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==Slavery==

==Slavery==

At the end of his life Franklin supported the abolition of slavery. Franklin, who himself had once been a slaveowner himself<ref>Franklin owned two slaves, which he eventually freed, and also ran advertisements for slave sales in his ''Pennsylvania Gazette''.</ref>, joined the Pennsylvania Abolition Society and became their president in 1787.  The Society had hoped he would bring up the issue of slavery at the Constitutional Convention, which he declined to do, realizing that it would be too contentious of an issue.  In November 1789, he published his ''Address to the Public'' which appealed for the emancipation of slaves and the further education of free blacks.  Franklin's antislavery role was primarily honorific.

Franklin in the 1750s owned two slaves, whom he eventually freed, and also ran advertisements for slave sales in his ''Pennsylvania Gazette''. As a diplomat he supported slavery, but late in life reversed directions and supported the abolition of slavery. He joined the Pennsylvania Abolition Society and became their president in 1787.  The Society had hoped he would bring up the issue of slavery at the Constitutional Convention, which he declined to do, realizing that it would be too contentious of an issue.  In November 1789, he published his ''Address to the Public'' which appealed for the emancipation of slaves and the further education of free blacks.  Franklin's antislavery role was primarily honorific.<ref>David Waldstreicher, ''Runaway America: Benjamin Franklin, Slavery, and the American Revolution''(2004)</ref>

==Death==

==Death==