Analysis_of_the_Autobiography_of_Benjamin_Franklin

Analysis of the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin There is a famous saying that smart people learn from their mistakes, dumb people do not learn from their mistakes, and wise people learn from other people’s mistakes. If there is any merit to this statement, Benjamin Franklin was most assuredly a wise man. Now that isn’t to say that he did not make mistakes, but he certainly was able gain wisdom from watching other men’s failures. In the Autobiography of Biography of Benjamin Franklin, he often accounted for and made reference to the many mistakes he had made in his life, thus proving that he was a strong and noble man. It takes a strong and noble man to be able to openly admit his own wrongdoings. In Part One of the autobiography he recounts a story about his apprenticeship in his brother, James’s, print shop. The two of them had a great disagreement which began with James getting in trouble with the law. Benjamin Franklin decided he did not want to be a part of this, so he walked out on his brother and his apprenticeship. Afterwards he felt poorly for abandoning hi s brother, and claimed this decision to be “the first errata of my life” (Franklin 2003). Benjamin Franklin certainly made mistakes, but his numerous and innovative accomplishments are what he is remembered for. Possibly his greatest accomplishment was assisting in the unification of the original 13 colonies, making him one of our nation’s founding fathers. In order to achieve the aforementioned great accomplishment, Benjamin Franklin used his sharp debate skills instilled in him by his father to convince people to reach a common understanding. That common understanding was the colonies needed to put religious and political differences aside and unite as one in order to one day become an independent nation. Benjamin Franklin saw the big picture. He was able to realize that most religions political ideologies were all mostly founded and based upon the same moral and social principles. He was always able to recognize this, which helped him in debating his ideologies at political hearings and congresses. Franklin gained respect and notoriety through his many exceptional writings and publications. He used his newly gained respect and notoriety to become a large voice in the makings of our nation’s Constitution. Franklin’s “Plain Truth” was the writing of his that started his attempts to unify the colonies. In this pamphlet, Franklin suggested his plans to better sub-standard defense of the colonies and that political unification was dire if the colonies ever wanted to gain independence. Franklin set up a town meeting to debate the ideals of this pamphlet with other town political leaders. His ideas were well received and a Franklin began to help raise money for colonial defense efforts; however these efforts did not generate much revenue. Though later on, Franklin would be given another chance to express and use his ideas for the good of the colonies. In 1754, during the wake of the impending war between England and France, Franklin again brought forward his plans to strengthen colonial defense. His efforts paid off this time. His plans were liked by the governors of New York and Pennsylvania. With the backing of these two powerful officials, the funding once again began for building up the colonies’ defense abilities. Benjamin Franklin was the great genius of his time. He was an accomplished writer, philosopher, inventor, and politician, but most importantly, he was a man virtue. In this autobiography, Franklin listed the 13 virtues that he felt every man should live by. These virtues were temperance, order, resolution, frugality, moderation, industry, cleanliness, tranquility, silence, sincerity, justice, chastity, and humility. Benjamin Franklin possessed and honed all of these virtues to do the many things he accomplished. It was through these virtues that Benjamin Franklin helped unite the colonies.