Introduction:

Many American writers described the colonies’ practice of consuming British manufactured goods as a form of patriotism. By contributing to the financial well-being of the empire, they were demonstrating their loyalty. In exchange, they expected to be treated with respect, as genuine trade partners. They expected their trading partner to purchase American raw goods, as Britain did. More importantly, since American goods never generated as much income as manufactured goods did, colonists believed that England should provide goods cheaply and with generous credit. In this excerpt from Benjamin Franklin’s Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind, he notes the increasing demand colonists provided for British goods. Citation: T. H. Breen,Marketplace of Revolution: How Consumer Politics Shaped American Independence (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004), 93-98.

For definitions of unfamiliar terms please see our glossary.

Excerpt:

Benjamin Franklin, Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind, Peopling of Countries 1751. Labaree, Leonard W., et al., eds.  The Papers of Benjamin Franklin.  35 vols. to date.  New Haven: Yale University Press, 1959-1999.  4:225-234.
“10.  But in Proportion to the Increase of the Colonies, a vast Demand is growing for British Manufactures, a glorious Market wholly in the Power of Britain, in which Foreigners cannot interfere, which will increase in a short Time even beyond her Power of supplying, tho' her whole Trade should be to her Colonies: Therefore Britain should not too much restrain Manufactures in her Colonies. A wise and good Mother will not do it. To distress, is to weaken, and weakening the Children, weakens the whole Family.”