Benjamin Franklin's Response To The American Dream

Benjamin Franklin, the best representation of what can ensue from pursuing one’s ambitions. Franklin, the titled “First American,” strived to overcome obstacles life presented him in order to achieve beyond what others envisioned for him. Through the duration of his life, Franklin became a renowned figure for his influence on a range of topics such as science and politics. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment for his experiments and theories on electricity being deemed “The Father of Electricity.” Franklin is also credited for the lightning rod, bifocals, and the Franklin stove, among other inventions. His ambition also allowed him to later become one of the seven most influential Founding Fathers. However, on his journey to becoming one of the most identifiable figures in American history, Franklins over confidence and self-absorption led him to undermine his values in order to cater to his ambition. History knows Benjamin Franklin for

It is easy to see Benjamin Franklin was no doubt an archetypal American. No one since him has ever had the same amount of success as him. He was a private businessman who made enough money to retire early and to spend the rest of his life in politics. Around this time period only the rich were able to retire early. He was industrious. Franklin continually put forth the idea of the industrious American. He had support from the middle-class who did not care if he was rich but he was a man who was self-made and worked hard. This American attitude was formed early and most of it by him. Franklin was also not judgmental came to decisions and conclusions as a businessman and politician. However, his attitude was non-judgmental with respect to a

“Though I am still of opinion that it, was a practicable scheme, and might have been useful, by forming a good number of citizens: and I was not discouraged by the seeming magnitude of the undertaking as I have always thought that one man of tolerable abilities may work great changes and accomplish great affairs among mankind (pg. 106).” Benjamin Franklin is an archetypal American because everybody wants to be just like him. He wrote this book to show the right way to become the perfect American. Also, he wrote this autobiography to explain to his son and to other people about how to be the ideal American. Benjamin Franklin became a deism because it helped him become more open-minded. A deism is a person that believes that god created the

To achieve the American Dream, one must work hard and have the dedication to be successful. There are myths relating to this dream leaving lower class members to wonder if the dream exists for them. People in lower class are told if they want to be successful they must put in hard work and true effort. Once they do, they see that they are remaining in the same position they started in. In “Class of America-2012,” Gregory Mantsios states the ideas of class in the US and explains them. One myth addressed in this selection is, “Everyone has an equal chance to succeed. Success in the United States requires no more than hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance: ‘In America, anyone can become a billionaire; it’s just a matter of being in the right

The ‘American Dream’ has recently transformed into the American nightmare. More and More people are retiring broke and are looking for some type of financial assistance either from families, government, or continuing to work past retirement. Not every American has the skill set to run a successful business, but more often than not, most Americans do possess a skill set that can be used to create individual wealth which each citizen will have complete control over. Therefore, Americans should embrace the principles that this country was based on, which is free enterprise. In order to insure fiscal independence, Americans must consider an essential component

Ensuing America’s rapid emergence into a new time period, society’s original perception of the American Dream would begin to falter. Considering this change, the initial American Dream was unintentionally established by a Protestant religious reform group known as the Puritans. While these Puritans eluded religious persecution in England, they would navigate to the New World encompassing their dreams around religious freedom. Essentially, these visions would act as a catalyst for future generations to develop their own ideals while preserving certain aspects of their already long established American Dream. With this in mind, as time progressed, a new age known as the Revolutionary Period would emerge revealing the changed ideals society would

I was born in Boston in 1706 and was given the name Benjamin Franklin. It is interesting that as a kid I had little constructive education but I started a printing business in Philadelphia and began making an income. In 1754 I created the Albany Plan and despite it not being accepted it helped with the framework for the articles of confederation. After the American Revolution started I was chosen to serve in the Second Continental Congress.

In 1775, he returned to America a delegate at the Continental Congress as the American Revolution advanced. In 1776, he helped formulate the Declaration of Independence and in July the final document was signed. William Franklin, whom Franklin and his wife had raised, was a leader of the Loyalists. In 1776, Benjamin Franklin, one of the most prepared United States’

In the late 18th century in the United States of America, Americans struggled to find their “American Identity” as a new nation. Throughout this time period, ideas and values changed with the formation of a new nation. However, influences made by Benjamin Franklin help shape the “American Dream”. Benjamin Franklin helped define American success with The Autobiography and Poor Richard’s Almanack to help the new Americans obtain their identity.

Benjamin Franklin is revered by Americans as one of its most revered and adored founding fathers. For foreigners, Benjamin Franklin became the very icon of America, not only because he was accomplished, but because he was a new man, a man that could only have been made in America. Franklin came to be seen as the embodiment of American values.

Response 1: I think that Benjamin Franklin can be both admired and ridiculed for his plan to be “perfect” in a sense. In the book, he makes a list of virtues that make a person better and he wishes to accomplish it in 13 weeks, doing one each week. Franklin creating a list of good behaviors is something to be admired of because the list is composed of helpful rules that morally make a better person. But, the part that is ridiculed is when he decides to accomplish all 13 in a short amount of time when realistically, it would take a lot more time for good behaviors to become a habit. He says he had added “Humility” to his list because he was being a dandy and he was too proud upon himself. When someone finally notified him of this behavior, he decided to change it and added it to the list. When Franklin says he had accomplished following all of the virtues successfully (pg.56), he is going against one of the virtues he had put down in his list which is “Humility”. I would support Franklin’s theory of self-righteous by following the list because the list does make sense and could help better a person’s life and way of thinking. It would make the

ENGLISH II BEN SPIZUCO Benjamin Franklin is arguably one of the most influential humans ever to grace this planet. His contributions to science significantly pushed scientific progress forwards, and his political decisions helped to shape the then-new United States Of America into what it is today. That said, his aphorisms have also left quite an impact on society. Benjamin Franklin’s aphorisms serve to improve the life of the standard individual, and while these clever, witty, well-worded quips can certainly work on a grander scale, at the core, their intended audience is “one person at a time”. Some of Ben’s smartest aphorisms are ones made in regards to mistakes, whether they have happened already, can possibly happen, or are

Benjamin Franklin: a founding father of one of the world's largest superpowers. Milton Hershey: a chocolate maker whose recipe practically monopolized its field. Arnold Schwarzenegger: a famous actor and bodybuilder turned governor. Walt Disney: the creator of cartoon mouse that sparked the creation of arguably the largest entertainment company in the world. Four seemingly unrelated men with one key thing in common. Each of them were born to exceptionally poor families, victims of circumstance who have left a huge mark on the world.

Benjamin Franklin was young when he worked as a printer for his brother. Because he wasn't satisfied with what he was doing there, he ran off to Philadelphia for a better chance to improve his future. Catching the eye of the governor of Pennsylvania with his printing expertise, he was promised assistance to get his own business started and off the ground. But after doing what the governor had instructed him to do, which was going to London to pick up some supplies, the governor ended up reneging. When Ben Franklin came back to Philadelphia after several months of printing press work, he was yet again an apprentice to another printer. However, seeing that he was better, he borrowed some money and set up his own shop. Because he was constantly

Benjamin Franklin was among the first to define what it is to be called “American”. His story gave new Americans a relatable story that they, too, could find success in America where they could not anywhere else. With the beginning of the American Revolution, a revolution in culture started as well. An unruly group of people from all around the world had found common ground and a common cause for freedom and fighting for a country that they could finally call their own. In the 1920s, the American Dream started changing into something less about equal opportunity to become the best you can be, and more about the gaining of material things. This development in the American Dream was created by nation's leaders. Before the 1920s Presidents provided