ipl-logo

Benjamin Franklin Informative Essay

833 Words4 Pages

Skyler Charles
Annotated Bibliography
9/27/2015
Dr. Marschalk
_____________Benjamin Franklin and His Undisclosed Stance of Slavery___________

Benjamin Franklin may not have always held the same stance on the topic of slavery. According to a few sources I have discovered that, although he was pro-slave selling in his business life, he did not feel strongly about it in his personal life. Franklin did not consider slaves to have the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Contrary to this hes was widely considered the father of freedom. Franklin was a continued spokesman of free white men for the majority of his life.

Summary

Waldstreicher, David. "Benjamin Franklin, Slavery, and The Founders." Common-place: Ask the Author. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 June 2015. .

This article asks us if Franklin was truly a leader in the abolishment of slavery or simply just a bandwagon member. According to Waldstreicher most people view franklins political stand points in reverse because he owned slaves for so long. Probably the most hypocritical thing Franklin did in his life was own slaves while he was fighting for their independence. In 87’ Franklin’s abolitionist society asked him to bring the topic of slavery to the …show more content…

“Free Negroes were generally improvident and poor. I think they are not deficient in natural understanding, but they have not the advantage of education. They make good musicians. Franklin is simply saying that the negro people were not less than human because they could not read nor write it was because they were taught neither before being freed therefore they cannot function productively in a humanitarian society.” She also suggests noting that he eventually became the president of the Penn Anti-Slavery Society. Lady Reid appears to be defending Franklin and wants us to forgive him for his stance on slavery for most of his life. Does his pre death disposition make his past life

Show More
Related

George Washington In Henry Wiencek's An Imperfect God

1241 Words | 5 Pages

Washington was joined by slaves while leading the Continental Army in the field of battle, as well as during his time as president. Yet Wiencek also argues that the Revolution and the establishment of the new democracy changed Washington’s beliefs on slavery. By the end of his life, Washington had changed completely and “sickened by slavery, willing to sacrifice his own substance to end it.” (Wiencek 274) Many of the founding fathers recognized the problems created by slavery.

Read More

A Rhetorical Analysis Of Benjamin Banneker's Letter

813 Words | 4 Pages

Benjamin Banneker is the son of former slaves who has made strides in many fields. After perusing many professions, he wrote about his feelings of slavery to Thomas Jefferson, serving as the Secretary of State to President George Washington. Throughout his letter, Benjamin Banneker utilizes rhetorical devices to argue against slavery. Banneker utilizes criticism, such as when he cites the Declaration of Independence and compares it to how the rightful liberties of African Americans have been stolen. In addition, Banneker shows his true feelings by utilizing diction, which shows that Banneker is very emotional and serious.

Read More

The Dinner Between Hamilton Pros And Cons

558 Words | 3 Pages

Chapter 2: The Dinner June of 1790, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton stood waiting outside Washington’s residence discussing Hamilton’s financial plan for the recovery of public credit, admitting that the government had halted it. Jefferson’s long time associate Madison was the one that was arguing that this financial plan would not be adopted, so in way of hoping to persuade Madison to consider it, Jefferson decided to host a dinner and invite them. Eventually, Hamilton convinced Madison not to dissuade his party members from supporting the financial plan.

Read More

Slavery In Joseph J. Ellis's Founding Brothers

946 Words | 4 Pages

Many northerners, Benjamin Franklin among them, began to question the legitimacy of the revolutionary ideal of liberty, if the same rights weren’t awarded to everyone. After landing the presidential seat of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, Franklin started to protest the racist claims of his Southern counterparts (they argued that slaves were incapable of integrating into society). He also proposed legislation that called for the eventual emancipation of all slaves. After Franklin’s death in 1790, the political conversation about slavery halted. Ellis claims the discourse went “silent”.

Read More

Slavery In Joseph Ellis Founding Brothers

1128 Words | 5 Pages

Benjamin Franklin and the quakers of pennsylvania believed that the slave trade and slavery in the first place was immoral. Being that slavery is Immoral, and since the constitution “empowered Congress to take whatever action it deemed ‘necessary and proper’ to eliminate the stigma of traffic in human beings" (83). This quickly convinced Franklin and the House of representatives under James Madison’s rule, to create better committees to debate the topic, where the representatives could argue slavery freely without questioning. Franklin was one of the few that did not want to wait until 1808 to finish discussing the issue of slavery. “One person stepped forward to answer the challenge, unquestionably the oldest, probably the wisest, member of the revolutionary generation”

Read More

Similarities Between Franklin And Frederick Douglass

918 Words | 4 Pages

Douglass on the other hand, was a born slave that later in his life became an abolitionist, social reformer, writer, and a politician. These two men show what the real American values are. Individualism, self-reliance, and the love of liberty are a few American values that the two showed. In Franklins Autobiography

Read More

How Did Benjamin Franklin Contribute To The Enlightenment

549 Words | 3 Pages

Altogether Twain thought Franklin was a dimwitted, ignoramus fruitcake that walked around “flying his kite and fooling away his time in all sorts of such ways, when he ought have been foraging for soap-fat, or constructing candles.” (“Late Benjamin” 140). Twain does have legitimacy with his critique, although he may have been a little rude presenting his points, it was still a valid argument. Franklin does get more credit than he deserves, but unlike Twain, I don 't think we should forget that he ever

Read More

Compare And Contrast Frederick Douglass And Benjamin Franklin

942 Words | 4 Pages

When comparing to Franklin and Douglass they both live a different lifestyle from one another. Ben Franklin’s family was so abusive to him while Douglass had rough times when he was growing up and he was not educated the fact that he did not know his own name. This will be a signs for oppression, in that they utilized those lack of learning will stay with those slaves down, also make their history questionable providing for the ranch the place they functioned those main feeling for home they'd ever recognize. Ben Franklin was not educated at first but he knew his age and he self-educate himself.

Read More

The Train From Hate Analysis

990 Words | 4 Pages

Franklin, I would suggest the train ride in 1922 influenced Dr. Franklin with a sound foundation. He provided support to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Franklin’s main contribution to the NAACP was his work on the lawsuit to desegregate public schools. “Franklin contributed his services to the legal defense on the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.” (American School Board Journal).

Read More

James Weldon Johnson's The Autobiography Of An Ex-Coloured Man

940 Words | 4 Pages

In The Autobiography, Franklin creates a list of virtues he endeavoured to demonstrate to manufacture an identity from scratch, boasting that the emulation of these virtues was the reason for his social success. With the display of virtues such as humility, Franklin changed the initial view others had of him as “proud”, “overbearing, and rather insolent” to receiving “a readier reception and less contradiction” from others towards his ideas (14). Here, Franklin achieves social support from others through the invention of a virtuous identity. Not only does he achieve social support through his constructed identity, Franklin also gains social approval, successfully assimilating into the American society. Conversely, the ex-coloured man reinvents his identity while following a set of societal expectations.

Read More

Comparing Letters From An American Farmer And Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography

948 Words | 4 Pages

Final exam Earlier in the semester we were introduced to John De Crevecoeur’s letters from an American Farmer and Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography. The two books both had strong opinions about what American and what the “New Man” was in American during the 18th century. In the 18th century Benjamin franklin was the man who invented the American dream for many people. His Dream was that through hard work and honesty any man can gain respect in the community; along with deserving prosperity and economic protection. he also believed that American was a place where you could come and have a new start.

Read More

Benjamin Franklin's Treatment Of Women Essay

1002 Words | 5 Pages

Aside from what history has taught us about how women were viewed during this time, this example reiterates these ideas. Although at first glance, it may appear as noble that Franklin claims an opposing view, it is important to consider that he also states that it was for “dispute’s sake.” This seems to be a clear implication that he also somewhat if not completely agrees with his

Read More

Benjamin Banneker Rhetorical Analysis

470 Words | 2 Pages

Benjamin Banneker, the son of former slaves, wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson to argue against slavery. Banneker was an educated man, he was an astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, author, and farmer, yet, Jefferson had not known this information. Banneker makes his argument through the use of allusion, diction, and repetition, which causes Banneker to seem reliable and have intelligence. To remind Jefferson of his own subjugation, Banneker alludes to the British Crown. “..British Crown were exerted with every powerful effort in order to reduce you to a State of Servitude.”

Read More

Benjamin Franklin: Tragic Hero Or An Archetypal American?

631 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More

Benjamin Franklin's Ethos In Speech In The Convention

518 Words | 3 Pages

Franklin claims that he has been living long enough to see errors that he made, therefore as he grow older, he tend to “doubt of [his] own judgment” because nobody is perfect due to his past experiences (43). The informations that Franklin presents is to show his reputation that he is not perfect, also his constitution but he is open minded and willing to make what is best for the people. The perspective errors of the constitution have, is being “sacrificed to the public good” meaning all the flaw that constitution have will not be reveal to the people (44). Franklin is very passion about what is best for the people and their happiness, furthermore his characteristic is very respectful toward the citizen and the congress.

Read More

More about Benjamin Franklin Informative Essay

Related Topics

Open Document