2/7 【歷史上的今天】富蘭克林為「美國勇氣」作辯護

每天一篇《美國歷史上的今天》，提煉和總結歷史在今天發生的重要事件：誰，在哪裡，什麼時候，做了什麼，這件事為什麼重要、以及在寫關於什麼主題的論文的時候可以作為潛在論據引用。每天半分鐘，輕鬆積累史實，為AP歷史拿5分打下堅實基礎！

When: Feb 7, 1755

What: Benjamin Franklin published <An Imaginary Speech> in defense of American courage.

Why significant: The speech was intended to counter an unnamed officer』s comments to Parliament that the British need not fear the colonial rebels, because 「Americans are unequal to the People of this Country [Britain] in Devotion to Women, and in Courage, and worse than all, they are religious.」

In countering this three-pronged critique, Franklin noted that the colonial population had increased while that of Britain had declined. Franklin concluded that American men must therefore be more 「effectually devoted to the Fair Sex」 than their British counterparts.

In dealing with the comparative courage, Franklin held that American militiamen repeatedly saved the day after British officers blundered during the French and Indian War. What』s more, he added, 「Indiscriminate Accusations against the Absent are cowardly Calumnies.」

Finally, on religion, Franklin overcame his distaste for piety to remind readers that zealous Puritans rid Britain of the despised King Charles I. Franklin surmised that his parliamentary critic was a Stuart [Catholic] sympathizer and therefore disliked American Protestants, 「who inherit from those Ancestors, not only the same Religion, but the same Love of Liberty and Spirit.」

Tags: American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin, founding fathers, <An Imaginary Speech>

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