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The autobiography of benjamin franklin review essay
Benjamin Franklin contributions to the American culture
The autobiography of benjamin franklin review essay
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Ben Franklin of Old Philadelphia is a children’s nonfiction book about Ben Franklin and his life from a boy to a successful adult. This book was written by Margaret Cousins. The 141 pages in the book was published in 1952. Ben Franklin was born in Boston on a Sunday in January of 1706. His father was a candle maker and had many sons. Ben from a young age was a very adventurous boy, he was often getting in trouble. As a teen Ben Franklin went to work with his brother as a newspaper printer. Ben was in love with books and wanted to write a column in his brothers paper. He and his brother argued several times and Ben ran away to New York but soon ended up in Philadelphia running his own newspaper company. Ben Franklin was a scientist and inventor, we’ve all heard about Ben with electricity. Ben Franklin was also a major founding father of the constitution and was viewed as a very patriotic person. I thought this book was well written and included most of Ben …show more content…
Everyone has seen the older Ben Franklin on cartoons and in books with long hair and spectacles. As far as I know, this is what he looks like. Ben Franklin as a boy was adventurous and spent a lot of time with his friends. I would say I could relate to him in this way because in the summer I spend a lot of time with my friends outside doing stuff we enjoy. Ben Franklin as he got older kind of did things on his own, he kept to himself and printed his newspaper from information his few servants and writers got for him. The only real social thing he really ever did was help found the constitution which was a big
Carl Doren, author of “Benjamin Franklin,” suggested that Franklin might’ve “tempered the account of his youth, saw his course as straighter than it was, left out or had forgotten his ranker appetites” (56) to ensure that the general attitude toward the stories of his adolescent self was positive, not negative. One such alteration, Doren says, was the exclusion of “General Magazine” in the autobiography, a magazine Franklin published which failed after six months (120). There are other critics who say that Franklin’s autobiography was written in a manner to tell stories in such a way to always show Franklin in a positive light. Lopez and Herbert, for example, say that Franklin’s description of Samuel Keimer, one of Franklin’s bosses, was inaccurately unflattering and facts about him are left out entirely, facts which would’ve completely changed the general mood surrounding his character
African or black history was not a study that was done by many until the last century. Studying African Americans accurately as part of American History was an even newer field of history. John Hope Franklin’s obituary calls him, “the scholar who helped create the field of African-American history and dominated it for nearly six decades.” He would call himself an historian of the American South.
Benjamin Franklin was a remarkably talented man. He started his life as a printers apprentice, but went much farther then there. He developed things that were far more advanced than the time. Benjamin Franklin's stove for example, for cold winter nights, and bifocal lenses for reading. Franklin tracked storms to help understand the horrible weather endured by the colonies. But gis study of electricity made him mist famous and he was known world wide as the founder of the lightning rod. Not only was Benjamin Franklin helpful in developing ideas for better living, he was also a strong force in developing the new nation of America. Benjamin Franklins political views showed him to be a man who loved freedom and independence. His views towards England gradually changed from like to dislike until he finally
Benjamin Franklin, through hard work and perseverance, transformed himself into a philosopher, diplomat, inventor, writer, and scientist. (SOURCE) Franklin’s contributions and ideas significantly encouraged major progress in the development our country and improvements that continue to affect society. He showed that with a strong desire and honest and hard work anything is possible. Unlike most politicians, he was a common person. He is also a hero in that he symbolizes hope and possibilities for many Americans. However, Franklin was not a perfect human being, and for that reason, some believe that his face should not grace the $100 bill. His legacy is undeniably a major part in our history and as one of the key “founding fathers” to our society; the fact reminds Benjamin Franklin is distinct figure in our history. I will present my argument in favor of keeping Franklin on the bill.
Benjamin Franklin is one of the most profound individuals in American history. He is a Diplomat, Writer, Inventor, a founding father, and holds the title as the “First American.” In 1706 Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony. He is the fifteenth of seventeen children that his father, Josiah Franklin, had. At the age of 8 years old Franklin attended school, here he learned literacy. In spite of his successes in school, he had to drop out at the young age of 10 to assist his father with his business. Franklin did not enjoy working for his father’s business, however he had to work at his father’s shop for about 2 years. Josiah then had Benjamin apprenticed to his little brother, James, who was a printer. James is the founder
Born in the Massachusetts Bay Colony on January 17,1706; Benjamin was the youngest son of seventeen children. From an early age Benjamin was a natural earner but discontinued his studies to work in his father’s soap and candle shop at age 10. Two years later, Franklin joined his brother as an apprentice at his printer shop. Working at the shop, Franklin indulged himself with writing and poetry. In the Autobiography, Benjamin claimed that “Prose Writing… of great Use to me in the Course of my Life, and was a principal Means of my Advancement” (“Benjamin Franklin”). With no work success in New York Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was a very significant figure during the American Revolution. His success as an inventor, scientist, printer, and politician made him a very famous and successful man during these times. His involvement in the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States always is an important part in US history. Simply put, we could not be here if Benjamin Franklin didn’t exist.
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is a representation of the new prospect of upward mobility in colonial America during the 18th century and the development of the Age of Reason, which assisted in the conception of the idea of the “American Dream”; a dream that includes fundamentally social ideals such as democracy, equality, and material prosperity. Furthermore, Franklin’s autobiography exemplifies a significant shift in focus from religion to enlightenment and reason. Additionally, there were forces specific to Benjamin Franklin's Philadelphia, that played an important role in his perspectives and the changes that occurred within colonial America during the 18th century.
Franklin was then apprenticed to his half brother James, a printer and publisher of the New England Courant. Unbeknownst to his brother young Ben was secretly contributing letters to the publication under the name of "Silence Dogood." In total, he published thirteen essays under that pseudonym which were widely read and praised for their satire. In 1723, after much disagreement with his brother he left and went to work in Philadelphia as a printer. After a sojourn in London from 1724-1726, he returned and in 1729 acquired an interest in the Pennsylvania Gazette. Soon after in the year 1730, Franklin became the owner and editor of the Pennsylvania Gazette and made the periodical popular. His common sense philosophy and his neatly worded phrases won public attention in things such as: the Gazette, later in the General Magazine, and especially in his Poor Richard's Almanack, which he published from 1732 to 1757 under the pen name Richard Saunders.
Ben Franklin created his legacy and wrote about it in his book to his son William Franklin. Ben wrote about his struggles with not having enough money to owning a printing factory where he printed papers and he and his 15 brothers owned one of the first newspapers in United States. He wrote the book because he was estranged to his son William. His son William was a loyalist and after the U.S signed the declaration of Independence he was put in prison for about 3 years. The whole time he was in prison he was trying to contact the loyalist party overseas and in America. He then later returned to England and was the spokesman for the loyalist party in England. He was doing research on his ancestors so he decided to write a book for his son to tell him what his life was about when he was younger.
In The Autobiography, Benjamin Franklin recounts the many paramount experiences throughout his life that shaped him into great American figure he was known to be. On the opening page, Franklin reveals the book’s epistolary format by writing, “Dear Son,” going on to admit that he’s made some mistakes in the past and to recollect that past is a way to relive it. By divulging his desire to “change some sinister Accidents & Events” (Franklin 3) the author indicates how important it is for his son to observe as he amends his mistakes. Pride, virtue and vanity play a pivotal role in Benjamin Franklin’s life and the way he portrays himself to others. Instances occur where the author is shown gloating about his great accomplishments and he puts emphasis on his need to live a virtuous and morally perfect life. Throughout his story, Benjamin Franklin tells his son of his many virtuous acts and momentous achievements, motivating the question as to whether he seeks his own approval more so than the approval of his peers.
Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston Massachusetts in 1706 Franklin’s father Josiah Franklin was a soap and candle maker, and the father of 10 children. During Franklin’s childhood his father had envisioned Benjamin becoming a student for the ministry. However, the cost of Benjamin’s education would far surpass the means of the Franklin family. As a result Benjamin Franklin was brought to his father’s shop to work as an apprentice and general handyman. Franklin disliked the work at his father’s shop and said in his Autobiography regarding the matter, “I was employed in cutting Wick for candles, filling the Dipping Mold, and the Mold for cast Candles, attending the Shop, going of Errands, etc. I dislik’d the Trade and had a strong Inclination for the Sea; but my father declar’d against it.” At the age of 12 Benjamin was sent to be an apprentice to his brother James who was setting up a printing business in Boston. Benjamin agreed to work for his brother until the age of 21. The printing apprenticeship exposed Franklin to literature, which would become essent...
Franklin also played the harp, violin, and guitar which expresses his great love for music and his love for learning. Benjamin cared that young people got a good education; he thought that "education today is leadership and success of tomorrow." He thought that it was important to have a love of reading and founded the first public library in America in 1731: the Philadelphia Library. In 1732, Franklin published Poor Richard's Almanac with the pen name 'Richard Saunders.' In 1749, he wrote Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania. In 1751, he established Philadelphia Academy, later known as Univer...
The author starts his essay with his thesis statement stating that “the writings of Benjamin Franklin offer only meager representations of his inner life.” And then continues to list a few of his main arguments within the next few pages, claiming the “...the correlation between houses and selves is a matter of proximity and experience…”. In addition to this he argues that “... we can learn [a] good deal… by examining one of the most significant moments in his [Franklin’s] life: the building and furnishing of his house on Market Street in Philadelphia”. Then the author continues to give us an introduction his the supporting evidence that he gives in the rest of his essay.
A general theme in Franklin's writings is the differences between the private and public self and how the two interact. Parts One and Two of his Autobiography were written at different times and intended for different audiences. In Part One Franklin is speaking to his Son, (who was then the Governor of New Jersey) a public figure. It was started in 1771. Part Two was begun...