By the eighteenth century, the once-fierce Puritan fire was facing the end of its reign, releasing its hold on the American mind in favor of the Age of Enlightenment. Rational, “enlightened” thinking blossomed during this period, which saw great changes in the way the world was perceived, as philosophers and scholars began replacing the supernatural with the secular and worldly in their theories and beliefs. This dramatic transition from the harsh Puritan beliefs to a more curious, scientifically centered mindset was spearheaded by some of the most famous names in American History. Amongst these, Benjamin Franklin stands in particular fame as one who shifted the focus of faith in American life. Endowed with a “proud and independent . . . nature”, Franklin’s obsession with accountability and responsibility for one’s own actions had a great effect on his views (Franklin 455). Turning his back on the “dry, uninteresting and unedifying” Presbyterian teachings whose “[a]im …show more content…
No longer should man cower in fear for his errors. No longer should man focus all his energy on pleasing an invisible power. Instead, the individual is encouraged to take his destiny in his own hands, live for self-improvement and self-promotion, and learn from and seek to reduce his mistakes. In the end, Franklin’s religion is founded on the hope for what man can accomplish. While the individual should never shoot for less than perfection, falling short does not result in an unredeemable end; one is not condemned to a Hell contrived by another. Instead, one will learn along the route of life and, at the finishing of life, can be comforted that though he “never arrived at the Perfection [he] had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet [he] [was] by the Endeavor made a better and happier Man than [he] otherwise should have been”
The Enlightenment is when popular Christian preachers in the 1700’s preached to their congregation that freedom does not bestow from the English crown but is bestowed from God. They explained to their people that they had free will to choose what they wanted to do in order to be the best they could be for themselves. This included freedom of commerce, freedom of religion, and freedom of press. The Enlightenment gave people courage because of their faith in God to pursue freedom. Benjamin Franklin guided people in politics and people in the religious fashion and got them together. He helped facilitate the continental congress and other countries that would help support us during the revolutionary war. Franklin helped introduce Enlightenment to America through his readings, his writings, and his actions.
Franklin was an immigrant from the second generation. His father was the Puritan, the maker of candles, to Boston, Massachusetts, from England the year 1683. Imagine the life of Franklin, in many ways, the impact of the Enlightenment on the talented person. Science itself but it was well familiar with the books of John Locke, Lord Shaftesbury, and Joseph Addison, and other writers of the enlightenment. Learn how to apply them, Franklin logic and reason over his own separation from traditions-in particular the long-standing Protestant tradition-when threatened by suffocating
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
There were many people that helped contribute to the Enlightenment, but the most prominent American leader was a well-know political figure named Benjamin Franklin. The Enlightenment, also called the Age of Reason, was period of time when people tried to justify life in terms of scientific theory and rationalism. “The Enlightenment was responsible for inspiring revived interests in education, science, and literature” (“HistoryKing.com”). It also emphasized progression away from traditional customs and foundations
Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography is an inspiring tale of his personal, as well as public achievement throughout his life. Franklin’s life embodies the exemplary model of a life composed of discipline, self-reliance and self improvement. From his humble beginnings as an apprentice candle and soap maker in his father’s business to a successful business man, author, philosopher, civil activist, politician scientist, inventor, and diplomat, above all Benjamin Franklin was, and still is, an American Icon and truly a pioneer of the American Dream.
Out of all of the founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin in my opinion is the one who had the greatest impact on our nation and still has a great influence on our nation today. Mostly people are familiar with Benjamin Franklin from his head being on the front of the 100 dollar bill, but there’s more to him than just his face being on the 100 dollar bill. He made a huge impact on us and not everyone realizes it, but that’s how he made it on the 100 dollar bill. Not only was Benjamin Franklin apart of founding our nation, he was also scientist, diplomat, businessman, and philosopher. Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17th, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts to soap maker Josiah Franklin and his second wife Abigail Folger. Benjamin Franklin was apart of a big family and he was the 10th child out of 16 siblings. His siblings names were Jane Mocum, James Franklin, Anne Harris, Joseph Franklin I, Samuel Franklin, Sarah Davenport, Mary Holmes, Hannah Cole, Josiah Franklin Jr, Ebenzer Franklin, Peter Franklin, Thomas Franklin, John Franklin, Lydia Scott, Elizabeth Douse, and Joseph Franklin II. When Benjamin Franklin was younger his father wanted him to become a preacher, so he sent him away to a grammar school when he was only eight years old. Less than a year later, the family went through some financial struggles so he had to be transferred to Mr. George Brownell’s school for writing and math. He only stayed at that school until he was about 10 years old. He was doing well in
Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on January 17, 1706. He would be the tenth out of seventeen kids that his dad, Josiah Franklin, would have. His dad had plans for Benjamin to join the church when he became an adult and was sent to language structure school to get ready. He would exceed expectations in perusing at an extremely youthful age however would find that he couldn't ace math so natural. He would be at the linguistic use school for not as much as a year prior to his dad would deal with not having the capacity to bolster a school instruction for Benjamin and supporting whatever is left of the substantial family. Benjamin would then be sent to another school which would show him essential math and English aptitudes. There, he would outperform whatever remains of class in English while in the end fizzling number juggling once more bringing on his dad to draw him from school together (Becker, 1931). At ten years old Benjamin would be
Benjamin Franklin observed in 1747, “It has long been regretted as a misfortune to the youth of this province that we have no academy in which they might receive the accomplishment of a regular education,” instead of just perceiving that fact and being disappointed, Franklin decided to act. He noted that Massachusetts had Harvard, established 1636, and Virginia claimed William and Mary, established 1693, he did not want Pennsylvania to fall behind. This prompted him to write an anonymous pamphlet in 1747 entitled, Proposals relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania. The pamphlet argued for the necessity of a college and urged concerned citizens to donate money toward it. It was not until Franklin wrote his autobiography that the world knew it was he who wrote Proposals relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania.
Franklin opens his essay with an appeal to Ethos, using self-deprecating humor to make the audience more receptive to his argument. Franklin wrote a letter to George Washington regarding the constitution. Franklin starts off by saying “I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve..” Franklin also says, “I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, to change opinions..” Franklin speaks about how he his opinions change as a result of being open minded. “It is therefore the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and pay more respect to the judgment of others.” “Most men indeed as well as most sects in Religion, think themselves in possession of all
While Benjamin Franklin was a great man, this book has become quite famous and therefore could be interpreted in several different fashions. Several accounts in his life show how Franklin was a bitter man who managed to achieve much more than others. Several people he met in his life are thrown aside because they are either inferior or lack the determination that Franklin so frequently mentions. He famously insults John Collins by calling him a drunk who never accomplished anything with his work. Collins was perhaps a lazy man where drinking hindered his reasoning, willingness to work, and approachability. With a final fight Franklin tossed him into a river for refusing to row their boat, Collins leaves with the promise that he will repay
Thesis: In his autobiography, Franklin is undoubtedly concerned with developing virtue and self-improvement, but relies on others as the primary frame of reference for his own progress, always measuring himself with others. This habit of comparison results in the development of vices as well as virtues.
Benjamin Franklin was one of the most influential men of the eighteenth century. He was the only man to sign all of these four major documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Constitution of the United States, and the Treaty of Peace with Great Britain. Franklin was an inventor, a philosopher, a writer, a musician, and he actively participated in many congressional articles used by the government of the United States of America. His tombstone, however, simply referred to him as "printer", reflecting his great humility. One of the things he was most influential in was the separation of the American colonies from British rule. In fact, Benjamin Franklin was vital to the success of the American
It was the year 1706 in Boston, MA when Benjamin Franklin entered the world. Birthed after fourteen other siblings, Franklin's family structure is only one deciding factor in the way that this legendary tale pans out. A hero of American Revolution, this novel depicts 18th century realism accurately while logging Franklin's personal conception on human nature and social community. Many look at Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography as your typical rags to riches tale yet, the truth and falsehood throughout the pages is unknown, raising many questions and concerns. As this book was written in segments over a stretched period of time, we must analyze this account of his life, the struggles and successes which took place, and the outcome of such
Benjamin Franklin was one of the first and most famous scientists in America. He was a man of many talents and interests. Franklin was always curios about they way things work, and he always tried to find ways to make them work better. Even though he started out as a published, he was always interested in science. However this interest soon became a passion to Franklin. He even retired from his publishing business to work in a laboratory with his mostly homemade equipment. Throughout his life Benjamin Franklin made many important discoveries and theories which greatly influenced future scientists and inventors.