus if you have Room and
Subsistence enough, as you may by dividing, make ten Polypes
out of one, you may of one make ten Nations, equally populous
and powerful; rather, increase a Nation ten fold in Numbers and
Strength.” which shows us his view of how “splitting” the empire
will cause it to grow even more.
B. In the essay, Franklin shows us his opposition to importation of Africans,
Germans, and Saxons, and he believed that they “darkened” the
complexion of the Americas.
1. Ben Franklin shares with the reader that “All Africa is black or
tawny. Asia chiefly tawny. America (exclusive of the new
Comers) wholly so. And in Europe, the Spaniards, Italians,
French, Russians and Swedes, are generally of what we call a
swarthy Complexion; as are the Germans also, the Saxons only
excepted, who with the English, make the principal Body of
White People on the Face of the Earth.” which reiterates his
point of wanting to keep “foreigners” out of the Americas.
2. Ben Franklin slams this point home again when he says “why
increase the Sons of Africa, by Planting them in America, where
we have so fair an Opportunity, by excluding all Blacks and
Tawneys, of increasing the lovely White and Red?” which shows
us just how negatively he looked upon Africans.
IV. Observations Concerning the Increase Mankind was startlingly accurate and
effective, it provided the English monarchy with backing for gaining support
for the development of the Americas.
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A. The approach Ben Franklin took on this essay allowed him to be very
accurate and it also allowed the monarchies to use it as a source to back up
their “pushing” towards expansion into
1. Ben Franklin states this approach towards native people “As the
Increase of People depends on the Encouragement of Marriages,
the following Things must diminish a Nation, viz. 1. The being
conquered; for the Conquerors xill engross as many Offices, and
exact as much Tribute or Profit on the Labour of the conquered,
as will maintain them in their new Establishment, and this
diminishing the Subsistence of the Natives discourages their
Marriages, & so gradually diminishes them, while the Foreigners
increase. 2. Loss of Territory.” and this was the technique used
by the colonists for a long period of time.
2. He also states “Besides if the Manufactures of Britain (by
Reason of the American Demands) should rise too high in Price,
Foreigners who can sell cheaper will drive her Merchants out of
Foreign Markets; Foreign Manufactures will thereby be
encouraged and increased, and consequently foreign Nations”
demonstrating his thorough knowledge of economics and sharing
a system for managing economies that is still used to this day.

Works Cited
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Mar. 2011.
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Kelly, Martin. "American History Timeline - 1701 - 1725." American History From
About. Web. 01 Mar. 2011.
<http://americanhistory.about.com/od/americanhistorytimelines/a/timeline-1701.htm>.

"Facts about Benjamin Franklin." Revolutionary War, Declaration of Independence, US

"The Truth about Immigrants: Xenophobia Existed in Early America." The Houston
Catholic Worker, a Publication of Casa Juan Diego. Web. 01 Mar. 2011.
<http://www.cjd.org/paper/truth.html>.

"Benjamin Franklin / Observations Governing the Increase of Mankind ..." The School of
Cooperative Individualism / Welcome Page. Web. 01 Mar. 2011.
<http://www.cooperativeindividualism.org/franklin_benjamin_on_population.html>.