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What Is Benjamin Franklin's Ambition

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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 …show more content…

Franklin was a self-made man disregarded how the results of his actions affected others. For example, as described in his Autobiography, when Ben was 15, his brother James founded The New-England Courant, which was one of the first independent newspapers in the colonies. Ben later signed an 8-year apprentice agreement contract for his brother James’ print shop. After five years of working at The New-England Courant and taking advantage of all the resources available, seventeen-year old Ben betrayed his brother and broke his contract. In his Autobiography Ben paints James as a cruel, bossy older brother who treated him terribly throughout his time there. While he was admittedly biased in his portrayal of his older brother, James’ actions in viewed in modern day would be typical of eighteenth-century society in the colonies. Franklin knew his decision was disreputable, as stated in his

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