Benjamin Franklin | A Republic if you can keep it | Basic T-Shirt

In answer to Elizabeth Willing Powel's question: 'Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?' as he came out of the Constitutional Convention, Ben Franklin answered: “A republic, if you can keep it.”

Benjamin Franklin was an American original: printer, inventor, diplomat, scientist, and troublemaker with a quill. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence, negotiated with France to bankroll the Revolution, and somehow still found time to tinker with lightning rods and bifocals. Franklin believed knowledge should be shared, not hoarded, and built libraries, fire departments, and postal systems to prove it.

But Franklin wasn’t just the wise old man on the $100 bill—he was a wit who skewered hypocrisy and never trusted power without accountability. He embodied the messy energy of early America: curious, irreverent, and pragmatic. If the Revolution needed brains and charm, Franklin delivered both, wrapped in a sly smile.

Premium Bella+Canvas Tee

Soft, lightweight, and built to last. Made from 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton with a modern fit, it’s pre-shrunk for consistent sizing. Printed with DIGISOFT® for bold, long-lasting designs—your new everyday favorite.

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