Franklin's Law for Help: Is the North American War of Independence Effective?

There is an old story that goes like this:

During World War II, a German Jewish family was persecuted. Two sons turned to a banker for help, on the grounds that the banker was born with the help of their father. The Jewish father said that he should ask a timber merchant for help, because he earned this family business with the help of the other party.

As a result, the eldest son defected to the banker, was betrayed and entered the concentration camp; The youngest son went to a timber merchant, was protected and moved to America.

The experience here is:

When people are in danger, it is better to turn to those who have helped you, rather than looking for those who have helped you, so that the chances of being rescued are greater.

Think about it carefully, there are many cases around us, such as "my colleague who hitchhiked for a year pulled me black", "I helped my best friend block love rat, got a knife, she became an online celebrity, and insulted my mother" and so on.

In fact, more than 200 years ago, there was a wise old man on the North American continent who had seen through everything.

Bill Franklin who will board $ 100 in the future.

Benjamin? Franklin was born in a Puritan immigrant family in Boston and entered politics as an adult. One of his political opponents lashed out at his views in the state legislature and even launched a personal attack. Seeing that they were in the same boat, Franklin wrote a letter to his political opponents. There was no mediation or anger in the letter. He just hinted that I heard that you have a set of rare books at home. Can you lend it to me?

Miraculously, the other party immediately agreed. After the loan was paid off, the two sides met again in parliament. In Franklin's own words:

(Never before) He greeted me on his own initiative and said that he was always ready to help me during the conversation.

From then on, the two men turned their enemies into friends and maintained a lifelong friendship.

Isn't that right? This is the so-called? Franklin's law When we want to make friends or take refuge in someone. Don't do one thing for him, but let him do one thing for you. ?

When this law extends to marketing, what is it called? Franklin effect? ：

People who have helped you will be more willing to help you again than those who have been helped by you.

This is why Jewish fathers want their sons to turn to timber merchants instead of bankers.

As for old Franklin, he is an expert in applying this rule.

02 sponsored by thousands of miles across the ocean

In a cold rain, Franklin boarded a ship from North America to France.

Since Lexington was shot, the North American War of Independence has lasted for more than a year, and the Continental Army has run out of water. Has it arrived yet? The most dangerous time? . New york was occupied by the British more than a month ago, and the temporary capital, Philadelphia, was in danger (it fell in September the following year). The army is poor, ammunition and equipment are scarce, and even food and clothing are a problem. In this case, if foreign aid cannot be requested again, Washington will really collapse.

The bitter North American War of Independence

Looking at Europe, France, Spain and the Netherlands were all defeated in the struggle for world hegemony with Britain. Look at England? The backyard is on fire? Are you sure? Schadenfreude? , never? Do nothing? . France, in particular, just experienced it more than ten years ago? Seven years' war? In America and Asia, I suffered a great loss from Britain and completely lost the world hegemony of Louis XIV. Enemies are friends. I can't be stingy with America, can I?

In February, 65438+, the American mission headed by Franklin called on the French Foreign Minister, Count Vergner, and proposed that France and the United States conclude a military alliance and a commercial cooperation treaty. Actually, that's a disguise? Pull sponsorship? . The attitude of the French, like a lady on a first date, is reserved and indifferent? In this case, we can still provide assistance in secret. After all, can it add some congestion to Britain? But open alliances should not be considered. Besides, Franklin, do you want to ban yourself from formal occasions? Don't say I've seen you!

Obviously, the French feel that for a new country with an uncertain future, it is not worth publicly turning against the world's first power.

Marquis of lafayette

In fact, don't say Franklin, even if the Frenchman Galeries Lafayette (once misinterpreted as? Lafaille. ), but also bought a boat and hired people from their own pockets, broke through the obstacles of the court and family, and then landed in North America to carry out the war of independence? Bethune? . For details, please refer to my book: The Question of Lafayette: Why did the hero of the American Revolution become the French Revolution? Traitor? .

Franklin was not surprised by this. He decided to settle down and use it. French way? To win the support of the French.

03 suck powder first, and then realize it.

According to Adams, the second president of the United States, Franklin stayed in Paris all day, eating and drinking, attracting butterflies. He didn't finish breakfast until almost noon, and then he opened a salon with some so-called philosophers, musicians and women from all walks of life. In the evening, he went out to eat, and then he didn't come back until midnight after eating and drinking. It's outrageous.

Adams is on the far left and Franklin is on the far right of the five-member drafting committee of the American Declaration of Independence.

After all, Adams, 40, is not as wily as Franklin, 70. In this way, Franklin quickly integrated into the French social circle. Although the old man comes from wild America, he is by no means? Bison? He has been a representative of the colonial parliament in London for more than ten years. Europe pass? He is also a member of the Royal Society, an honorary doctor of Oxford University, the inventor of lightning rod and energy-saving heating furnace, and is familiar with many languages. He already has a high reputation in Europe. Coupled with the intensive communication during this period, Franklin absorbed countless powders and became a high society. Idol of middle-aged and elderly women? He even solemnly proposed to Mrs. Alvy, who had been widowed for many years.

Franklin thus built his own personal design in the hearts of the French? A respected and wise saint, a symbol of American freedom and independence, created great convenience for his later diplomatic activities.

Franklin (left) and his grandson visited Sports Master Voltaire, the French Enlightenment.

1777 in August, Franklin finally shot. He submitted a memorandum to the French government, announcing? If France can't give more aid, will the United States make peace with Britain? In other words, the fire in their backyard is going out? Audience, are you in a hurry?

After that, the continental congress did start negotiations with Britain, but the two sides were intermittent and the results were not great.

177710 June17, the continental army finally won in Saratoga and captured more than 5,000 enemies. This is a shot in the arm for the United States, but it has poured cold water on the French. Franklin passed the good news to Louis XVI and the diplomatic envoys of various countries in France, and the international reputation of the United States rose rapidly. French Foreign Minister Verguet's ban on Franklin's public appearance in official occasions was also broken.

After Saratoga, Britain surrendered to the Continental Army.

Franklin took the opportunity to attack Virginia by innuendo: the war has been reversed and Britain and the United States are accelerating. Once the peace treaty is signed, Britain will have no worries about the future and France's interests will be threatened.

As Franklin said:

European countries promised to help us, of course, for their own interests.

Because by this means, America's huge and rapidly growing trade will be open to all countries, instead of being monopolized by Britain as before.

On the other hand, what if Britain continues to hold exclusive rights? It will greatly increase its maritime and land power and then become the most powerful country in the world.

In February of 65438+, Wagner finally couldn't help it and informed Franklin to start alliance negotiations.