Benjamin Franklin and Patrick Henry were two important people in American History who made a difference. Franklin’s “Speech in the Convention and Henry’s “Speech in the Virginia Convention” helped guide our nation to independence and democracy. Both speeches have good examples of rhetorical devices, but I think Patrick Henry speech ‘Speech in the Virginia Convention” has better rhetorical devices. Some examples are rhetorical question, logos, diction, and imagery. Patrick Henry style and content is more effective then Benjamin Franklin because Patrick uses a plethora of things such as imagery, “There is no retreat but in submission and slavery!
The Speech in the Virginia Convention by Patrick Henry and the Speech in the Convention by Benjamin Franklin both have similarities and differences but they are both about the views on compromise and when to stand firm. Patrick Henry had a better standpoint then Benjamin Franklin did in their speeches. Patrick Henry’s speech had a stronger point of view than Benjamin Franklin The difference between these speeches is that Patrick Henry implores his countrymen to declare war against the British he wanted to fire up the representatives at the convection in VA.
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.).
In 1787 two men helped influence the making of the constitution of America. These two men had some minor differences but they both wanted the same outcome, for the united states to be independent. Patrick Henry and Benjamin Franklin both gave amazing speeches that lead to the making of the constitution and to America being a free and independent country. Patrick Henry and Benjamin Franklin both had similar ideas when it came to what to do with Britain. Patrick Henry believed that they must fight that if they didn't fight they would have no liberty.
Never directly mentioned in the Constitution, and commonly refereed to as “others”, African Americans were often denied existence in the Constitutional Conventions. James Madison embodied the complacency of the average white American man. Ellis describes his thinking as “a kind of mysterious region where ideas entered going in one direction but then emerged headed the opposite way.” (114). The Southern founding fathers, Madison included, acknowledged the moral evils of the slave trade but many of them slave owners themselves, did not desire an end to it, admittedly for their own profit.
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”
Franklin and Douglass both showed these values because they were determined to make a change in their lives and in the world. They both had obstacles to go through to get to where they did in their lives. At twelve years of age, Franklin worked in his brother James’s print shop. Franklin explained how when everyone would be on their break, he would go and read books. He would read any type of book, as long as he could learn something.
Fredrick Douglas and Benjamin Franklin are both one of the most famous successful in American history. They both followed a certain milestone to make them successful. Even though they are considered hard workers, they both have different obstacles and different views in their lifestyle. Fredrick Douglas used to be a slave who was a fugitive and Benjamin Franklin was young white man who had a rough time with his parent because his parents are very abusive to him. By comparing the difference and similarities by these two great people in American history even though they had their rough times, that does not stop them from their success.
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.
Franklin through his education and assistance to the civil rights movement earned the respect of many influential people. His determination and willingness to continual effort to modify laws and the perception of our culture, he was able to help reform society’s views and behaviors toward African Americans. At first I was skeptical of the claim from the reading that Dr. Franklin’s experience on the train at the age of seven could influence a person to contribute such changes to our nation’s history. After researching Dr. Franklin, I found the many contributions provided by him to the Civil Rights Movement have reshaped America’s racial identity. Works Cited “John Hope Franklin” Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition, Q1 2017, pg 1-1, Library Reference Center.
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.
The founding fathers were smart men who the world looked up to because of their smart decisions, actions, that directed the U.S. to what it is today. But sadly in today’s society most people either have forgotten the things they did for us, or they just do not care. The founding fathers were great men who led this country to victory in war and on the political front. And often early U.S. history is portrayed as moving smoothly for the colonies turning into the a country of its own , but in reality it was just the opposite. George Washington our first president had problems figuring out ways to control the new nation as it progressed under his leadership.
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.
They believed that because people are instinctively selfish, that people would have a hard time coexisting in a land where all people were supposed to be treated equal. Though the government was created to aid the people, it was also established to teach the people how to “live properly”. The fact that the constitution was written in the mindset that people needed to be, in a sense, controlled is was and remains a controversial topic. Many view the constitution’s favor for the rich, white, and male property owners was not so much of an “easier way to unify a nation” but more of a list of who it was going to be more desireable to govern. These facts aside, in order to instill equality to a newlywed nation, the people were given some basic human rights and the power to choose who was going to represent them in order to still make sure that the people were still the basis of the new government while still having control over them.
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