...question of "name at least three founding fathers of The United States," we could easily come up with George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, or Alexander Hamilton. Now if that same survey asked instead "name one defining characteristic of these founding fathers," or "describe in your own words the significance of these individuals," we would get various responses. Despite the randomness of answers we would receive on such a survey, a common consensus could be reached about America's Founding Fathers, that is these individuals were great figures in our nation's history. The role they played in the 18th century to establish the basis for a nation that would continue to grow for centuries was significant....
Words: 1200 - Pages: 5
...Many of the founding fathers of the United States are known for their specific contributions to the country. Alexander Hamilton is best known for his political contributions as Secretary of the Treasury. Thomas Jefferson if famous for his drafting of the Declaration of Independence and his role as the third president of the United States. Another well-known founding father was Benjamin Franklin, unique in comparison considering his lack of an active role in the government. While he may not have held an office as vital as president, or a political career for as long as several of his fellow founding fathers, his contributions were instrumental to the creation of the country. Often considered radical by part of his colleagues, Benjamin Franklin represented the evolution of enlightenment thinkers with his new democratic ideas putting citizens in power. Almost...
Words: 568 - Pages: 3
...Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, was born January 17, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts. He had many jobs throughout his lifetime including author, printer, inventor, scientist, postmaster, political theorist, statesman, diplomat, and civic activist. As a scientist he made significant contributions to the history of physics and American innovation through his experiments and discoveries with electricity. He also gave important credibility to the forming American nation through his work as an author, spokesman in London, and as the first American ambassador to France. Franklin defined his vision of what a true American should be, reconciling practical values such as hard work, saving, education, self-sufficient...
Words: 758 - Pages: 4
...the King from abusing his power over the people ("Magna |Constitution", n.d.). | | |Carta", 2000-2012).. | | | |The Magna Carta consists of 63 clauses, many of the clauses address the English legal |Magna Carta: Cornerstone of the U.S. Constitution. (n.d.). Retrieved from | | |system. It states that every man shall have access to the English legal system |http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/magna-carta-cornerstone-us-constitution | | |without fear of costs. It also states that no one will be imprisoned or punished | | | |without...
Words: 1851 - Pages: 8
...colonist can live by in their settlements | The Mayflower Compact served as the main foundation of the US Constitution. It basically laid down the basic laws that are present in it. . | Articles of Confederation | | | Northwest Ordinance | | | Declaration of Independence | Helped form the USA and separate from British power. The declaration of independence set up the rules for the new country | This gave the people the right to be free and to equals | Philosophers | Who was this? | How did his writings influence the Constitution? | Thomas Hobbes | Hobbes is the founding father of political philosophy(Hobbes, Thomas (1998 [1642]) On the Citizen, ed & trans Richard Tuck and Michael Silverthorne (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge) | Hobbes basically said that each individual has the right everything. | John Locke | John Locke was considered one of Britains greatest Philosphers and the father of Empiricism ( http://www.essentiallifeskills.net/johnlocke.html) | Locke's political philosophies of all men are free and equal and by nature have certain natural rights and that the people from the government not an absolute ruler were used by Jefferson in his documents(http://www.essentiallifeskills.net/johnlocke.html) | Selected patriots | Who was this? | What were his views on governmental...
Words: 501 - Pages: 3
...The Influence of Benjamin Franklin in History and Science. Benjamin Franklin once said,” I didn’t fail the test, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong.” In other words, Benjamin Franklin always made mistakes due to all his experiments, but he liked learning from them. In fact, he is known for his valuable inventions and incredible knowledge. Benjamin Franklin was a very influential person because of he was one of the founding fathers of the U.S. and his valuable inventions. To begin with, Benjamin Franklin was born on January 27, 1706 in Boston and was the eighth child out of the ten in the family (Ketcham 8-12). He later lived in England for 15 years as a spokesman and his father was a mechanic (Ketcham 8-12). He mentioned that his mother was very careful and showed high worthy standards (Ketcham 8-12). In fact, when he used to live at Boston, he used to help his father in his business in a shop, but his father realized he did an awful job (Dooling 1-45). For this reason, he was dismissed (Dooling 1-45). Benjamin...
Words: 1454 - Pages: 6
...Benjamin franklin was born in Milk Street, Boston, on January 6, 1706. Benjamin Franklin attended Mr. George Brownell’s school to study arithmetic and writing. He attended this school from age of 8 to 10. Mathematics is the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. Franklin was a renowned polymath and a leading author, printer, political theorist, Politian, freemason, post master, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American enlighten. Benjamin Franklin learned to be a printer through the apprenticeship system. However, he gained his independence at age 17, not by completing his apprenticeship, but by running away from his master and leaving his family and hometown behind. He worked for...
Words: 537 - Pages: 3
...A Great Nation with Many Questions The American citizens of this great nation, as a whole, are ready to concede that the United States of America was not founded with Christian principles or with any basis of religion. In ten years, no one will question whether we were founded as a Christian nation or not. Is this something that American citizens are willing to concede? Our founding fathers never directly made reference to Christianity or religion, but it certainly was referenced. Think of how the United States of America would be if its foundation was not one with Christian principles, not a united country, a country without good moral values. Historically, whether many believe it or not, the United States of America is a Christian nation. American was founded by the Pilgrims and Puritans in the early 1600’s. They came to America to be able to practice religious freedom and for other reasons. England decided that they wanted to break away from the Roman Catholic Church in the 1500’s, thus the creation of the Church of England, otherwise known as the Anglican Church. The pilgrims not wanting to belong to the Church of England decided that they wanted to establish a colony in the state of Virginia. They wanted to practice religious freedom and have the Gospel as part of their lives. According to you tube video, “Pilgrims and their journey” by Amwess1 the pilgrims left for America in 1620 on the Mayflower. After more than sixty days they made land at Plymouth, Massachusetts...
Words: 1489 - Pages: 6
...In the novel,”Founding Brothers” author Joseph Ellis illustrates the Revolutionary era by providing insights of the Founding Fathers. Ellis also distinguishes the behind scenes look during the revolutionary period as he comes across the explanation of how America successfully achieved their independence from Great Britain, declaration of Independence, and established the United States Constitution. Ellis takes the reader back into American history to view how these founding fathers (Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison) contributed to the American Revolution.Alexander Hamilton “was [the] secretary of treasury”(48). He was described as an ambitious man, he had developed a financial plan to pay off the state debts. Part of his plan was to collaborate a National Bank. He wanted Congress to charter this bank that would provide stability to America's economy by establishing loans to merchants, handling government funds, and issuing...
Words: 803 - Pages: 4
...Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on January 17, 1706 as the tenth of his father’s seventeen children. His father, Josiah Franklin, made candles and soaps for a living, and had his own shop. Benjamin had to leave school at the age of ten to begin working there, but continued to study independently afterwards. When he was twelve, he became his older brother, James’ apprentice. James Franklin worked as a printer for a newspaper, and soon enough, Benjamin Franklin started submitting his own writing to be published in the paper. However, he did so with the pen name Silence Dogood, because he knew his brother would never allow him to submit his work. After writing over a dozen essays, Ben Franklin confessed to his older brother that he was Silence Dogood, and James Franklin was furious. Later, James Franklin was imprisoned for the opinions featured in his newspaper, and Benjamin had to maintain the shop in his absence. When James was released, he treated his younger brother with the same hostility as before James’ arrest. Due to his brother’s mistreatment of him, Benjamin Franklin went to live in Philadelphia....
Words: 523 - Pages: 3
...Dexter Davis Professor Heppding History 221- D16 14 November 2011 Determined Statesman, Self Promoter and Innovator 1. Bio of Benjamin of Franklin 2. A young child as an avid reader 3. A journeyman printer and continual pursue as a writer 4. Benjamin the journalist 5. Benjamin achieved success as a clerk of the General Assembly and became the Poster- Master General in Philadelphia 6. Benjamin the Statesman, Self promoter and Innovator 7. Conclusion Benjamin Franklin was one of the founding fathers of the United States. He was born in Boston on January 17, 1706. Benjamin was the youngest son of seventeen siblings. He did not complete his formal education; however, he was a person who was extraordinarily ambitious, free thinker, self-promoter and a determined innovator, who changed many minds and cultures through his journalisms, inventions, political influence, scientific researches, statesman and diplomat. Benjamin, as a young child, read many books that he could get his hands on, such as the first collection, “Paul Bunyan’s” literary work that he treasured, and later sold, to purchase Burton’s Historical Collections. His father, Josiah Franklin had his own library. However, majority of his father's book were religious materials, moreover, Benjamin did not enjoy reading them; that became a turning point for not becoming a clergyman. He continues to pursue other interest books, such as “De Foe’s”, an Essay on Projects and “Dr. Mather’s”...
Words: 1053 - Pages: 5
...Benjamin Franklin was a revolutionary part of the Revolutionary War and was probably one of the most skilled founding father. Along with being a very important person in the war, he was also a statesman, author, publisher, scientist, inventor and diplomat. He was born in Boston, the heart of the revolution, and his older brother, a Boston printer, apprenticed him at twelve. Even though his education was limited, he excelled in reading and writing and would publish essays under he name “Silence Dogood” to a newspaper his brother owned, all while he was just sixteen. He moved to London, England and started working in the printing business in 1724. When he returned back to Philadelphia, he continued to working in the printing business and it...
Words: 707 - Pages: 3
...Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin led an interesting life. Many supporters helped him stretch beyond measures of what he could do himself; therefore, he reached fame with his inventions and advances (Lynch 3). Franklin was taken on an expedition, which includes his life story, the influences, and his style of writing. Who is Benjamin Franklin? Franklin was a sensible man (8). Others called him a self-“made man” (McGill). Franklin was Presbyterian (Ellis). Many know him as the Founding Father of the United States and for the experiments he has conducted involving electricity. He is the tenth child of a family of sixteen members (Keating 797). Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 to Josiah and Abidijah Franklin (McGill). At the age of ten,...
Words: 779 - Pages: 4
...Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 [O.S. January 6, 1705][Note 1][Note 2] – April 17, 1790) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. He invented the lightning rod, bifocals, the Franklin stove, a carriage odometer, and the glass 'armonica'.[1] He facilitated many civic organizations, including a fire department and a university. Franklin earned the title of "The First American" for his early and indefatigable campaigning for colonial unity; as an author and spokesman in London for several colonies, then as the first United States Ambassador to France, he exemplified the emerging American nation.[2] Franklin was foundational in defining the American ethos as a marriage of the practical values of thrift, hard work, education, community spirit, self-governing institutions, and opposition to authoritarianism both political and religious, with the scientific and tolerant values of the Enlightenment. In the words of historian Henry Steele Commager, "In a Franklin could be merged the virtues of Puritanism without its defects, the illumination of the Enlightenment without its heat."[3] To Walter Isaacson, this makes Franklin "the most accomplished...
Words: 528 - Pages: 3
...One Individual can influence the direction of history. Men such as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington have all had made a profound impact on the direction of the country. Now, who was the most influential is subjective and hard to quantify, but the fact that each one of these men, at one point in time, changed the course of history cannot be denied. Here are some examples of how they did it. Benjamin Franklin, was one of the founding fathers. Franklin signed the Declaration of Independence, The United States Constitution and The Treaty of Paris. The Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary war which changed the course of history forever. The power of negotiation was greatly needed for the advancements needed by America...
Words: 385 - Pages: 2
