Albany Plan
Encyclopedia
The Albany Plan of Union was proposed by Benjamin Franklin
at the Albany Congress
in 1754 in Albany, New York
. It was an early attempt at forming a union of the colonies
"under one government as far as might be necessary for defense and other general important purposes" during the French and Indian War
. Franklin's plan of union was one of several put forth by various delegates of the Albany Congress.
A committee, formed to consider the different plans, settled on Franklin's plan—making only small modifications. Chief Justice
Benjamin Chew
, Richard Peters
, and Isaac Norris were also members of this committee. The Plan called for the general government to be administered by a President General appointed and supported by the Crown, and a Grand Council to be chosen by the representatives of the colonial assemblies. Many objections and difficulties were debated, addressed, and resolved whereupon the plan was unanimously adopted by the delegates of the Albany Congress. Copies were then sent to the Colonial Assemblies and the British Board of Trade
in London.
The Plan was promptly rejected by both sides.
"The colonial assemblies and most of the people were narrowly provincial in outlook, mutually jealous, and suspicious of any central taxing authority." Many in the British government, already wary of some of the strong-willed colonial assemblies, disliked the idea of consolidating additional power into their hands. Instead, they preferred that the colonists' focus remain on the forthcoming military campaign. The Board of Trade never sought official approval for the Plan from the Crown. Instead, they proposed that colonial governors, along with some members of their respective councils, order the raising of troops and building of forts, using money from Treasury of Great Britain which would later be repaid by an Act of Parliament laying a tax on America.
The proposed Galloway Plan that was proposed at the First Continental Congress
bore striking resemblance to the Albany plan. It was submitted by conservative loyalists and quickly rejected in favour of more radical proposals.
In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War
, the Albany Plan of Union served as an inspirational primer for the writing of the Articles of Confederation
.
Scholars of the Iroquois Confederacy who have rejected the influence thesis include William N. Fenton and Francis Jennings
, who called it "absurd". In a book on the Albany Congress, historian Timothy J. Shannon writes that "no evidence exists of an Iroquois influence in the drafting of the Albany Plan of Union". According to historian Walter A. McDougall
, "However fetching the notion of Native American contributions to federalism and democracy, there is little evidence Franklin studied the Iroquois. Evidence of British influence on his ideas abounds." Iroquois historian Elizabeth Tooker stated that it was unlikely the Iroquois confederation had an impact on the American political system, as there were substantial differences between the two. A single tribe determined what topics would be discussed, and decisions were made through consensus, with each of the 50 sachem
chiefs having a theoretical veto. Leadership was inherited, and new leaders were determined by the women of the tribes, who were not permitted to occupy a seat on the council. Representation was not determined by population sizes but by the number of clans in each tribe.
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
at the Albany Congress
Albany Congress
The Albany Congress, also known as the Albany Conference and "The Conference of Albany" or "The Conference in Albany", was a meeting of representatives from seven of the thirteen British North American colonies in 1754...
in 1754 in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. It was an early attempt at forming a union of the colonies
Thirteen Colonies
The Thirteen Colonies were English and later British colonies established on the Atlantic coast of North America between 1607 and 1733. They declared their independence in the American Revolution and formed the United States of America...
"under one government as far as might be necessary for defense and other general important purposes" during the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
. Franklin's plan of union was one of several put forth by various delegates of the Albany Congress.
A committee, formed to consider the different plans, settled on Franklin's plan—making only small modifications. Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
Benjamin Chew
Benjamin Chew
Benjamin Chew was a third-generation American, a Quaker-born legal scholar, a prominent and successful Philadelphia lawyer, head of the Pennsylvania Judiciary System under both Colony and Commonwealth, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Province of Pennsylvania...
, Richard Peters
Richard Peters (Continental Congress)
Richard Peters sometimes Richard Peters, Jr., to distinguish from his uncle, though this can also mean his son Richard), was an American lawyer, jurist, and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress in 1782 and 1783...
, and Isaac Norris were also members of this committee. The Plan called for the general government to be administered by a President General appointed and supported by the Crown, and a Grand Council to be chosen by the representatives of the colonial assemblies. Many objections and difficulties were debated, addressed, and resolved whereupon the plan was unanimously adopted by the delegates of the Albany Congress. Copies were then sent to the Colonial Assemblies and the British Board of Trade
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
in London.
The Plan was promptly rejected by both sides.
"The colonial assemblies and most of the people were narrowly provincial in outlook, mutually jealous, and suspicious of any central taxing authority." Many in the British government, already wary of some of the strong-willed colonial assemblies, disliked the idea of consolidating additional power into their hands. Instead, they preferred that the colonists' focus remain on the forthcoming military campaign. The Board of Trade never sought official approval for the Plan from the Crown. Instead, they proposed that colonial governors, along with some members of their respective councils, order the raising of troops and building of forts, using money from Treasury of Great Britain which would later be repaid by an Act of Parliament laying a tax on America.
The proposed Galloway Plan that was proposed at the First Continental Congress
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from twelve of the thirteen North American colonies that met on September 5, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, early in the American Revolution. It was called in response to the passage of the Coercive Acts by the...
bore striking resemblance to the Albany plan. It was submitted by conservative loyalists and quickly rejected in favour of more radical proposals.
In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, the Albany Plan of Union served as an inspirational primer for the writing of the Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation, formally the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, was an agreement among the 13 founding states that legally established the United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states and served as its first constitution...
.
Iroquois Influence Thesis
According to a controversial thesis rejected by many professional historians, Benjamin Franklin's Albany Plan was inspired by the Iroquois Confederacy. He visited the Iroquois in 1744 and 1753, and, according to proponents of the thesis, held up the Iroquois Confederacy as a model for colonial government in a 1751 letter. According to historian Bruce Johansen, one of the primary advocates of the influence thesis, the visit in 1753 was at least partial inspiration for Franklin:Scholars of the Iroquois Confederacy who have rejected the influence thesis include William N. Fenton and Francis Jennings
Francis Jennings
Francis Jennings was an American historian, best known for his works on the colonial history of the United States.Jennings taught at Cedar Crest College....
, who called it "absurd". In a book on the Albany Congress, historian Timothy J. Shannon writes that "no evidence exists of an Iroquois influence in the drafting of the Albany Plan of Union". According to historian Walter A. McDougall
Walter A. McDougall
Walter A. McDougall is an American historian and a Pulitzer Prize winner. He is Professor of History and the Alloy-Ansin Professor of International Relations at the University of Pennsylvania....
, "However fetching the notion of Native American contributions to federalism and democracy, there is little evidence Franklin studied the Iroquois. Evidence of British influence on his ideas abounds." Iroquois historian Elizabeth Tooker stated that it was unlikely the Iroquois confederation had an impact on the American political system, as there were substantial differences between the two. A single tribe determined what topics would be discussed, and decisions were made through consensus, with each of the 50 sachem
Sachem
A sachem[p] or sagamore is a paramount chief among the Algonquians or other northeast American tribes. The two words are anglicizations of cognate terms from different Eastern Algonquian languages...
chiefs having a theoretical veto. Leadership was inherited, and new leaders were determined by the women of the tribes, who were not permitted to occupy a seat on the council. Representation was not determined by population sizes but by the number of clans in each tribe.
See also
- Articles of ConfederationArticles of ConfederationThe Articles of Confederation, formally the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, was an agreement among the 13 founding states that legally established the United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states and served as its first constitution...
- Ganondagan State Historic SiteGanondagan State Historic SiteGanondagan State Historic Site also known as Boughton Hill is a New York State Native American historic site in Ontario County, New York in the USA. The historic site is in the Town of Victor, southwest of the Village of Victor...
- IroquoisIroquoisThe Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
- History of Albany, New YorkHistory of Albany, New YorkThe history of Albany, New York, begins with the first interaction with native Indian tribes that originally inhabited the area. The area was originally inhabited by Algonquian Indian tribes, namely the Mohican and the Iroquois....