Benjamin Franklin Speech in the Convention Study Guide

The quality of being infallible; the inability to be wrong.

The exercise of absolute power, especially in a cruel and oppressive way.

Caused to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain.

Preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.

Producing good effects; beneficial.

The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.

Agreement by all people involved; consensus.

All future generations of people.

Clear or obvious to the eye or mind.

His tone is mild and reasonable

He's saying that as a group with such differing opinions a perfect document is just not possible. He’s also using rhetorical questioning to make the other convention goers see that there will never be a perfect document, so they should be compromising and allow the document to pass without everything they want being included as is because it will never be perfect.

It suggests that his opponents’ recommendations will cause the new government to fail?

Parallelism is used to convey messages of morality and emphasize ideas, it gives some writing a more rhythmic tone which is easier to read and flows as the reader follows the writing. He is saying that the delegates should settle for the preexisting constitution and not continue to deliberate or bad-mouth it, as it is already incredible considering the circumstances of such a differing convention full of selfishness and prejudices.

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The constitution has its faults, yet it is as good as it is likely to be. And it is necessary to pass a constitution, especially one as successful as the current to show those who oppose the constitution they are not weak or going to fall apart soon.

he believes that public opinion in the document is most important, that unanimity shows that the government is strong and efficient. The Constitutional Convention should support the Constitution because the document is as good as it is likely to be.

He believes that when people are convinced of their own superiority, they are less likely to listen to others, make mistakes, and fail to recognize their own limitations.

“Much of the strength and efficiency  of any government, in procuring and securing happiness to the people, depends on opinion, on the general opinion of the goodness of that government, as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its governors.”

“To find this system approaching so near to Perfection as it does; and I think it will astonish our enemies, who are waiting with confidence to hear, that our councils are confounded like those Builders of babel, and that our states are on the point of Separation only to meet here after for the purpose of cutting at one another’s throats.”

“If every one of us in returning to our Constituents were to report the objections he has had to it, and endeavor to gain partizans in support of them, we might prevent its being generally received, and thereby lose all the salutary effects & great advantages resulting naturally in our favor among foreign Nations as well as among ourselves, from our real or apparent unanimity. Much of the strength & efficiency of any Government in procuring and securing happiness to the people, depends, on opinion, on the general opinion of the goodness of the Government, as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its Governors.”

savagely fierce, cruel, or violent.

having the ability, fitness, or quality necessary to do or achieve a specified thing.

the great or extreme scale, seriousness, or extent of something perceived as bad or morally wrong.

the smaller number or part, especially a number that is less than half the whole number.

the quality or condition of being impure.

the quality or fact of belonging to a population group or subgroup made up of people who share a common cultural background or descent

the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.

the state or quality of being humid

the state or quality of producing something, especially crops.

the quality of bending easily without breaking.

principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior.

the extent to which something is probable

the state or condition of being liked, admired, or supported by many people.

the condition in which things are done.

sternness of manner

great cruelty

The condition of being imprisoned.

Notice or attention given to someone or something by the media.

the quality of being trusted and believed in.

The rigid observance of rules of convention or etiquette.

Formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech.

The state of keeping or being kept secret or private.

True