Benjamin Franklin was a renowned politician, but also was well known for his inventions. He very successful on a political scale as he served as the first ambassador for the United States during the Revolutionary War to France. Franklin is also credited with saving the Colonist Army from failure by luring the French Navy into the war. The action ultimately saved the Colonist forces. However, at the time not only was Franklin concerned with politics but he had very many inventions that he was interested in furthering. These all made Ben Franklin appears to the public as a very intelligent man with lots of ideas to better those around him. However, in reading his autobiography his views on things do not always appear as they might to others. Benjamin Franklin was raised on Protestant views and the strict rules that his parents had on him and his sixteen other siblings. Through all of the struggles and difficult situations, Ben persevered and became one of the most influential men of his time and American history.
When Franklin was in Paris he was surrounded by the Upper Class of France and this was all new to him. Coming from a Country where taxes were high and what was for dinner that night was unsure due to British destroying crops and livestock. He was soon swooned over by the French ways. He enjoyed this very much, as any human being would do. Franklin created a bond like the United States and Canada, the bond is there but also not really made a big deal. Ben knew in the back of his mind and it eventually paid off. When the time was right and then he asked, they deployed their army and navy and saved the United States from falling back under the British rule. This shows one of the ways Ben Franklin was smarter than people ga...
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...s battles and win. This is significant because in todays society he would be looked down upon due to the ways he had and his infamous affairs with French women. Franklin was a great man, ambassador, and President to the United States of America, able to overcome any task and accomplish what he put his mind to.
Works Cited
“Benjamin Franklin: Founding Father of Covert Action.” Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, 2 Jul 2009. Web. 4 Mar 2014.
Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. New York: Dover, 1996. Print.
“London Years.” Benjamin Franklin House. UK Registered Charity. n.d. Web. 7 Mar 2014.
“The Electric Ben Franklin.” U.S. History.org. Independence Hall Association, 2014. Web. 18 Feb 2014.
Vinci, John. “Benjamin Franklin.” Biography of Benjamin Franklin. Colonial Hall, 2 Jan 2004. Web. 3 Mar 2014
Benjamin Franklin was a remarkably talented man. He started his life as a printers apprentice, but went much farther then there. He developed things that were far more advanced than the time. Benjamin Franklin's stove for example, for cold winter nights, and bifocal lenses for reading. Franklin tracked storms to help understand the horrible weather endured by the colonies. But gis study of electricity made him mist famous and he was known world wide as the founder of the lightning rod. Not only was Benjamin Franklin helpful in developing ideas for better living, he was also a strong force in developing the new nation of America. Benjamin Franklins political views showed him to be a man who loved freedom and independence. His views towards England gradually changed from like to dislike until he finally
Franklin also contributed to convincing France to join the revolution with the colonies against Britain. The colonies were in a losing war. Eventually France intervened and helped the colonies by supplying them with firearms and men to assist the defeat of the English. This defeat led to the independence of the United States.
Benjamin Franklin is one of the most profound individuals in American history. He is a Diplomat, Writer, Inventor, a founding father, and holds the title as the “First American.” In 1706 Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony. He is the fifteenth of seventeen children that his father, Josiah Franklin, had. At the age of 8 years old Franklin attended school, here he learned literacy. In spite of his successes in school, he had to drop out at the young age of 10 to assist his father with his business. Franklin did not enjoy working for his father’s business, however he had to work at his father’s shop for about 2 years. Josiah then had Benjamin apprenticed to his little brother, James, who was a printer. James is the founder
There are many men in American History whose lives helped shape the future of not only this nation, but of the world and one man among them is Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin is known for his inventions, his philosophies, political influence in the American Revolution and his published writings, including his autobiography. Though he is an important man in history, there are some people who say that as a person, Franklin wasn’t someone to be admired. To determine if Franklin is worthy of admiration, many critics review his autobiography and through it, many aspects of his actions and his personality throughout different experiences in his life.
Ben Franklin’s innovative ideas for the printing trade gave access to people to access political ideas, new inventions and freedom of speech. Without Ben Franklin’s innovated ideas people would remain uneducated and bound to certain political ideas. With Ben Franklin ideas and freedom of press, he encouraged people to develop freedom within their thoughts and actions. Ben Franklin not only developed freedom through the printing trade but encouraged America to become free to establish and express new ideas among the
Ben Franklin created his legacy and wrote about it in his book to his son William Franklin. Ben wrote about his struggles with not having enough money to owning a printing factory where he printed papers and he and his 15 brothers owned one of the first newspapers in United States. He wrote the book because he was estranged to his son William. His son William was a loyalist and after the U.S signed the declaration of Independence he was put in prison for about 3 years. The whole time he was in prison he was trying to contact the loyalist party overseas and in America. He then later returned to England and was the spokesman for the loyalist party in England. He was doing research on his ancestors so he decided to write a book for his son to tell him what his life was about when he was younger.
In The Autobiography, Benjamin Franklin recounts the many paramount experiences throughout his life that shaped him into great American figure he was known to be. On the opening page, Franklin reveals the book’s epistolary format by writing, “Dear Son,” going on to admit that he’s made some mistakes in the past and to recollect that past is a way to relive it. By divulging his desire to “change some sinister Accidents & Events” (Franklin 3) the author indicates how important it is for his son to observe as he amends his mistakes. Pride, virtue and vanity play a pivotal role in Benjamin Franklin’s life and the way he portrays himself to others. Instances occur where the author is shown gloating about his great accomplishments and he puts emphasis on his need to live a virtuous and morally perfect life. Throughout his story, Benjamin Franklin tells his son of his many virtuous acts and momentous achievements, motivating the question as to whether he seeks his own approval more so than the approval of his peers.
Benjamin Franklin is considered to be one of the most well-known Founding Fathers, as he helped in writing the Declaration of Independence and the very first Constitution of the United States. Who was he other than a man who fought for colonist’s rights however? Franklin was a brilliant inventor who created many innovating and life changing mechanisms, such as the world’s very first almanac, bifocals, and the lightning rod. He was also a major figure in the American Enlightenment, which restored art, science and music, spreading moral philosophy all across the colonies. Although he was never elected to the role of President of the United States, Franklin served in several other parts, such as the first postmaster general for the colonies in
He was one of our founding fathers of America. In 1751, Franklin was chosen to the Pennsylvania Assembly, causing the start of about 40 years as an open authority. At home from1762 to 1764, Franklin went all through the provinces, redesigning the American postal framework. He likewise constructed a new house on Market Street in Philadelphia, now remade and open to guests, which generally accommodated his family. From April 1775 to October 1776, Franklin served on the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety and in the Continental Congress. As a delegate to the Second Continental Congress, Franklin ended up being a man of prudence and persistence, never rushing a choice. Franklin has earned his own respct for being an establishing father by making inexhaustible commitments to the genuine development of the United States of America. He was one of the primary people to propose a pioneer union. In 1776, he served on the five-man council to draft the Declaration of Independence and made numerous amendments in Thomas Jefferson's report. He was one of the first to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, and pushed for the unification of the American colonies as one nation against England. “After voting for independence in 1776, Franklin was elected commissioner to France, making him essentially the first U.S. ambassador to France. He set sail to negotiate a treaty for the country’s military and financial support.”
Benjamin Franklin was a very prominent figure in shaping our nation. Many people look at him as a role model or just as an amazing individual. He had his faults just like every human being had, and he shouldn’t be discredited because of a few minor glitches to his character. As being the only person that had signed The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and the Treaty of Paris, this immediately separates him from all others. One of the things that he wrote about in Benjamin Franklin: The Autobiography and Other Writings, was trying to be the ideal person, and even made a list of virtues to live by. His virtues were very important to his lifestyle, and he followed them to a great extent.
...lin hoped that they wouldn’t be mad about his letters and he kept some of his letter that were later on stolen and was published by the public and he took full responsibility for them after that in London he was named a traitor and a thief by that he failed to solve the difference between that British and the Americans. Soon after that his reputation in England worsen which was the worse period in his career, A British solicitor names Alexander Wedderburn spent hours calling Franklin a criminal and a traitor as his friend in the council stood and critics accusing him, Franklin didn’t display any emotions but he was angry and kept his head high. As the people of the Americas wanting independence from the Great Britain, Benjamin was encouraging and giving aid to people on order to achieve independence by doing so he returned back to America seeking out independence.
Gordon S. Wood delves into Benjamin Franklin’s philosophical, political, and personal legacies in the biography, The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin. The book travels through Franklin’s experiments, his travels in Europe, and his role in the American revolution. The book begins when Franklin retires from business and becomes a gentleman. It was when he became a gentleman, it allowed him to analyze the world around him. “Indeed, he could not drink a cup of tea without wondering why the tea leaves at the bottom gathered in way rather than another,” a quote from Edmund S. Morgan’s book, Benjamin Franklin. Franklin spent a great deal of time in Britain before returning to America. When he returned, he threw himself into the American revolution, which sent him to France. After he accomplished his duties in France, he returned back home to America where he ran for public office.
Benjamin Franklin was one of the most significant figures during the 18th century. The significance of Benjamin Franklin can be observed through his contributions to society. Such contributions include his profession as a printer, the creation of the first subscription library, the creation of Poor Richard’s Almanac, and his experiments with electricity. In addition, Franklin also tried to reconcile the differences between England and America, and when that proved futile, he traveled to France in an attempt to convince the French to support America in their quest for independence from England. At one point in time Benjamin Franklin was the most famous American on the planet.
Personally, I think that Benjamin Franklin was more than just an American hero; he was an inspiration in the past, and to this day he still is. After all, it is his face that’s on $100 dollar bill.
Esmund Wright, author of Franklin of Philadelphia, suggests that perhaps his greatest contribution, was his effort to solicit assistance from France during the American Revolution, he said: "Franklin obtained at least 45 million francs of loans and gifts; some estimates go higher: Jonathan Dull puts the figure at 80 million dollars in today's terms. Without this, America might not have been able to maintain her independence after 1778. All the financial aid from 1776 to 1781 came by and through France; 90 percent of the power used by Americans in the first two and a half years of war came from France.