A founding father, scientist, author, inventor, diplomat and "First American" along with many other things Benjamin Franklin was a very well-known man. Gordon S. Wood a professor of History Emeritus at Brown University, and recipient of the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for history for the Radicalism of The American Revolution is also the author of "The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin. " A book written to describe many events that Franklin took part in or things that happened to him that people may not know of. Although the book is very factual, the substantial vocabulary and lengthiness of the book itself make it very hard to maintain focus. Wood is known for his background in teaching and education of history.
In his writing a theme that is most prevalent is that of the American dream. Although not coined that yet, as the United States didn’t exist at the time. But right from the beginning Franklin speaks to the fact that he created his success and fortune from nothing but hard work, and intelligence. When describing Franklin’s Autobiography as a primary source, it is important to note that this theme of the American Dream. Most famously from the Declaration of Independence preamble, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” ( Dec. of Ind. Pre.).
Another accomplishment of his was the fact that he was part of the Constitutional congress, and he also took over as president of Pennsylvania during the Constitutional convention (American delegates of the Constitutional Convention: Benjamin Franklin 5, 7). He contributed a lot of important things that made our constitution the way it is. He helped draft the constitution, and he is an important figure in American history. In our nation, unity is a major issue because a lot of people regard themselves as inferior and do not take time to see each other’s strengths. The constitution acknowledges all of us as one part of a nation who together can rise to overcome any challenge.
“The Speech at the Constitutional Convention” , given by Benjamin Franklin, was a moving point for our freedom. Franklin was a well respected man for doing many things for our country; such as serving as the president of Pennsylvania executive council and many other honorable positions (Franklin, Benjamin). Allowing him to elaborate was a key component of helping define the term American dream. Franklin being well respected and very charismatic allowed him to effectively broadcast why he believed that the constitution should be ratified. The constitution was an important symbol for demonstrating that the colonists were qualified for self rule.
Benjamin Franklin, who was born into a large family in colonial Boston, argues and shows he is a good Colonial and future American by going to London as a delegate to help benefit the colonial states when Parliament put high tax on goods and eventually becomes a founding father to the United States. He tells his side of the accounts through his autobiography. Evaluation of the Argument Benjamin Franklin invented several things to make colonial life better.
Benjamin Franklin was one of the largest known founding fathers of the United States. He was born on January 17, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts. His parents were Josiah Franklin and Abiah Folger. He was the fifteenth child of Josiah and one of ten by Abiah(Franklin Born). His father wanted him to be a clergy but could not afford to send him to school for that many years.
These ideas would create the foundation and basis for America. They would also help write the Constitution and other important American documents. Even though Benjamin Franklin spent many years away from America, he was never an Englishman, he was a true American based off his religious ideas, his embodiment of the American dream, and
Benjamin Franklin and the Colonies “He was the nation itself, declared the Atlantic Monthly in 1889, ‘the personification of an optimistic shrewdness, a large, healthy nature, as of a young people gathering its strength and feeling its broadening power,’” (Wood 3). Franklin is one of the most famous men in America’s history; he was a living representation of America, and was the type of person that many people aspired to become. Although they did not occur simultaneously, Franklin’s life is comparable to the events that transpired in the American colonies, and he had a huge influence on the character of modern Americans.
Benjamin Franklin: The Archetypal American Modern American identity revolves around self improvement. Americans seek to improve themselves in all areas of life, be it socially, financially, or physically. Americans accomplish these goals through education and observing the successes of others. Benjamin Franklin, a man who is frequently admired by fellow Americans, embodies many of these qualities and, as such, has become an archetype of success and of what it means to be American. Benjamin Franklin is an archetypal American because of his values of self-improvement, community-mindedness, and frugality.
The importance of Ben Franklin has been told all throughout history, along with the famous $100 bill with his face on it. Drafting the Declaration of Independence, foudning universities and libraries, the post office, shaping policies in the U.S., publishing newspapers, making advances in science, and letting us use bifocals and using lighting for electricity. Even if this man never finished school, he did much reading and experiments that help us out today. The reason why I chose to write about Benjamin Franklin was because he was a very important Founding Father and it’s important for people to learn all about
There were a lot of American men who had perfect influence on people’s mind of American society. Jonathan Edward and Benjamin Franklin were two of those writers, who were the most important and intellectual men, who left behind many admirable works for the future society. In spite of them being so intelligent, they have some different and similar views in terms of morality, personal responsibility, human nature, and limits of human knowledge and inform people how to live a better life. In addition, they were different in terms of religious inclinations. Benjamin Franklin and Jonathan Edward were both philosopher and had similar views in terms of informing people the right way to live in order to be successful and get salvation by reforming their mind in their life.
Benjamin Franklin was a well profound inventor, scientist, businessman, learner and among many other things. As a young man he loved making lists, and one of his famous list was the list of the seven greatest virtues America has. The first one on the list was “An Aversion to Tyranny.” Meaning, not having control over someone or something, so the government would be limited to what they could and could not do. The second on the list was “A Free Press.”
Benjamin Franklin’s childhood and early life significantly shaped his activities and contributions. These activities made him a successful statesman because of the character they gave him. They also gave him the life experience that enabled him to relate to people on a deeper level through his difficult life experiences. To begin with, Franklin realized the importance of education at a very early age, giving him a head start even though he was never educated formally. “He began reading all the books he could find.
Benjamin Franklin is known to be an “Archetypal American,” because of his beliefs on religion, self-improvement, hard work, and determination; but also his somewhat prideful spirit. Much of modern America is quite similar to Franklin in his actions throughout his lifetime. In his early years, Franklin’s father, Josiah, had a set plan for what he was supposed to do with his life, as a minister. Soon into his education, he found an interest in reading and writing, so he began pursuing a career in printing.
As a result, Benjamin Franklin is a wise man, in order to create trusts from the members of the congress, he utilizes his ethos by accepting his fallibilities and willing to do good for the constitution to be
