Benjamin Harrison as a Social & Political Leader - Essay Example

Topic: Benjamin Harrison Social & Political Leader Insert Insert Insert Benjamin Harrison is considered as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. He was one of the signers who signed the Declaration of Independence. A delegate from Virginia, he was born on 5th April, 1726 at Berkeley, his father's estate which was situated in Charles City County. He got his education from the College of William and Mary; he couldn't complete his graduation because of a misapprehension with one of the administrators of that institution. Also the sudden death of his father on 12 July, 1745 meant that now he had to head the family's thousand acre plantation along with horse breeding. In 1748, he married his cousin Elizabeth Bassett, a niece of George Washington's wife Martha. He had many children eight of whom survived infancy. After a while, he was successful in expanding his plantations to include eight more and also in shipping and ship building. He was elected to the House of Burgesses in 1764. As was the tradition, he sat in the House of Burgesses frequently as a speaker from 1749 till 1774 when the Royal Governor dissolved the organization. His involvement in politics started from there. In time, he became aware of the strained relationships between the Great Britain and the U.S.A and was in support of independence from Britain. Benjamin Rush once remarked that Benjamin Harrison "had strong state prejudices and was hostile to the leading men from the New England states." Hence, became a renowned leader during the American Revolution which started in 1775 and ended in 1783. Harrison was greatly against the Stamp Act and thus, assisted in composing the Colony's objection. When the House disregarded the Royal Governor and approved the Stamp Act Resolution, the Royal Governor attempted to bribe Harrison with a promise of a seat to the executive council when he saw the amount of influence Harrison had as a political leader. However, Harrison rejected the proposition instead declaring loyalty to the principles of the republic and people's rights even at his young age of 38. Also, he contradicted the resolutions of Patrick Henry by suggesting civil waywardness as a response. Moreover, in 1772 he supported the statement that the import of slaves should be restricted and taxed in great amounts. Presumably his choice to be with the colonists came from his experience on the Property and Grievances Committee and the Trade Committee. He got elected as the First Continental Congress in 1774 and was one of those who were obliged to attend General Washington in Cambridge to help make plans for the future of the American Army the next year. He chose to represent his state from then on in every session whenever he was a member of the Congress. During the war, he heeded affairs at home in the position attending as a lieutenant in his county's armed force and was also a chief magistrate as well. As the falling-out with the British Crown increased, Harrison was compelled to object and cast his group with the patriots. Between 1773 and 1776, he took part in carrying out the responsibilities of the Revolutionary conventions, the committee of correspondence, and the provincial congresses. He controlled the discussions on the Articles of Association and signed them on 20th October, 1774. He made effective contributions on the foreign affairs, groups of military, finance and marine. As the Chairman of the Whole from March 1776 to August, Benjamin Harrison was vastly respected in Congress; he led the negotiations till the approval of the Declaration and early arguments on the planned Articles of Confederation. When in Congress, Benjamin Harrison sought financial and added assistance from other countries being a member of the Secret Correspondence Committee. On the significant day of 7th June, 1776, Harrison was selected to introduce his fellow Virginian Richard Henry Lee; his resolutions called for independence from England. He was also chosen to recite Jefferson's plan of the Declaration of Independence to the congregated delegates on 1st July, 1776 and took the position as the Chairman of the Whole throughout the discussion over independence which took place on 2nd July. By the time the Declaration of Independence was embraced in 1776, the Thirteen Colonies and Great Britain were still at war for over a year although the association had been worsening ever since the Seven Years' War ended in 1763. The Declaration of Independence is considered the country's most respected representation of liberty. It was to put down the causes which forced the colonies to divide from the Great Britain. Parliament was of the believe acts, such as theStamp Actof 1765 was a lawful way of making the colonies give their portion of the expenses to help continue keep the colonies in theBritish Empire. Many colonists, like Benjamin Harrison however, kept a different opinion on the issue. "The primary purpose of the declaration was not to declare independence but to proclaim to the world the reasons for declaring independence. It was intended as a formal justification of an act already accomplished." (Becker, 2008) After the declaration was signed, Harrison went back to Virginia where a seat welcomed him in the House of Burgesses. He was chosen as the Speaker of the House the following year and also elected as the Governor of the State of Virginia in 1782. Harrison was elected as a governor of Virginia and re-elected twice in the office. He withdrew from the Governor's office after five years of service, in 1784. The three terms Harrison spent as the Governor in Virginia, indicated the dominance of the conservatives including Harrison, Braxton and previous activists such as Patrick Henry and Richard Henry Lee. Harrison rejoined the legislature, which was famously known as the House of Burgesses, in 1784 which lasted for seven years and was also a partial speaker. In 1785, he was claimed as ineligible by the conditions of the constitution and had to return to his personal life, taking the universal high regard and admiration of his equals with him. After the war, Harrison stayed active in the politics of Virginia as a part of the House of Delegates which selected him as its Speaker. In 1788, after the submission of the new Constitution of the United States to Virginia, he was returned to being a member of her Convention. Though he took no part in the debates of the convention only offered specific improvements that could be incorporated into it and opposed its endorsement until these were to be included within it. The next year, he was again expected to be a candidate for the executive council but refused. He was a dominant figure in deciding the Constitution of the U.S. as a member of the Virginia Ratification Convention and argued vigorously for a Bill of Rights prior to its endorsement with the Federal Constitution. Though when it was approved, he supported the new Government and voted in its support, helping in securing Virginia's consent in a close vote. He took part in the board that suggested rights that were to be incorporated in what turned into the Bill of Rights. In 1791, Benjamin Harrison returned to serve in the state legislature in Virginia. But during the same year, he went through a severe occurrence of gout and on 24th April, 1791 surrendered to the disease which took his life. He is buried at his Berkeley Plantation. He combined immense firmness and determination of character to a keen good sense. Besides his abundant fortune, his highly reputable relations by marriage; he was naturally discernible as a political leader with a universal confidence that might as well be tranquilized. Benjamin Harrison was famous for his possession of a vigorous disposition and was extraordinarily dignified in his conduct. Those who remember him symbolize his aptitude as more constructive than brilliant. He rarely participated into public debates yet when occasion required, he appeared with respectability in both. As Lincoln (1850) wrote: "According to the testimony of a gentleman who was contemporary with him in congress, he was characterized for great firmness, good sense, and a peculiar sagacity in difficult and critical situations. In seasons of uncommon trial and anxiety, he was always steady, cheerful, and undaunted." References - Becker, C. L. (2008). The Declaration of Independence: A Study in the History of Political Ideas. Location: USA. Publisher: BiblioBazaar. - Goodrich, C. A., (1842). Lives of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence. Location: UK. Publisher: R.G.H. Huntington. - Lincoln, R. W., (1850). Lives of the presidents of the United States. Location: London. Publisher: G.H. Salisbury. - Owens, R. M., (2007). Mr. Jefferson's hammer: William Henry Harrison and the origins of American Indian policy. Location: USA. Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press. - Quinn, C. E. (1987). The signers of the Declaration of Independence. Location: USA. Publisher: Bronx Historical Society. - United States (1855). The American's Own Book. Location: New York. Publisher: Leavitt & Allen. Read More