How did Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin make philosophy accessible to readers?

In the context of nonfictional prose, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin were notable for expressing their lay philosophy in a manner intended to be widely accessible to the public.1

Both men utilized their writing to communicate complex ideas with clarity and simplicity, ensuring their work resonated with a broad audience rather than remaining confined to academic or elite circles.1

• Thomas Jefferson: His writing, particularly in documents like the Declaration of Independence, was praised for its lucid communication of human rights and a tone that captured the spirit of the American people. His political philosophy was often presented as a visionary prescription, aiming to strip away encrusted privileges to allow individual potential to flourish.23
• Benjamin Franklin: He reached a wide readership through works such as his Autobiography and the widely reprinted The Way to Wealth. By using accessible formats like almanacs and personal narratives, he distilled themes of hard work, thrift, and financial prudence into practical advice that ordinary citizens could easily understand and apply to their own lives.4