jreardon227F09
jenniferreardon
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The idea of what it means to be American, or Americanism, has changed significantly since The American Revolution. Being American in 1776 meant a resistance to oppression and the King of England, resistance characterized by brave Yankee men fighting against England. They fought for what the Founding Fathers wanted: a Nation free of England, governed by the people for the people. Benjamin Franklin was one of the eleven Founding Fathers, and perhaps the most well-known. He was a very influential man during his time, in our country as well as France, securing a French alliance with the United States during the Revolutionary War. He helped establish the meaning of what it was to be American for a man in 1776, as well as the idea of the American Dream. Benjamin Franklin felt that all men should be well educated and have the chance to be educated. He discouraged excessive drinking, and felt that religion or God should be in one's mind whenever he sets out to do something.
Franklin and the Revolutionary Body
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This article by Betsy Erkkila is about Benjamin Franklin's moral values. Erkkila sites an article Franklin wrote for the Pennsylvania Gazette called "Tryal of a Man and His Wife." The article is about a fourteen-year-old girl who is kicked out of the house and left to die. She begs for food from her parents and they feed her "her own Excrements" and she dies. He points out the lack of any morals or religion from the parents, and is over all disgusted with the events. He blames the event almost entirely on excess drinking. She then says that he made it an effort to try and convince men not to drink in excess. He highly discouraged "Dramdrinking (A dram is a small measure of alcohol)." In other words, he is saying that men, whether of lower, middle, or upper class, should not drink drams of whiskey or rum in excess.
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This a review by Ronald A. Bosco of a biography of Benjamin Franklin. He claims that all biographies of Benjamin Franklin are divided into the same three sections. The first section is how Franklin makes his own way as a successful printer in Philadelphia. Franklin's early life is a prime example of what would later be known as the American Dream, or the idea that anyone could start small and poor, and if he worked had, he could make it all on his own. The second takes place primarily in London, where Franklin begins to represent "a larger independence-seeking colonial constituency," while struggling with his own American identity and pondering a move to England. Because Franklin had personal turmoil over whether or not to remain American, the fact that he was able to come out of the struggle and realize that he was American defines another important characteristic of being American. Americans were proud of their heritage and would fight to defend it, a feeling that still stands today. The third part that biographies of Franklin tend to be divided into is Franklin as a Founding Father and a major part of the revolutionary body of America. This section is probably the most well known of the three sections. Benjamin Franklin is a strong leader figure who successfully negotiates with the French to be allies to the American colonists, and helps draft the Declaration of Independence, the document on which America is based.
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Untitled Review
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![[Untitled Review]](/assets/nines/sm_site_image-185f6d1e205636b2c31820e7f5579e08.gif)
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Benjamin Franklin
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This drawing was done in 1782, six years after the constitution was signed. Franklin is dressed in distinguished clothing, showing his social status. Around the oval he's in are eagles, the symbol of the United States and the National Bird. There are clouds and lightning, suggesting power, and Franklin's oval is literally on a pedestal, suggesting that the artist thought highly of Franklin. There are maps and books to the right of him, showing that he was scholarly. Engraved underneath him is the Latin word "VIR" which means man or manliness. The aritist was essentially showing how an American man should be; Scholarly and powerful, or like Benjamin Franklin.
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This is a book written by Benjamin Franklin in 1795 about the American Dream, or making one's own way in the world. He does this by creating an alter ego for himself, which he calls "Poor Richard." Poor Richard talks throughout the book, giving his advice on making one's way through the world.
The first point he makes is that we should work hard, because "the sleeping fox catches no poultry." He pins sloth as a horrible quality that will lead to nothing getting done. He also says that the successful man will not procrastinate. The second point of advice he gives is to not be so trusting of everyone, because it will lead to our demise. The third point he makes is that one should be frugal. He says that while fine things and fine foods make you feel good, they aren't needed and should be avoided for the most part. The last point he makes is that while one should follow the first three points that he made, one can do nothing if he does not have the blessing of God, and to "remember, Job suffered, and was afterwards prosperous." |
Franklin's way to wealth, or, Poor Richard improved
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Dr. Franklin
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This drawing of Benjamin Franklin shows him sitting at a desk with a quill in his hand. There are books filling the shelves behind him and a book in his hand. Beside or behind him are presumably things he invented. He is dressed in fine clothing, and the decorations around him suggest his wealth.
The quill, books, and inventions around him show that he is obviously very educated, and exercises his mind often. Because he is dressed in fine clothing, it suggests that education is not only fashionable, but leads to one being great and high in society. |
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In this image, Benjamin Franklin is opening the first subscription library in Philadelphia. In the mid 1700s, books were still very expensive, and those who were poor could not afford to buy books. So in 1731 Benjamin Franklin had the idea that those who were rich could buy shares in the library, providing the money to buy books. Then those who were poor could borrow a book for a small fee, and return it. The library that he and his Junto founded is still open as a research library. (http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/info/index.htm)
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Benjamin, Franklin, 1706-1790
"Franklin opening 1st subscription library in Phila."
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As one can clearly see by the articles and images posted above, Benjamin Franklin was an avid advocate of Education. He believed that most of the evil or bad events that occur were due to the excessive drinking of men, so dram drinking should be avoided. Franklin is one of the first examples of someone who achieved what is now known as the American Dream. He made his way from virtually nothing into a successful printer and writer. He published books about his success and how one could go about achieving the success that he himself had. Most of all, he thought highly of Education. In most images found of Franklin, he is not without books or a quill or one of his many inventions. He was thought very highly of, and was most likely a role model for many young men. He believed that everyone should have access to education, and made this possible by starting the first subscription library. Because of Benjamin Franklin, education was thought of as an excellent thing to have since the beginning of America, and the key to the American Dream.
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