Analysis Of Benjamin Franklin's 'Q' In Shihuangdi

Brooke Casey

10/30/15

Benjamin Franklin, a key leader in American history, once said, “Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.” Societies throughout history are studied and characterized by their leaders and the civilizations which they led, including their religions, exports and imports, armies, innovations, and ultimately, their stamp on history. Great leadership fosters flourishing civilizations. These leaders are often described as wise, well-spoken, merciful, ambitious, adaptable, a good listener, and supported by their people. However, it’s important

Previous to his reign, the country was in the Warring States Period in China. It was characterized by chaos and the fighting of the seven major kingdoms until the Q’in Kingdom gradually became the strongest and defeated the others. To establish and guarantee the newly acquired power, Q’in Shihuandi enforced a fully centralized administration, which was divided into 36 military districts. The ruling was strict, but it allowed for a temporarily stable and memorable society. (http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Quin_Shi_Huang-Di.aspx). He also aided the unification of China through a series of orders. These included the standardization of a measuring system and a written language. Another accomplishment was the construction of roads and canals that aided in trade, communication, and an overall smoother running of China. These actions, and others, ensured China was united not only socially, but culturally. (http://www.britannica.com/biography/Shihuangdi). Because of these actions and accomplishments, he can be considered and regarded as an effective and ambitious leader. Q’in Shihuangdi was a major contributor to the unified China seen later on in history, yet the tactics by which he achieved this glorified state were cruel and

An important aspect of his rule was his belief in the philosophy of Legalism, meaning he had a belief in implementing strict laws and harsh punishments to enforce order, due to a general belief that humans were naturally and incurably selfish (http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/chinese-legalism/). This manifested in a series of cruel actions, that ultimately lost him the trust of his people and earned him his ruthless reputation. Q’in Shihuangdi also lacked the ability to listen, to be flexible, or to consider the opinions of others; he is said to have punished 460 scholars who opposed his ideas by burying them alive and burning their books. Also, he had the people who built his tomb killed as a way to keep the tomb, including its location, booby traps, and specifics, secret. This action was a sign of selfishness, as he had little genuine concern for the people or any aspects but himself (http://www.history.com/news/5-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-terra-cot ta-army). Unifying China was undoubtedly quite an accomplishment; however, the manner in which Q’in Shihuangdi ruled his nation impacted the people and the country in a such a negative manner, it cost Q’in Shihuangdi the trust and support of