The Second Continental Congress voted for independence on July 2, 1776 with 12 colonies and one abstention. The delegation from New York abstained from the vote. And Pennsylvania voted in favor of independence because two of its delegates were persuaded not to attend the vote given their opposition.
John Dickinson was one of the two delegates who absented himself from the vote. Later, he would refuse to sign the Declaration of Independence. But why?
Jane Calvert, an Associate Professor of History at the University of Kentucky and the Director/Editor of The John Dickinson Writings Project, joins us to explore the life, religion, and political views of John Dickinson.
About the Show
Ben Franklin’s World is a podcast about early American history.
It is a show for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our present-day world.
Each episode features a conversation with a historian who helps us shed light on important people and events in early American history.
Ben Franklin’s World is a production of the Omohundro Institute.
Episode Summary
Jane Calvert, an Associate Professor of History at the University of Kentucky and the Director/Editor of The John Dickinson Writings Project, joins us to explore the life, religion, and political views of John Dickinson.
During our conversation, Jane reveals information about John Dickinson’s Quaker upbringing and education; Details about how Dickinson’s Quaker upbringing and education informed his politics and fueled his desire to help common people; And, what John Dickinson’s politics really were and why America’s first internationally famous political celebrity refused to vote for independence.
What You’ll Discover
- John Dickinson
- Dickinson’s desire to educate and write for common people
- Quakerism and its influence in Dickinson’s life
- John Dickinson’s childhood
- Dickinson’s earliest and most influential teachers
- Mary Cadwalader Dickinson
- John Dickinson’s legal and political career
- Quaker influences in Dickinson’s legal and political career
- Mary Norris Dickinson
- Marry Norris Dickinson’s influence on John Dickinson’s politics
- John Dickinson and feminism
- John Dickinson’s draft of the Articles of Confederation
- Dickinson’s views on slavery
Links to People, Places, and Publications
- Jane Calvert
- Jane Calvert, Quaker Constitutionalism and the Political Thought of John Dickinson
- John Dickinson Writings Project
- John Dickinson Writings Project on Facebook
- American Philosophical Society
- Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- Library Company of Philadelphia 

- Historiography: The history of history writing or the study of the writing of history (For more information, see Episode 088)
Listener Meet Up
Sponsor Links
Complementary Episodes
- Episode 088: Michael McDonnell, The History of History Writing
- Episode 145: Rosemarie Zagarri, Mercy Otis Warren and the American Revolution
- Episode 150: Woody Holton, Abigail Adams: Revolutionary Speculator
- Episode 153: Committees and Congresses: Governments of the American Revolution
- Episode 160: The Politics of Tea
- Episode 179: George Van Cleve, Governance During the Critical Period
- Episode 229: Patrick Griffin, The Townshend Moment

Time Warp Question
In your opinion, what if John Dickinson had remained a bachelor? If he hadn’t met and married Mary Norris and formed relationships with her female relatives, what would John Dickinson’s politics have looked like?
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