Ben Franklin "The First American," Research Paper

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I dressed plain and was seen at no places of idle diversion. I never went out a-fishing or shooting; a book indeed sometimes debauched me from my work, but that was seldom, was private, and gave no scandal; and to show that I was not above my business, I sometimes brought home the paper I purchased at the stores through the streets on a wheelbarrow (Franklin, 1914, p. 70).

Franklin was uncertain regarding his job, as he could not decide whether he was better at doing business or if he was better at writing and trying to influence the public. This is perfectly exemplified through the fact that he occasionally engaged in writing articles under various pseudonyms in the paper he bought in 1729, the Pennsylvania Gazette. The paper appealed to the public and this became obvious through the fact that it became one of the best selling papers in the colonies, significantly contributing to Franklin's rise in influence. From his behavior and from the articles published in his newspaper people observed how he was particularly interested in the well-being of the general public (Russell, 1926, p. 147).

The year 1733 marked Franklin's first major endeavor at dedicating his work to the public, as he issued Poor Richard's Almanac. This writing was also under a pseudonym, Richard Saunders -- an underprivileged individual who wanted to raise money for his sick wife. The Almanac distinguished itself from other almanacs contemporary to Franklin because of the character of its text.

"I considered it a proper vehicle," he says, "for conveying instruction among the common people, who bought scarcely any other books; I therefore filled all the little spaces that occurred between the remarkable days in the calendar with proverbial sentences, chiefly such as inculcated industry and frugality, as the means of procuring wealth, and thereby securing virtue; it being more difficult for a man in want, to act always honestly, as, to use here one of those proverbs, it is hard for an empty sack to stand upright" (Russell, 1926, p. 132).

While his businesses generated large amounts of money, he directed his attention toward something completely different (even though he had been interested in the subject previously), getting actively engaged in inventing a series of devices.

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He is responsible for discovering that lightning essentially electricity seen in another way, by experimenting with a kite that he used to capture lightning. This event was much more important than Franklin liked to consider it was, considering that he practically busted a myth that was around for several millennia. However, in spite of his notable contribution to science, Franklin was not (as numerous people think) the person who discovered electricity (Russell, 1926, p. 161).

Franklin was initially devoted to England because of the fact that people there were (from his perspective) better prepared to put across complex thinking. However, he quickly realized that the political system in the country was corrupt and started thinking about influencing Americans in breaking away from England. Soon after leaving England he contributed to writing the Declaration of Independence and made his position in the matter public.

Benjamin Franklin is remembered as one of the most influential individuals in the history of the U.S. And even in the history of the world, considering that his thinking influenced many leaders in improving their communities. All things considered, Ben was also influenced by society, as he went through great efforts his whole life with the obvious purpose of having people benefit from the activities he undertook.

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