Category: Benjamin Franklin

Born in a humble background, Benjamin Franklin is fondly remembered as one of America’s founding fathers. Born as the 8th born in a family of seventeen children, Benjamin was not lucky to get a quality formal education past the age of ten years. He, however, self-taught himself and managed to rise as a businessman, author, scientist, inventor and an icon in the history of the US. In his autobiography, Benjamin gives a recount of his life during the different periods of his life. The original work, which was his memoirs addressed to different people, was later published in 1791 in four parts. All through, he showed consistency and unending effort to be better at what he did. Franklin was always trying to live a model lifestyle as he notes in his letters. His inventions and work as a diplomat and author prove that his uniquely American idealism that labor, thrift, and merit are rewarded eventually.

Addressing his son William, Benjamin in his letters, illustrates how he had to work hard as he tried to establish his printing career. Having not had a formal education, Benjamin self-taught himself until he got an apprentice to his brother, who was a printer. It is remarkable how he works hard and strives to improve his skills working under people until he eventually gets his publication Pennsylvania Gazette. Walter Isaacson, in his book ‘Benjamin Franklin: An American Life’ mirrors’ Benjamin’s life and the effect it has on people who are constantly trying to better themselves and pushing the limits. He notes that ‘Through his self-improvement tips of for cultivating personal virtues and his civic-improvement schemes for furthering the common good, he helped to create, and celebrate, a new ruling class of ordinary citizens”. It is through his achievements that people can derive their motivation that labor is rewarded. His story of a boy who was not schooled rising to the heights he did in his lifetime only echoes his constant effort in everything that he did.

Franklin, through experience and at a young age, learned the value thrift and being prudent after his careless purchase of a whistle. This was when he was seven years, and all he cared for was the pleasure he derived from the whistle that he was willing to part with all the money he had. When he later learned the value of the whistle from the siblings, all the joy he had vanished. In the letter to Madame Brillon, Franklin writes that “when I was tempted to buy some unnecessary thing, I said to myself, ‘don’t give too much for the whistle’ and I saved my money”. This is a great lesson as it resonates with everyone across every generation. He worked hard for everything he had, and understanding the pain of acquiring it made him careful about how he spent his resources. It is important to understand the value of things and the importance they bring to one’s life rather than the pleasure one gets from them. The economic sense behind Franklin can help people avoid getting in financial crisis through unnecessary expenditure on things that do not add value to them or are unnecessary luxuries. In his words, Benjamin Franklin said that for one to go to the extent of being in debt or losing their career because of their fondness for fine things as paying very dear for their whistle. This brings up the lesson that people need to disconnect from materialism, which eventually prompt objectivity and focusing on the valuable things.

There was also no easy way that Franklin could have made it in life and career if he did not deserve it. He acknowledged this fact, and he was in constant efforts to better himself and sharpen his skills. Born in a humble background meant that Franklin had to fight his way through life. His first work to be published was when he was working at his brother’s printing shop. He was passionate about writing, and he developed an idea where he would drop articles anonymously for his brother and friends to publish. Work from renowned authors and his work was continuously published. Although he got into an argument with his brother once he revealed he was the one writing the anonymous articles, it gave him the confidence and courage to pursue writing. That was the genesis of him owning his paper. He went ahead and influenced great change in the press, which was full of corruption and alliances that hindered growth and progression in the media. In his book on Benjamin Franklin’s Printing Network in which he disseminates the virtues in the early American press, Ralph Frasca highlights the changes that Franklin brought to the press. This was done by focusing on the merit and quality of the work they were publishing. He notes that through his printing network, “he financed and assisted some of the most important printers of the era and helped lay a foundation for the increasingly free press”. By doing this, he recognized and supported authors who deserved to have their work printed rather than having to collude with cartels in the media, which would have almost been impossible. It appealed to his humble beginning and how he struggled to finally get the recognition he deserved, and he wanted to create a platform for others. This perfectly fit the modern society where people with talent are left out because they do not have the connections. It is, however, encouraging to note that there are people who are constantly on the lookout for people with merit to support and grow them. The idea is for people to push themselves to achieve what they want and not expect that things would work out without them trying.

It is with no doubt that Benjamin Franklin was one of the greatest people who impacted the world with their wisdom, service, and inventions. His idealism his pursuit of perfection set the standards and a point of reflection for people during his time and beyond. His knowledge and wisdom helped shape history as is with the present generation. He was vocal on people laboring to get what they want, and his life was evidence that it is rewarding. Further, he illustrated why people should not be obsessed with material things but tthe value. Also, he demonstrated the importance of people believing and working towards merit and not an entitlement. Cumulatively, Franklin’s life was a model on how people should live and remains practical to date.

American Enlightenment was a very important period in American history. Not only because it was a time of intellectual flourishing and education, but more importantly, because it led to the American Revolution. It was a period, when human main interest shifted from simply believing in and relying on Gods superiority, to focusing on self-development and self-reliance. We can easily observe such a way of thinking in Benjamin Franklin works, such as his Autobiography or in one of the most important documents in the history of the United States, Declaration of Independence.

The period of Enlightenment was revolutionary in itself. The 18th century was a great intellectual change in many fields. Most important of them were education, philosophy, science, and technology. This phenomenon has its source in Europe, where first signs of similar changes were visible already in the 17th century, though in America it took a slightly different course. The most important effects of American Enlightenment were visible in political philosophy. The ideas of rejection of monarchy, liberalism, and republicanism gained popularity, and later became the ideology behind the American Revolution and creation of the United States of America.

‘Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography’ is a great source of knowledge about the changes I mentioned before. He describes his own observations about many changes. The first example would be the story of commencing a public subscription library. Franklin describes his surprise about the growth in the popularity of reading: ‘reading became fashionable; and our people, having no public amusements to divert their attention from study, became better acquainted with books, and in a few years were observ’d by strangers to be better instructed and more intelligent than people of the same rank generally are in other countries”. Another interesting topic, which was influenced by the ideas of Enlightenment was religion. Although praising God was still one of the most important aspects of human life, people began to treat it with a more reasonable attitude. A great example of this phenomenon is Benjamin Franklin himself, who describes his change in relationship with religion and church. Even though he grew up and was educated Presbyterian, he himself decided to not to attend public assemblies. He understood and believed in some principals, but at the same time others appeared to him ‘unintelligible’. One of his most important citations regarding religion from Autobiography is: “My conduct might be blameable, but I leave it, without attempting further to excuse it; my present purpose being to relate facts, and not to make apologies for them”..

One of the most important ideas of American (but not only) Enlightenment was self-development and becoming so-called „self-made man”. Franklin’s approach to this was quite peculiar. One of his ways of self-improvement to accomplish “moral perfection”. In order to do so, he created a list of moral virtues, which he wanted to ”habituate”. The list consisted of thirteen virtues: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity and humility. He gave himself a week for every one of them to work on: “I judged it would be well not to distract my attention by attempting the whole at once, but to fix it on one of them at a time; and, when I should be master of that, then to proceed to another, and so on, till I should have gone thro’ the thirteen”. The order in which they were planned was not accidental. Acquisition of one was supposed to facilitate acquisition of another, as he explains: ”Temperance first, as it tends to procure that coolness and clearness of head, which is so necessary where constant vigilance was to be kept up, and guard maintained against the unremitting attraction of ancient habits, and the force of perpetual temptations. This being acquired and established, silence would be more easy (…)”. The plan was working at the beginning, but after the first year of repeating the course, because of his other responsibilities (voyages and business affairs), he had to abandon the practice, although he always’ve kept his book, where his plan was noted, with him.

While looking for information or trying to understand the phenomenon of American Enlightenment, it is worth to get acquainted with ‘Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography’ or his other works such as ‘Declaration of Independence’, of which he was a co-author.

Few figures shine as brightly as Benjamin Franklin in the vast expanse of American history. A true Renaissance man, Franklin’s contributions spanned science, politics, writing, and diplomacy. His legacy is not just etched in the annals of history, but is alive in the very fabric of modern America. From his astute observations in “Poor Richard’s Almanac” to his groundbreaking experiments with electricity, Franklin’s life was a testament to the power of curiosity and perseverance.

As we delve deeper into his life, we’ll uncover the multifaceted layers of a man who was not just a witness to the birth of a nation but an active architect of its foundation. From Boston’s cobbled streets to Paris’s grand salons, join us on a journey through the life of a true American luminary. His story is not just that of an individual but is intertwined with the narrative of a burgeoning nation. Every chapter of his life offers insights into the spirit of an era marked by discovery, revolution, and nation-building. As we navigate his journey, we’ll understand why Benjamin Franklin remains an enduring symbol of American ingenuity and resilience.

Essay 1 (100 words)

Early Life and Revolutionary Foundations

Benjamin Franklin’s story began in Boston. Born into a large family, he was one among seventeen siblings. Amidst the familial cacophony, young Benjamin’s thirst for knowledge set him apart. His early forays into writing, under the pseudonym ‘Silence Dogood’, were not just youthful endeavors but the first signs of a revolutionary spirit.

Though nascent, these writings hinted at a mind already questioning the existing state of affairs, laying the groundwork for his later pivotal role in American history. This early inclination towards challenging established norms would become a recurring theme in his life, setting the stage for his numerous contributions to the American Revolution and beyond.

Essay 2 (250 words)

Scientific Endeavors and Societal Impact

To label Benjamin Franklin merely as a politician or writer would be a gross understatement. His scientific pursuits showcased a mind constantly seeking to understand and improve the world around him. His audacious kite experiment, conducted amidst the fury of a storm, unraveled the mysteries of electricity. But his genius was not confined to abstract science. He sought practical solutions to everyday problems. The invention of bifocals, for instance, stemmed from his annoyance with switching between two pairs of glasses. Similarly, the Franklin stove was a testament to his commitment to improving daily life, offering a more efficient way to warm homes.

But beyond inventions, Franklin’s scientific endeavors had broader societal implications. He believed in democratizing knowledge. By simplifying complex scientific concepts and making them accessible, he empowered the common man. This was not just about individual enlightenment, but about elevating society as a whole.

His contributions laid the foundation for a nation that would come to value innovation and critical thinking. Franklin’s vision was clear: a society where knowledge was not the privilege of a few but the right of many. Through his endeavors, he sought to bridge the gap between the elite and the masses, fostering an environment where curiosity was celebrated and innovation thrived.

Essay 3 (500 words)

Franklin’s Diplomatic Mastery and Nation Formation

Franklin’s genius was not confined to the laboratory or the writer’s desk. In the intricate world of diplomacy, he emerged as a master strategist. His involvement in drafting the Declaration of Independence was crucial, ensuring its message resonated powerfully. But his diplomatic acumen truly shone in France. With a blend of charm, wit, and intelligence, he navigated the complex world of French politics, securing vital support for the American Revolution.

But Franklin’s role in shaping the nation didn’t end with the Revolution. As America stood on the cusp of a new era, he was at the forefront, helping draft the blueprint for the new republic. At the Constitutional Convention, his insights, and wisdom played a pivotal role in shaping the foundational principles of the United States. Principles like freedom of speech, checks and balances, and individual rights bear the unmistakable imprint of Franklin’s influence.

Yet, amidst these monumental contributions, he never abandoned his love for writing. Works like “Poor Richard’s Almanac” and his autobiography offer a window into the mind of this genius. They are filled with wit, wisdom, and relevant insights.

In sum, Benjamin Franklin was a colossus of his time. A man whose influence spanned science, politics, writing, and diplomacy. His life is a testament to the power of curiosity, intellect, and determination. Through his myriad contributions, he didn’t just shape a nation; he left an indelible mark on the course of human history.

His diplomatic efforts, particularly in France, were not just about securing military and financial support. They were about building relationships, forging alliances, and promoting the ideals of a new nation on the global stage. His charm and wit endeared him to the French elite, but his unwavering commitment to the American cause truly made a difference. Behind the scenes, he worked tirelessly, negotiating, persuading, and sometimes even cajoling to protect America’s interests.

And when the guns of the Revolution fell silent, and the task of nation-building began, Franklin was again at the forefront. The Constitutional Convention gathered brilliant minds, but Franklin’s voice was crucial even in such an esteemed company. His advocacy for a balanced system of governance, where power was not concentrated but distributed, showcased his deep understanding of human nature and the pitfalls of absolute power.

But Franklin’s contributions were not just limited to grand diplomatic endeavors or high-stakes political negotiations. He reached out to the common man through his writings, offering wisdom, advice, and, sometimes, a touch of humor. “Poor Richard’s Almanac” was not just a yearly publication; it was a reflection of Franklin’s worldview, one where hard work, perseverance, and a dash of wit could overcome any challenge.

As we reflect on Franklin’s life, it becomes evident that he was not just a product of his time but a force that shaped it. Franklin’s legacy is vast and enduring, from the streets of Boston to the halls of Paris, from the laboratories where he unraveled nature’s mysteries to the convention halls where he helped draft a nation’s future. He was a beacon of hope in uncertain times, a voice of reason amidst chaos, and a testament to the indomitable human spirit.

A significant difference between Frederick Douglass and Benjamin Franklin is one was born a free American and the other was born an American slave. The number one interest that both men share is the fact that they both started out with nothing and became famous figures in American History. The differences in both narrative reading ability are Franklin enhanced his learning ability through reading various books, and Douglass had no previous learning ability, yet he learned to read by giving food to hungry children. Both narratives have numerous similarities and differences as they were both indebted to working for someone.

Frederick Douglass being born into slavery had to work for his master, in contrast, Benjamin Franklin was indebted to working for his father than his brother. Even though Benjamin Franklin was not born into a poor family, he still had a desire to make a better life for himself. Therefore, he was not satisfied working in the candle and soap making business with his father, nor becoming part of the clergy. However, Frederick Douglass was not satisfied with his position in life being a slave, therefore he hungered for freedom from the bondage of the slave masters. Although during the 19th Century slaves were forbidden to learn any type of reading or writing, Douglass knew to learn to read was the key to his future. Therefore, he fully took advantage of every opportunity that he could to secretly learn how to read and write. This required him to educate himself at the risk of brutal punishment and then to take the even greater risk of an escape attempt.

Although Benjamin Franklin was not able to go far in the field of education, he still developed a passion for books and would do just about anything to obtain books to read. However, buying books, or having to borrow books did not let this stop him from becoming a successful apprentice at his brother printer company. During these years, Mr. Franklin developed a book obsession and would do just about anything to obtain a variety of books to use as reading materials. He would even borrow books from various sources, basically, he used these books as a learning tool. It appears that his brother was somewhat jealous of his printing ability and did not value his work enough to let him print his opinion in the paper. Benjamin Franklin was afraid to even offer his brother any type of advice or opinion because he knew his brother would strongly oppose any suggestion that he would offer. Therefore, he secretly disguised his indemnity and began writing articles that his brother did publish in the daily papers. “In 1722, James unwittingly published one of his younger brother’s first essay, when he printed an editorial left on his desk signed “Silence Dogood,” the first in a series that Franklin produced over several months” (440). However, he decided that his plans for success could not be achieved working for his brother, because he stood in the way of him printing his literature. Therefore, decided to move on to advance his plans in the printing business.

Frederick Douglass like Benjamin Franklin knew that education was the key to fulling their American Dream. Both men basically had to learn on their own without obtaining a college degree. Douglass knew what it felt like to go to bed at night hungry at an early age. He also learned what it was like to be afraid of being punished, and not have the comfort of a mother’s love. During the 19th century, slaves were not able to love and comfort their children when they were sick, or afraid. For instance, many slave children were sold to other slaveholders, and sadly the mothers could not do anything to prevent their masters from taking their children. In this era, all slaves were considered the property of their masters.

Citation

1. Jones, R. V. “Benjamin Franklin.” Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London, vol. 31, no. 2, 1977, pp. 201–225. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/531827
2. Levine, Robert. American Literature. W. W. Norton & Company Inc., 2017.
3. Levine, Robert. American Literature 1820-1865. W. W. Norton & Company Inc., 2017.
4. Warnick, Brian R. ‘Oppression, Freedom, and the Education of Frederick Douglass.’ Philosophical Studies in Education 39 (2008): 24-34. ProQuest. Web. 1 Dec. 2019.

A significant difference between Frederick Douglass and Benjamin Franklin is the birth of a free American and the birth of an American slave. The number one interest that both men share is the fact that they both started out with nothing, yet became famous figures in American History, even until today. The differences in both narrative reading abilities are Franklin enhanced his learning ability through reading various books, and Douglass had no previous learning ability, yet he learned to read by the generosity of his master’s wife, as well as giving food to hungry children. Both narratives have numerous similarities and differences as they have both been indebted to work for someone.

Frederick Douglass being born into slavery had to work for his master while Benjamin Franklin had to work for his father and his brother. Despite not being born into an extremely below the poverty level family, Benjamin Franklin still had a desire to make a better life for himself. Therefore, he was not satisfied working in the candle and soap making business with his father, nor becoming part of the clergy. However, Frederick Douglass was not satisfied with his position in life being a slave, therefore he hungered for freedom from the bondage of the slave masters. Although during 19th Century slaves were forbidden to learn any type of reading or writing, Douglass knew learning to read was the key to his future. Therefore, he fully took advantage of every opportunity that he could to secretly learn how to read and write. This required him to educate himself at the risk of brutal punishment and then to take the even greater risk of an escape attempt.

Frederick Douglass like Benjamin Franklin knew that education was the key fulling their American Dream. Both men basically had to learn on their own without obtaining a college degree. Douglass knew what it felt like to go to bed at night hungry at an early age. He also learned what it was like to be afraid of being punish, and not have the comfort of a mother’s love. During the 19th century slaves were not able to love and comfort their children when they were sick, or afraid. For instance, many slave children were sold to other slave holders, and sadly the mothers could not do anything to prevent their masters from taking their children. In this era all slaves were considered the property of their masters. Therefore, the masters or overseers could do anything that they wanted to do to their slave, and nothing would be said or done to prevent their actions. When a slave did not complete assigned tasks in a timely manner, they would often be severely punished by being whipped by the overseers, as to make an example for the other slaves to see. Often the slaves were subject to the cold weather due to the lack of adequate clothing. The plantation masters had one major expectation for each slave, which were to perform all assigned tasks, without procrastinating, or be severely whipped. The plantation owners had no respect for males or females’ slaves, as they often forced some of the women to engage in sexual activities. Many times, these encounters result in bi-racial children being born that most often were sold as any other property. “His mother was Harriet Bailey; his father was a white man whose identity is still not known, although widely assumed to have been his mother’s owner, Aaron Anthony” (1160).

Frederick Douglass way of thinking about his life changed when Mrs. Auld taught him to read certain letters of the alphabets. In the 18th Century it was considered a crime to teach slaves to read, therefore Mr. Auld had a much different opinion from his wife when it came to slaves being educated. Not only did “he rebukes her and tell her that teaching a slave to read is unlawful and unwise: if you teach a nigger to read, there would be no keeping him.” Consequently, the slave owners wanted to keep the slaves in the dark about reality, they did not want them think about nothing but their assigned duties on the plantation. These owners knew if the slaves learn to read and write they would most likely become rebellious against the abuse of the slave masters. On the other hand, if the slaves become rebellious and decide to run away there would be no one to work the fields or do all the household chores. Frederick Douglass brief learning experience left him wanting to learn even more, because he knew this was his key to freedom. Therefore, he began to think about what it would be like to be a free man instead of a work slave. “Where before he had sensed the injustice of slavery, now he had arguments proving contradictions and inconsistencies.”

After learning to read he began to see slavery in a different light, therefore he began to plot his escape, even after his fail at escaping he did not give up on his quest for freedom. On the second try he succeeded in escaping the cruelty of slavery. He gave numerous talks and lectures on the cruelty of slavery and went on to write the Narrative of Frederick Douglass.

Benjamin Franklin once said “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember involve me and I learn.” A lot of people, even google, recognize Franklin as an inventor publisher or scientist, or politician. Franklin was more than that, as the author of this primary source, he was an influencer to everyone around him. A primary source is a source that was created at the time the event occurred or materials created by those that experiences the event. This can include the following; letters, speeches, diaries, documents, photographs, artifacts, interviews and more. The autobiography of Benjamin Franklin was in fact created by Benjamin Franklin himself. This proves why this source is a primary source and not a secondary source. A secondary source is a material that was created after the event that might tell you about an event, a person, time or place. A primary source is an autobiography while a secondary source is a biography. (Hsmichigan.org). I will be using secondary sources to back up my claims of Benjamin Franklin’s primary source. These secondary sources will include let.rug.nl, biography.com, hsmichigan.org, and digital history.uh.edu. We also can’t forget the autobiography itself of course.

You might recognize Benjamin Franklin for his accomplishments or most recognizable achievements. Franklin was a polymath, inventor, scientist, printer, politician, Freemason and diplomat. In this we will be discussing of course Benjamin Franklin himself but the challenges and accomplishments of his life. He edited the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. Shortly before his death he also included himself in the significance of the 1783 Treaty Of Paris which resulted in the ending of the Revolutionary War. Benjamin, born in 1706, didn’t have an easy life and went through some “out of the ordinary” things growing up as a child. In his book he talks about a lot of things that occurred in his life and family members and events that happened. One thing that stood out to me the most about Benjamin Franklin is that he had such a rough life and he didn’t let that stop him, he kept going he found a way out of no way. When there wasn’t a resource or a way he got through it and made it even better for others around him. This author paved a way for so many people including all of us now. From his inventions to his publications including this book which he liked to call his “life memoirs”. In chapter one, he talks about his interest and dislikes.

A few jobs he had he wasn’t to fond of and some he was ok with. Benjamin tells us of a time when he was sixteen. He came across a book Tryon on a veggie diet. He persuaded his brother to help him and it was a way for him to get money weekly. This funded him and gave him an opportunity to purchase more books. He talked about a couple of f dishes he would make and some books he would read. Some of the books were the following: Cocker’s book of arithmetic, Seller and Sherman’s book of navigation of and more. He was content on improving his hikes language. In the autobiography, it tells us how he meets with English grammar. He speaks on how after he read Shaftesbury and Collins he became a real doubter in many points of religious doctrine.

Reading his biography and doing research on Franklin I learned that he was the 15th child and youngest son of his dad Josiah Franklin. Later on I found out he had seven children with his first wife, Anne Child, then had another ten with his second wife Abiah Folger. Franklin was taught at a young age how to read but eventually dropped out of school at the age of ten to work for his father at his soap and candle shop. On page eight of the autobiography, he talks about both of his parents. He stated how he’s never known his to parents to be sick and how his mother died at 89 and his father at 85 and they were buried in Boston. There’s also, located on this page, a brief message about his father and his father’s wife Abiah. It’s stated that they lived together in wedlock for fifty-five years. In 1723, because of his relationship with his half-brother, he moved to Philadelphia. Then he began working as a printer. Only there for an ear he then sailed to London for two more years.

Once he had gotten back to Philadelphia his printing game rose successfully. He published “The Pennslyvania Gazette (1730-48)”. Which was actually founded by another man in 1728. Also in 1728, he returned too printing paper currency in New Jersey before opening up his own shop with a partner in Philadelphia that published government pamphlets and books. In 1729 franklin published a pamphlet “A modest Enquiry into The Nature and Necessity of A power currency”, this advocated for an increase in the money supply to stimulate the economy. He used the money from this to purchase The Pennsylvania Gazette Newspaper from a former boss. Another successful work of art was “Poor Richards Almanac (1733-58)”. The fame of this book speeded tremendously and “blew” Benjamin’s name worldwide. In 1730 he married a woman by the name of Deborah Read. He had a son and daughter. Research says he had children by another woman out of wedlock whose name is unknown. Also in 1730, Franklin was the official printer of Pennsylvania. Then he formed the “Junto”, a social and self-improvement study group for young men.

They met every Friday to debate morality, philosophy, and politics. This is when the library came about in 1731. In 1736 he was chosen for the general assembly, and he turned the union fire company of Philadelphia. In 1737 he was elected to the assembly and appointed deputy postmaster general. In the book, at the time it was 1739, Benjamin speaks about a fervent who was a worldwide preacher George Whitefield. Whitefield had sailed the Atlantic 13 times to popularize a certain preaching style to a big audience. He talked about how Whitefield left them to preach through the colonies to Georgia. An idea came about, about building an orphan house, Benjamin liked the idea but insisted on another ovation and Whitefield denied so he decided to not contribute since Whitefield didn’t agree. The year 1743 Benjamin proposed a plan for an academy.

This was later adopted and developed into the university of Philadelphia. 1746 he published his pamphlet “The Plain Truth” , on the necessity for a disciplined defense. He also formed a military company. 1748 he achieved financial independence and gained recognition for his philanthropy. He then went on to pursue an interest in science as well as politics. He also was on the commission of the peace and chosen to the common council. In 1749 appointed commissioners to trade with the Indians. He also aided with the founding of a hospital in 2751. Franklin recurved a degree of M.A from Yale and Harvard in 1753. In 1754 he proposes a plan for the union of the colonies. 1757-62 and 1764-75 he resided in England as an agent for Pennsylvania. Later on he underwent a political metamorphosis. Also published his famous “Way to Wealth”. Going back a little to the autobiography Benjamin came across Quakers who were in a meeting near the market. Where he fell asleep then until it ended. He got up and went down to the river where he came across a younger Quaker than the one he encountered before. After getting acquainted with the man he took him to a place where he said they “entertained strangers”. While there, he gave him some things to cook food, he ate and took a nap. When he woke again the older man went with him to the “new printer”, Keimer. Who he had met through Bradford, the younger Quaker. He speaks on their intelligence saying Bradford was illiterate and Keimer was a mere compositor. He then became more acquainted with the Quakers of his town. He, later on, led the Quaker Party attack on the Anglican Proprietary Party and its Presbyterian Allies. During the Stamp Act Crisis, Franklin evolved as a leader in London for American rights. He included himself in the process of the bill in 1765. Franklin’s family and new home were threatened back in Philadelphia. He immediately became a member of the Continental Congress.

Thirteen months later, he served on the committee that drafted the Declaration Of Independence. He was also a postmaster general. Less than a year and a half later he set fail once again for Europe. He then began his career as a diplomat. 1776-79 He was a commissioner, he directed the negotiations which led to treaties of commerce and the alliance with France. Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams negotiates the treaty of Paris in 1783. This ended the war for independence. In 1785 Franklin became president of the surprise executive council of Pennsylvania. Unfortunately in 1790 at 84 years old Benjamin Franklin passed turned the other leaf and was now residing on the other side of the dirt. Benjamin lived a good life and like it was said before he made so many changes. Besides the accomplishments, he achieved the awards and the degrees he received he was still one of the greatest inventors. He inventions once again included the franklin stove of 1740, bifocals, the harmonica, rocking chair, flexible catheter, and the American penny. He also discovered the Gulf Stream. He traveled the world and made world record changes and contributions to others around him. Of course with the help of other people. He used past experiences and knowledge to contribute and expand the resources they might not have had or were limited to.

Success has been stated that it is not the key to happiness but instead, being happy is the key to success. People say if you love what you are doing and following your passion, you will be successful. What determines success? According to Malcolm Gladwell, you need to follow the 10,000-hour rule. Has anyone thought about this amount of time? It is equivalent to about 5 years, putting in a 40-hour work week. “One of his invaluable contributions to society was the fact that he inspired millions of people to focus on self-improvement, to which he devoted one or two hours each day.” (Franklin 1986: 87) Is that how long it takes to be successful? What if you are not enjoying what you are doing and dreading the work instead? Benjamin Franklin is widely regarded as an icon of American success and a symbol of a self-made man. Franklin came from a poor family and he and his father did not agree on his career choices. However, Franklin made himself through independent choices. His determination has often made the public think of him as the example of his own innate genius. He was called America’s “first great man of letters” by the Scottish philosopher David Hume, Franklin was a “writer, printer, publisher, scientist, philanthropist and diplomat, and was the most famous and respected private figure of his time.”

Through Malcolm Gladwell’s, Outliers: The Story of Success, this narrative non-fiction book explains the factors that contribute to being successful. Gladwell believes that success is not just about abilities. Instead, it combines other factors. One is that timing is very important as well as working hard as it relates to his 10,000 hour rule to gain mastery. Having the opportunity and cultural legacy are also contributing factors to success. His belief that people benefit from random factors such as birthdates and where you were born influence the opportunities you have. In his book, he gave an example of a hockey team and the data that showed those hockey players that were born earlier in the year such as in the months of January, February, and March, had a head start, were stronger, bigger and taller than those players that were born in December. He concluded that if they were born earlier in the year, they had a much better life-long advantage to be successful. Other factors included the way each person was brought up by their family, and the values they had as individuals. While Gladwell’s beliefs that success depends on random factors and other things that a person cannot control is fascinating, his beliefs when applied to the life of Benjamin Franklin as related in his Autobiography, that behind successful people timing counts, meaningful work and with the support of others helps determines success; similarly my mother, who had numerous family dysfunctions and obstacles to overcome, Gladwell’s theory is complicated because she attained success on her own in spite of the many difficulties she faced growing up.

In Gladwell’s book, one of his beliefs is that timing is a critical component of success and opportunity. Benjamin Franklin was the youngest son for five generations and the 15th child out of 17 back in 1706 born in the month of January. In their family, most of his brothers became apprentices working in trade since that was the custom back in the 18th century. However, this is not what the intent that his parents had for him. They wanted him to go work in the church, so they enrolled him in a grammar school. He was at the top of the class and because of this, he was sent to an even better school. While there, he knew he never wanted to work in the church or work in the trade industry. He found he loved books and he loved writing. Those became an important part of his life. Gladwell also believes that opportunity knocks for some but not for others. He did have this opportunity that his siblings did not since he was sent to good schools and he was able to witness his older siblings daily work. This is an example of an area that I agree with Gladwell on. Benjamin Franklin was born in the first month of the year and sending him to school and finding what he loved, was an opportunity and were recognizable contributors to his success.

Another key factor of Gladwell’s was meaningful work. Gladwell believed it was critical to success along with working hard. For Benjamin Franklin, while having the opportunity to attend schools, he found that books, literacy, and writing were very important not only to him but to that time period. Gladwell’s belief of having meaningful work was correct. His work and passion for writing gave him real purpose and that is why Franklin worked even harder. Also, a main factor of success from Gladwell is the 10,000-hour rule. He believes that the most successful people work much harder than others and that if you practice hard for 10,000 hours in a certain area, you will be very successful. If you extend that time over a ten-year period, that is at least 20 hours per week to be accomplished. Franklin definitely worked hard, centered around books, literacy, and writing. However, part of his success was his determination and the wealth he earned which enabled him to do other things, such as opening a library, volunteering in other jobs, and experimenting with science. Many people work hard, and some put in over 10,000 hours and are still not successful. Many factors contribute to that especially in our modern world of change. An example is a person who has been with a company for over 30 years, may not be as successful because of the change in technology, management, age, salary, family issues, debt, etc. There are so many factors that contribute or hinder success. Our world is changing at a fast pace and you may not be as successful because of outside factors even after the meaningful work that someone has achieved. I believe these factors complicate Gladwell’s claim that success is achieved by hard work and the 10,000 hour rule.

Gladwell’s belief of putting in timing and meaningful hard work is not always true. I am going to use my mother, Michelle Presnall as an example. She was born in the month of March, the fifth child of six and was very determined to follow her chosen field. She did not have the support at home, not because they didn’t want to give it but financially, they couldn’t and back then, it wasn’t the norm. Because of a dysfunctional family and her parents divorcing, she had her own apartment and worked full time while still in high school. Despite how hard it was, she continued to put herself through college all on her own and earned her teaching degree. While doing this, she broke her back, had major surgery, and was in a body cast for six months. That didn’t stop her since she had to pay the bills and continued even in the cast to teach full time. Her goal to earn a master’s degree in education never faltered. She taught during the day and went to college in the evenings and finished while dating my dad. They married when she finished that and had three children, all boys. She continued to always work full time despite three children and tutored students after school. Her determination was there, and she worked hard not only as a teacher but as a mom. She was successful but Gladwell talked about the three elements for satisfying work: autonomy, complexity, and a connection between effort and reward. In teaching, it doesn’t matter how hard you work, the reward of salary will be what the schedule allows. Even if a person is a great teacher, they will only receive the increase in pay by the steps on that salary schedule. The reward was enjoying what she wanted and working with the students. I was the youngest of the three boys. When I graduated from high school, she decided to follow what she really wanted to do and went into administration at a County of Education in Southern California. She had earned her Administration Credential while teaching. She really enjoys it. My mother was great at teaching, but family and responsibilities help make the choices for her career. She says the only thing she wished she would change is that she had gone back to college and got her doctorate in education but that was not possible because of costs, time, and family. Again, she put in thousands and thousands of hours as Gladwell points as a key factor but that didn’t make her more successful especially in earning the set salary of a teacher.

Being successful is important. But just as important is the concept of the American Dream. Following your passion, being happy, and doing what is important to you, will aide in you being successful. Benjamin Franklin was able to earn a great deal of wealth which helped him continue to pursue other things that he valued and was determined to do. Today, many people work hard to be successful but the high cost of living, family responsibilities, the cost of college and debt, the cost of health care and insurance, and the cost of housing are considerations in choosing what a person can do in life. This is where I believe Gladwell’s argument to success is complicated. Costs are continually skyrocketing. Even if you have the determination and follow the rule of 10,000 hours which is hard to do since people change jobs every few years now, you may not be able to do things financially or because of our vast changing society. Gladwell doesn’t include the everyday obstacles that can hinder working harder to be successful. Loving what you are doing and being happy is just as important in being successful. A quote by Bo Bennett helps understand being successful today, “Success is not in what you have, but who you are.”

For many years people have been migrating to different lands to find a better life. Everyone’s ancestors at one time started as immigrants looking for something new. Part of it had to do with wanting to get away from traditions they disliked or rules they thought were unfair. They wanted to be free from living under a king so by coming to America they were able to develop a democracy. The United States of America was founded in 1776 when Americans fought for their freedom. Since then many new immigrants cross various landscapes to join the many benefits America has to offer. In the 2016 election, President Trump was elected and promised to build a wall for better security. [footnoteRef:1]“In a televised speech, he stated: ‘All Americans are hurt by uncontrolled, illegal migration’. ‘We are out of space to hold them and we have no way to promptly return them home to their country,’ he continued.” Trump’s concerns for the people has himself determined to complete the wall to slow down the process of new immigrants entering the country. For instance, Trump thinks that rapists, drug smugglers, murders, and others who can take the place of an existing citizen’s job are entering the country through our southern border. The founding fathers that helped to establish the laws of our country would have many opinions concerning Trump’s idea to build a wall. One of the famous founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin would agree to Trump’s plan because of his views of keeping outsiders away from our new country, his hatred towards other races, and thinking newcomers are stupid. [1: “Why Does Donald Trump Want to Build a Wall? – CBBC Newsround.” BBC News, BBC, www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/46811167.]

President Trump’s Southern Border The Wall

Currently, Trump has been working to fulfill his 2016 commitment to provide a wall between the United States and Mexico border. The wall was his plan to divide the two countries keeping people safer and less fearful of foreigners starting an unwanted commotion. The wall that Trump is trying to get established has many conflicts following the building of it. One of the major issues with the building of the wall is that it will cost taxpayers billions of dollars for it to be built. Another conflict reported lately in regards to Trump’s wall is that smugglers have already begun sawing through parts the wall but the structure of this border is designed in a way where it’s easy to patch up for issues that relate to that. The wall’s main purpose is to keep people who aren’t allowed in the country from sneaking in. To keep our nation great Trump wants to keep our citizens safe from an unwanted company, so he got the idea to build the wall from previous famous walls that were built. Since the advances of technology give people the ability to have higher security, Trump is having video surveillance added to the wall to keep a close watch on intruders. Even though the border is supposed to help with keeping unwanted intruders from coming in, it still maintains to slow the process down of unwanted people crossing our border which is one of the main purposes of it.

Benjamin Franklin’s Views With Regards Having A Wall

Benjamin Franklin one of our founding fathers who helped with constructing the Declaration of Independence. He was an intelligent man who was involved in many different positions that helped construct our nation. Franklin also helped with making decisions during colonial times. With Franklin’s intellect and participation in numerous events, he became a valuable asset to the creation of the United States. He also started introducing new techniques that helped advance electricity. Although Benjamin Franklin was a bright man, he still had some issues with regards to having more people join in the United States. [footnoteRef:2]“Franklin argued, ‘Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a Colony of Aliens, who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us instead of our Anglifying them, and will never adopt our Language or Customs, any more than they can acquire our Complexion.’” Franklin opposed to having the Colony be controlled by Aliens because he was worried about them neglecting or changing what they’ve already achieved in Pennsylvania. Benjamin also once claimed around the French and Indian war that boards would work to separate the savages from entering their territory. He also kept notes about the growing population of people entering what was then forming the United States. Franklin was a very involved person who had many wonderful ideas that help with the establishment of the United States. [2: Merelli, Annalisa. “A History of American Anti-Immigrant Bias, Starting with Ben Franklin’s Hatred of Germans.” Quartz, Quartz, 12 Feb. 2017, qz.com/904933/a-history-of-american-anti-immigrant-bias-starting-with-benjamin-franklins-hatred-of-the-germans/.a]

How Benjamin Franklin Feel About The Wall Being Built

Benjamin Franklin would support President Trump’s plan to build the wall because of his views and beliefs about adding more unintelligent immigrants to the population, along with thinking they’ll cause issues towards what has already been established. During the French and Indian war, Benjamin was known to claim that [footnoteRef:3]“Only a Chinese wall the whole length of the Western frontier would be a sufficient protection against these savages.” Showing Franklin’s strong views over having others come and share the land they have to give people today an understanding of how he would relate to Trump. Trump wants to make America great by having high-security protection just like Franklin wanted. Since Franklin was one of our founding fathers, he was entitled to share the same type of respect as Trump. Now everything is quite different than the 1780s so Trump should have some heads up on protection ideas than what Franklin had in mind. Far from Trump, Franklin took philosophy into consideration toward the decisions he made. Trump, of course, has years of documented history in which he can use to help construct the ideas of the wall versus Franklin who was trying to come up with new ideas and theories about ways to keep the people safe. Both have strong claims to take into account with the regards to building the wall to keep unwanted parties from coming in messing with the citizens’ rights and privileges. Both Leaders would want the newcomers to prove that they are worthy of coming into the United States and share the same privileges as those who have previously. [3: “Benjamin Franklin, Wall Builder: Trump’s Role Model?” The Globalist, 12 Feb. 2019, www.theglobalist.com/trump-border-wall-jefferson-franklin/.]

Overall the ideas about the wall making it better for citizens to feel safer and more secure in the United States have been already started by Donald J. Trump. Trump has gotten his ideas from other famous rulers who have built walls to keep peace within the country. Benjamin Franklin, our founding father who also looked into creating a wall to help with keeping unwanted company would agree to Trump’s wall. Trump’s plan has already started, and the process of creating the wall is already seeing the effects of people going through to get to the US. Both of these leaders are an inspiration to people who believe that they want to provide the best security for citizens. Having boundaries helps with keeping the separation between those who don’t want to be part of the United States because some just come for the many benefits that are provided by the states. Both leaders want borders to keep the bad people out so the citizens have less fear and more comfort in their everyday living. Since mankind is an evolved animal with intellect, feelings and control aspects. These implications of one wanting the better option have driven people to become dominant over each other. Since people haven’t developed the ability to cooperate in certain matters, conflict happens which results in wars where people are fighting and killing others to get what they want. Having a border wall will allow the United States to have a higher advantage over invaders. If Benjamin Franklin were alive today he would probably admire Trump’s decision and help contribute to the making of the wall. After all, Franklin did want security to keep people safe, and so does Trump. People want a country that isn’t fearful, they want one that is secure, so they don’t have to worry about losing something or someone valuable to them. Everyone is capable of having a positive and negative side, that will agree and disagree with ideas that are presented. Franklin would probably be amazed by the changes America has made since he was around.

Bibliography

1. Filipec, Ondřej, and Lucie Macková. “Fortifying against the Threat: Can Walls Stop Irregular Migration?” Slovak Journal of Political Sciences / Slovenska Politologicka Revue 19, no. 1 (January 2019): 61–87. doi:10.34135/sjps.190104.
2. Corcoran, Ed. “Central America Needs a Marshall Plan.” Foreign Policy in Focus, January 16, 2019, 1–6. http://search.ebscohost.com.reedleycollege.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=poh&AN=134157426&site=ehost-live.
3. “State of Emergency: Presidential Power Run Amok.” CATO Policy Report 41, no. 3 (May 2019): 11–13. http://search.ebscohost.com.reedleycollege.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=poh&AN=136783941&site=ehost-live.
4. Miroff, Nick. “Smugglers Are Sawing through New Sections of Trump’s Border Wall.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 3 Nov. 2019, www.washingtonpost.com/national/smugglers-are-sawing-through-new-sections-of-trumps-border-wall/2019/11/01/25bf8ce0-fa72-11e9-ac8c-8eced29ca6ef_story.html.
5. “Benjamin Franklin, Wall Builder: Trump’s Role Model?” The Globalist, 12 Feb. 2019, www.theglobalist.com/trump-border-wall-jefferson-franklin/.
6. “What Did Ben Franklin Do in the Revolutionary War?” Reference, IAC Publishing, www.reference.com/history/did-ben-franklin-revolutionary-war-fd05659d6637184d.
7. “Signers of the Declaration of Independence: Benjamin Franklin.” Ushistory.org, Independence Hall Association, www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/franklin.html.
8. Merelli, Annalisa. “A History of American Anti-Immigrant Bias, Starting with Ben Franklin’s Hatred of Germans.” Quartz, Quartz, 12 Feb. 2017, qz.com/904933/a-history-of-american-anti-immigrant-bias-starting-with-benjamin-franklins-hatred-of-the-germans/.
9. “Why Does Donald Trump Want to Build a Wall? – CBBC Newsround.” BBC News, BBC, www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/46811167.

In the 1700’s, books were not only expensive but also one was required to travel as far as Boston or New York to purchase one. The situation took a toll on Benjamin Franklin who had a passion for reading and determined to improve his language “While I was intent on improving my language…”(Franklin, P 21). Consequently, in 1731, he worked with Junto philosophical organization members and together they wrote Articles of Agreement with the goal of creating a library. During this time, almost all Americans in his community were illiterate. There was limited access to reading materials that would help them improve their knowledge since public libraries were nonexistent. Another problem was that most people could not afford books. While all the Junto organization members had a quest for knowledge, none had more than a handful of books. A substantial books collection would only be found in the clergy or rich households.

Accordingly, Benjamin realized that if Junto members combined their books, they would have more access to a wider collection than individual ownership. They agreed to make purchases with a guarantee that all organization members would access to the books. The organization started with fifty members who contributed forty shillings for making the initial purchase and agreed to a ten shilling annual contribution for increasing book collection and library maintenance (Franklin, 2006). The library would also benefit the community especially the common people who had no access to books. The idea of a public library was later imitated by neighboring towns and cities. Success of the library was realized since it catered for need of the illiterate community as well as, embracing cultural diversities. The team a variety of books from England including poetry, novels, history, travel and other fields such as sciences and practical arts. With time, the library got donations from several companies and grew bigger.

It is rather awkward that in the present society people would not associate the word virtue with manliness but rather use it describe a woman’s sexual conduct. Virtues are applied different circumstances in relation to pay levels, age and social angles. Ben Franklin is described as one of the wisest thinkers and writers in the world who lived an ambitious adult life that was driven by the quest for achieving moral perfection. Franklin described morality as the means for attaining a healthy lifestyle that brought out ideal experiences for humans. “I wish’d to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into? “ (Franklin, P. 64). Conscious humans therefore consider work, family and companions as important. Discussions also revolve around accomplishments such as distinction and money. Ben Franklin was also considering religious, ethnic and self-mutilations as sorts that bring about ethical quality. According to him, morality would simply mean approaching given conditions correctly. Consequently, various courses rely on circumstance and truth.

His ethical flawlessness indicates incorporates a journey towards acquiring a living, how to treat children, scholarly interests, conduct with neighbors and companion as well as a way of talking and own cleanliness. His ethical perfection drive was triggered by his desire to live a life without committing fault at any time. To accomplish his goal, Franklin developed and committed to a personal improvement program comprising of 13 virtues including temperance, silence, order, resolution, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity and humility (Franklin, 2006). To track his adherence to the virtues, he carried along a little book with 13 charts and columns for every week day and 13 rows that were marked with each virtue’s first letter. He made daily self evaluation by placing a dot next to each violated virtue with the goal for minimizing the mistakes consequently, indicating a vice free and clean life. At the beginning of the program, the marks were more than he anticipated but they diminished with time. Franklin did not attain the moral perfection goal due to some notable flaws such as womanizing and love for beer that affected his temperance and chastity. However, he felt that his attempt was beneficial.

The saying a speckled ax is best by Benjamin Franklin is meant to tell the audience that it is better to give a try into observing morality regardless of temptations and obstacle rather than giving in to evil actions and thoughts. The struggle against evil will enable one to realize his or her good and bad faces as portrayed by Franklin. Benjamin believed that he knew what was right and wrong, making it easy for him to avoid committing faults

Based on the autograph, Ben Franklin respected and valued religious ideas. He begins by thanking God and acknowledges that his past happiness is contributed by God’s providence. He adds that only God knows his future and has the power to bless even in our flaws. “And now I speak of thanking God, I desire with all humility to acknowledge that I owe the mentioned happiness of my past life to His kind providence…” (Franklin, P. 1) He has also described the experiences he faced while in England where he gives a story of a doctor who distorted the biblical messages maliciously. His opinion of the doctor clearly shows that Franklin is a religious man. His description of the doctor as a wicked and unbeliever primarily based on the doctor’s malice are evidence of his religious roots.

Furthermore, he mentions how he observed the Christians lent season portraying his religious foundations. The concept is strengthened by the fact that lent season is mainly celebrated by Christians in the Roman Catholic doctrine. In his 13 virtues he explained that humility meant that he would imitate Jesus and Socrates. Christianity believes in Jesus as the son of God and savior, by him trying to imitate Jesus shows that he is religious. In his letter to Madame Brillion, he describes that he is charmed by her description of paradise and her plan to live there (Franklin, 2006). He says that in the meantime he would draw the goodness of the world and draw more from it. He also writes a letter to Samuel Mather where he says that he remembers his father and grandmother having seen them in them both pulpit and in their houses.

Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts. He is known for the founding father of the United States of America. He was born into a large and very poor family. Ben lived in many different places. He has lived in Paris, Boston, and Philadelphia. Benjamin Franklin’s father had 17 children by two different wives. Benjamin was brought up in the family business of candle making and his brother’s printing shop. Franklin is often referred to as America’s Renaissance Man and he even played a pivotal role in forging a united American identity during the American Revolution. Whenever he could, Benjamin would take the opportunity to read and learn about a wide range of subjects. He also started writing articles that were published by him. After several had been published, he admitted to his father that he had written them. Rather than being pleased, his father beat him for his impudence. Benjamin Franklin was a scientist, ambassador, philosopher, statesmen, writer, businessman and celebrated free thinker and wit. When Benjamin was age 17 he left his family business to go and travel to Philadelphia. Benjamin only had two years of formal education, but now writes books and poems as a hobby and a job. Benjamin designed a musical instrument used by Mozart and Beethoven. His hardest and best invention he made was the lightning rod. The lightning rod is made out of some small steel iron.He made his first prototype in 1761 by having a London glassmaker build him 37 glass orbs of different sizes and pitches, which he then mounted on a spindle controlled by a foot pedal.

Benjamin Franklin died April 17, 1790, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania when he was 84 years old because of his death was empyema brought by attacks of pleurisy, which he had suffered earlier in his life. Benjamin is most famous for the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Ben Franklin was famous for his investigations into electricity and for writing ‘Poor Richard’s Almanack. Franklin became a hit writer as a teenager. Ben created a phonetic alphabet. Benjamin Franklin thought that people were easily confused by the differing rules of spelling, and he took it upon himself to solve the problem. He made a phonetic alphabet that would replace the one we use today. Benjamin Franklin’s biggest accomplishments were He created the first published cartoon in U.S, He authored the famous Poor Richard’s Almanack, Benjamin Franklin invented the lightning rod, He made numerous other things including bifocal lenses. While living in London in 1768, Franklin embarked on a project “to give the alphabet a more natural order.” Franklin owned two slaves during his life, both of whom worked as household servants, but in his old age he came to view slavery as a vile institution that ran counter to the principles of the American Revolution.

Benjamin Franklin spent his later years as an abolitionist. Franklin owned two slaves during his life, both of whom worked as household servants, but in his old age he came to view slavery as a vile institution that ran counter to the principles of the American Revolution. He took over as president of a Pennsylvania abolitionist society in 1787, and in 1790 he presented a petition to Congress urging it to grant liberty “to those unhappy men who alone in this land of freedom are degraded into perpetual bondage.” While the petition was ignored, Franklin kept up the fight until his death a few months later, and even included a provision in his will that required his daughter and son-in-law to free their slaves to get their inheritance. Benjamin Franklin didn’t have a lot of education, he was the most brilliant American of his age rarely saw the inside of a classroom. Franklin spent just two years attending Boston Latin School and a private academy before joining the family candle and soap making business. By age 12, he was serving as an indentured apprentice at a printing shop owned by his brother, James. Young Benjamin made up for his lack of schooling by spending what little money he earned on books, often going without food to afford new volumes. Despite being almost entirely self-taught, Franklin later helped found the school that became the University of Pennsylvania and received honorary degrees from Harvard, Yale, the College of William and Mary.

Benjamin Franklin became a hit writer as a teenager. After his brother James founded a weekly newspaper called the New England Courant in the 1720s, a 16-year-old Franklin began secretly submitting essays and commentary as “Silence Dogood,” a fictitious widow who offered homespun musings on everything from fashion and marriage to women’s rights and religion. The letters were hugely popular, and Mrs. Dogood soon received several marriage proposals from eligible bachelors in Boston. Franklin penned 14 Dogood essays before unmasking himself as their author, much to his jealous brother’s chagrin. Sick of the toil and beatings he endured as James’ apprentice, the teenage sensation then fled Boston the following year and settled in Philadelphia, the city that would remain his adopted hometown for the rest of his life. Ben spent his half of his life in unofficial retirement. Franklin arrived in Philadelphia in 1723 practically penniless, but over the next two decades he became enormously wealthy as a print shop owner, land speculator and publisher of the popular “Poor Richard’s Almanack.” By 1748, the 42-year-old was rich enough to hang up his printer’s apron and become a “gentleman of leisure.” Franklin’s retirement allowed him to spend his remaining 42 years studying science and devising inventions such as the lightning rod, bifocal glasses and a more efficient heating stove. It also gave him the freedom to devote himself to public service.

Benjamin Franklin designed a musical instrument used by Mozart and Beethoven. Among Franklin’s more unusual inventions is his “glass armonica,” an instrument designed to replicate the otherworldly sound that a wet finger makes when rubbed along the rim of a glass. He made his first prototype in 1761 by having a London glassmaker build him 37 glass orbs of different sizes and pitches, which he then mounted on a spindle controlled by a foot pedal. To play the instrument, the user would simply wet their fingers, rotate the apparatus and then touch the glass pieces to create individual tones or melodies. The armonica would go on to amass a considerable following during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Thousands were manufactured, and the likes of Mozart, Beethoven and Strauss all composed music for it. Franklin would later write that, “Of all my inventions, the glass armonica has given me the greatest personal satisfaction.” When Benjamin Franklin went to france he was known as a fashion icon. In 1776, the Continental Congress sent Franklin to France to seek military aid for the revolution. The 70-year-old was already world renowned for his lighting experiments—the French even called their electrical experimenters “Franklinistes”—but his fame soared to new heights after his arrival in Paris. Franklin capitalized on the French conception of Americans as rustic frontiersmen by dressing plainly and wearing a fur hat, which soon became his trademark and appeared in countless French portraits and medallions. Women even took to imitating the cap with oversized wigs in a style called “coiffure a la Franklin.” When Franklin later traded the fur cap for a white hat during the signing of the 1778 treaty between France and the United States, white colored headgear instantly became a fashion trend among the men of Paris.

He was important to us because he made the lighting rod. He also made the glass harmonica, franklin stove, hand paddles, and electronic machine. Benjamin Franklin helped draft the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Franklin was famous for his investigations into electricity and for writing ‘Poor Richard’s Almanack. What Benjamin Franklin did to America was during the American Revolution, he served the Second Continental Congress and helped draft the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Benjamin franklin impact the world because His experiments with electricity, science, government, and his abilities as statesman have changed the world. Like his other inventions, he wanted people to be able to use it. It was this selflessness that helped him impact the world. What’s most important about Benjamin Franklin was that he was the first Postmaster General of the United States. Another important fact is that Franklin Stove was revolutionary. What Benjamin Franklin did for fun was he performed many experiments that proved that lightning is in fact electricity. Benjamin Franklin had many jobs, but his first job, he worked hard throughout his life found himself as a scientist, inventor, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. Benjamin’s life was writing poems and printing papers everyday, and didn’t stop.