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This article is written in American English, which has its own spelling conventions (color, defense, traveled) and some terms that are used in it may be different or absent from other varieties of English. According to the relevant style guide, this should not be changed without broad consensus.
Benjamin Franklin was a History good articles nominee, but did not meet the good article criteria at the time. There may be suggestions below for improving the article. Once these issues have been addressed, the article can be renominated. Editors may also seek a reassessment of the decision if they believe there was a mistake.
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This article about Benjamin Franklin states that his political affiliation is non-partisan, but at the same time, the article about the Democratic-Republican Party of the United States states that he was one of its founders. Thus, the article about Benjamin Franklin misstates his party affiliation and should be corrected.
I will also leave here a link to an article about the US Democratic-Republican Party so that you can read it in more detail.Democratic-Republican Party212.241.28.102 (talk) 12:18, 7 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Please replace Benjamin Franklin's political party in the line from non-partisan to the Democratic-Republican Party of the United States. Based on all of the above. 212.241.28.102 (talk) 14:00, 7 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]
If the Wikipedia article is not a reliable source for you, I don't know what to say. You can go to the article on the Democratic-Republican Party of the United States and it says right at the top that Franklin was one of the founders of that party, which in itself means that he supported that party. I think that's enough to get the point across. 185.66.252.180 (talk) 00:54, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Wikipedia articles never reliable sources for other Wikipedia articles; however, the references in one might be usable in another. After I took a look at Democratic-Republican Party I noticed that Franklin's and Paine's inclusions as founders was not supported by any cited reference (and Franklin was dead before the party was founded) so dropped both from that article. Thank-you for bringing that to our attention. Erp (talk) 04:12, 16 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Semi-protected edit request on 28 February 2024[edit]
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When he returned home in 1785, Franklin occupied a position second only to that of George Washington as the champion of American independence. He returned from France with an unexplained shortage of 100,000 pounds in Congressional funds. In response to a question from a member of Congress about this, Franklin, quoting the Bible, quipped, "Muzzle not the ox that treadeth out his master's grain." The missing funds were never again mentioned in Congress.[1]
The above section from the page should be removed or changed, the source shown is correct that wording is from Harlow Unger's book. The book completely misrepresents the quote, timing, and meaning.
Cite: First the ill cite my source, The Works of Benjamin Franklin (New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons,1904, 12 vols.), 9:14. this is the exact citation used in Unger's book.
1. The 'question' from a member of congress did not happen upon Franklin's return from France in 1785. The correspondence was on 12 August, 1782. 3 years before his return. The subtitle of the work clearly states these letters are from 1781-1782.
2. The congressmen who questioned franklin was Robert Morris who held the position of superintendency of Finances. (first letter same cite). This was a time before the constitution he was acting with similar responsibility as the post constitution secretary of treasury.
3. I present you the quote from Benjamin franklin. "I observe what you mention of the order, that the ministers’ salaries are to be hereafter paid in America. I hereby empower and desire you to receive and remit mine. I do not doubt your doing it regularly and timely; for a minister without money, I perceive, makes a ridiculous figure here, though secure from arrests. I have taken a quarter’s advance of salary from the 4th of last month, supposing it not intended to muzzle immediately the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn."
- He is stating that the money will be paid in America and since he is not in America, he will need to take that money out of a foreign loan.
4. "The missing funds were never again mentioned in Congress." They were never mentioned every in congress, just letters between the 'cabinet' members and Franklin. Franklin did have to write specifically about bill deferred or paid after that date like on 14 October 1782 when he wrote Robert Livingston about his pay. (Franklin, Benjamin. The Works of Benjamin Franklin, Vol. X Letters and Misc. Writings 1782-1784. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1904, pp. 15-16.)
In conclusion, this quote misrepresents Franklin's position, counter party context, & basic timing. Harlow Giles Unger's book should not be used as a reliable source going forward. Snooky2go (talk) 07:06, 28 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]
References
^Harlow Giles Unger, "Thomas Paine and the Clarion Call for American Independence" (New York: Da Capo Press, 2019), p. 90.