Chapter 51

This chapter consists entirely of endnotes and citations for the preceding chapter on Franklin's legacy and cultural reputation. It documents the scholarly sources, literary references, and historical figures who shaped how Franklin has been perceived and portrayed in American thought from the 19th century onward.

The notes provide extensive documentation of how Franklin's image evolved across different eras and disciplines. They cite analyses from philosophers like Max Weber (on the Protestant work ethic), literary figures including Mark Twain, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and D.H. Lawrence who critiqued or celebrated Franklin's character, and 20th-century scholars examining his influence on American culture. References include Franklin's own writings, contemporary accounts from figures like John Adams, and later reinterpretations in popular culture such as the 1969 Broadway musical '1776' and various business self-help movements that claimed Franklin as inspiration. The notes also address specific claims about Franklin's maxims and their actual sources, clarifying what Franklin did and did not originate.