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.
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.
Although a very loyal man, Benjamin Franklin has been considered both a Loyalist and a Patriot, but he is marked very clearly as a founding father, and as thus, should have primarily been a Patriot during and after the war with England. In this paper I wish to address the following questions. To what extent did Benjamin Franklin convert to Patriotism in the Revolutionary war, and what part did he play in achieving American victory? Was his primary success as a diplomat to France, a member of the Continental Congress, or through his subterfuge and spy ring.
Liberty was an idea that America was founded upon. When the Constitution was being written, Benjamin Franklin gave a speech explaining why the delegates should sign the Constitution. Franklin admitted to the delegates that the document was not written to the best of its ability, and how he himself had doubts involving some parts. Overall, Franklin believed that this document would be something to protect the liberties of the people and would secure the people 's rights. Government preserves the liberty of citizens by their equality which leads to socialism.
Benjamin Franklin, while not specifically trying to define a statesman, wrote a list of twelve virtues he aspired to attain in his attempt at achieve moral perfection. After scouring Christian teachings, Biblical revelations and classical works, he determined that temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality,
I learned about the importance of persistence and consistence regarding expressing my own ideas. Even though Benjamin Franklin’s idea of creating a union of the colonies was denounced by both the Assembly and the Parliament, Franklin never gave up the idea of freedom and liberty for the colonists, which allowed the Founding Fathers, decades later, to establish the United States of
Benjamin Franklin was involved with the constitution in many different ways and ended up being part of the members. The constitution is a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed. The Constitution is made up from 4,400 words it's the oldest and shortest written constitution of any major government in the world. Even though he was 81 years old and in poor health he still participated as a delegate to the Constitution convention. Franklin made himself delegate to the Convention because he was experienced as a seasoned diplomat and negotiator.
Although, the Founding Fathers can be viewed as hypocrites and racists from today’s point of view, their views were very common and acceptable in their days. We look at the Founding Fathers today and find some of the things they believed in as very nonsensical and radical, just like how they found the state of Europe two and a half centuries before them very disagreeable. Indeed, not all of the Founding Fathers were the same, they all had varied views, some were quite radical, others more liberal. A very good example of the Founding Fathers that we can discuss in this matter is Benjamin Franklin.
Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin will forever be remembered as great men of stature and character. The similarities of these two brings them in the same conversation continuously when discussing history. Luckily for America, these men graced us with their presence on earth during the same time. Imagine without these two together, how different the Constitution or Declaration of Independence might be. This essay will compare and contrast Thomas Jefferson, the third President of this great nation and a fellow Founding Father Benjamin Franklin by discussing their views on deism, self-reliance and standards of character; all setting the standard for people in America as written by these two Founding Fathers during their time on earth and
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
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.
Much like today’s American fundamentals, Franklin believed in allowing people to worship freely, without discernment or prejudice toward other
While back in America, Benjamin Franklin saves enough money to start his own printing press. At this point in his life, Franklin is continuing to write many of his books, exploring new ideas, and inventing. “It was about this time I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I wished to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into. As I knew, or thought I knew, what was right and wrong, I did not see why I might not always do the one and avoid the other.
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.
Benjamin Franklin and His 13 Virtues In part II of Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography, he lists the 13 virtues every man should follow to establish a modeled “habitude” that would better life for all men of the time period. Although not all men of the 1780s were perfect examples of these virtues, these virtues are what the “old lights” strived to be. The virtues “occurred to [Franklin] as necessary or desirable” (Franklin, 428). The success of the nation was reliant on heading towards a similar goal - a goal to be a well-respected example for the nation.
