Benjamin Franklin’s Vision Of Anglo-american Empire

Benjamin Franklin was the New World’s (Compared with Europe "the Old World") foremost advocate for empire----irst for that of the British, then for that of the Americans. His Vision of the empire before Revolution was the British Empire, in which the Britain was the mother Country, while America was its foundation. This "British Empire" was greatly different from the one we usually talk about. The differences were at least from such aspects as follows:firstly, the population and territory of America were so freely extended that the future greatness of the British Empire would lie in it. Secondly, as one single nation, America and Britain would form a firm Incorporating Union by allowing the colonies Representatives in Parliament. Henceforth, all the members within the Empire would share the equal Citizenship. Thirdly, the America’s commerce was free, in other words, the colonies could not only trade freely with the Great Britain, but also freely with the rest of the world. Based on these differences, the Empire in Benjamin Franklin’s vision could be more specifically called Anglo-American Empire. As Liberty constituted its intrinsic feature, it could also be relevantly called an Empire of Liberty. The liberty adherent to this Empire consisted largely of "English Liberty", which was the historical rights of Englishmen, and Natural Rights of man. All these Liberties needed to be preserved by Virtue. No longer virtuous, no longer free. The Loss of Liberty was the fundamental cause of disillusionment for his Dream of Anglo-American Empire.