StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Works of Ben Franklin and John Smith - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
Authors will come up with written works, which are based on what they see and hear. After seeing and hearing about certain events or even about certain people, the authors will incorporate them in their works with a certain perspective. …
Download free paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER97.8% of users find it useful
Works of Ben Franklin and John Smith
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Works of Ben Franklin and John Smith"

Works of Ben Franklin and John Smith will come up with written works, which are based on what they see and hear. After seeing and hearing about certain events or even about certain people, the authors will incorporate them in their works with a certain perspective. Likewise, eminent individuals as well as authors like Ben Franklin and John Smith viewed the Native American people from certain perspective, which is reflected in their works. So, this paper will discuss how Native Americans were portrayed both favorably as well as negatively in their works by Ben Franklin and John Smith Ben Franklin's early attitude towards Native Americans as well as on slavery was on the negative side.

In the 1730s, Franklin in his newspaper, the Philadelphia Gazette, featured articles supporting slavery as well as advertisements for purchasing slaves. Later, he started viewing Native Americans favorably on the same lines as the White Americans, degrading or belittling the Black Americans in some of his writings. In his 1751 essay, “Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind,” Franklin wished that America could be for whites and Native Indians only, writing, “Why increase the Sons of Africa, by Planting them in America, where we have so fair an opportunity, by excluding all Blacks and Tawnys, of increasing the lovely White” (History News Network, 2006).

In addition, Franklin understood the culture of Native Americans and also lobbied to protect them, against any retribution by the majority population. He wrote, “If an Indian injures me, does it follow that I may revenge that injury on all Indians? . If it be right to kill men for such a reason, then, should any man with a freckled face and red hair kill a wife or child of mine.” (Franklin, as cited in Lapham and Saunders, 2005). Capt. John Smith, an English soldier, explorer and author, was known for establishing the first English settlement in North America in Jamestown, Virginia.

He chronicled that process in the form of Journals, which was published altogether in 1612. Major sections of those journals featured content about the Native Americans, their culture, way of living, etc. In those writings, he favorably viewed them and acted wisely with them. Understanding that Native Americans’ support is very crucial for establishing the settlement, Smith did not go on the offensive against them and instead tried establishing cordial relations with them. “Realizing that the very existence of the colony depended on peace, he never thought of trying to exterminate the natives…In his writings, Smith reveals the attitudes behind his actions” (Randel, 1939).

At the same time, in the journal, The Generall Historie, Smith viewed some of the Native Americans particularly a Chief of a Native American tribe negatively. That is, he compared Chief Powhatan to a “devil”, and even referred the Native Americans as “barbarians”. However, on the whole, he had good relationship with them and wrote how they were kind-hearted and helped them, after the initial hiccups. “… they boldly demanded what we were, and what we would; but after many circumstances they seemed very kind….

” (Smith, 1624) Franklin wrote many satires that clearly showed his mixed viewpoints about the Native Americans. That is, in spite of favoring slavery and indirectly promoting it, Franklin tried to understand the Native Americans and their culture in a positive way, and also wished that other colonizers also do the same. In 1784, Franklin in his work, “Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America”, states that, “Savages we call them, because their Manners differ from ours, which we think the Perfection of Civility, they think the same of theirs” (Franklin, 1784).

This statement illustrates how Franklin also understood their mindset, and how they can be viewed favorably as people who have their own identity and way of living. That is, he indirectly implied that Native Americans are also good people with strong beliefs, and even if those beliefs do not match those of the majority, it does not mean it is wrong. On the same lines, Capt. John Smith also had an open-minded view of the native people. He viewed and portrayed them in a favorable light, referring them as comely and civil, and also calling their chiefs as emperors.

Thus, from the above analysis of Ben Franklin and James Smith’s writings and works, it is clear that both mainly viewed the Native Americans favorably, but there were some inconsistencies. In some parts of their works, both of them had some critical views against them, however on the whole, portrayed and treated them in a favorable and positive way. References Franklin, B. (1784). “Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America.” In Health Anthology of American Literature, NY: Houghton Miflin, 2004.

History News Network. (2006). David Waldstreicher says Ben Franklin's bad side is neglected. Retrieved on March 11, 2011 from http://hnn.us/roundup/entries/20403.html Lapham, S. S and Saunders, A. (2005). Benjamin Franklin's evolving views on race and ethnicity. Social Education. Retrieved on March 11, 2011 from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb6541/is_1_69/ai_n29159184/ Randel, W. (1939). Captain John Smith's Attitudes toward the Indians. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, 47(3), 218-229. Smith, J. (1624).

Captain John Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New England & the Summer Isles (1624). Retrieved on March 11, 2011 from http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/bdorsey1/41docs/10-smi.html

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Works of Ben Franklin and John Smith Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/literature/1411359-works-of-ben-franklin-and-john-smith
(Works of Ben Franklin and John Smith Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words)
https://studentshare.org/literature/1411359-works-of-ben-franklin-and-john-smith.
“Works of Ben Franklin and John Smith Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/literature/1411359-works-of-ben-franklin-and-john-smith.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Works of Ben Franklin and John Smith

Benjamin Franklin's Speech on the Constitution

smith elaborated that “Benjamin Franklin should not, however, be classed with the revolutionary radicals who saw government as only a necessary evil that a society should minimze as much as possible.... Name Class Teacher Date Speech of Benjamin franklin on the Constitution of the United States There is no doubt that the speech of Pennsylvania delegate Benjamin franklin that was delivered on the last day of Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787 was compelling and craftily composed....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Effects of Stress

The term stress has become a regular term in the contemporary world.... Everyone from the young to the old is ever complaining about being stressed.... It is however important to understand that not all stress comes from negative aspects in one's life.... hellip; Stress can also be caused by positive events happening in a person's life....
6 Pages (1500 words) Research Proposal

The Race for the Double Helix

The discovery of the DNA was a race between two pairs of scientist: Watson and Crick versus franklin and Wilkin (these two, however, found difficulty working together).... john Randall, the director of a special biophysics unit at King's college recognizing the expertise of Franklin recruited her into his lab.... Few acknowledgements were made to franklin for this discovery yet her contribution was more than significant.... This paper is devoted to the problems that Rosalind franklin faced in the 1950's as a university-based woman scientist in Great Britain as she sought to uncover the mystery of DNA....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay

The rise and influence of Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War 2

As the historian Robert Freeman smith explains, taken together the various components formed "a massive, although ill-defined government effort" under U.... franklin Delano Roosevelt, America's longest serving President, is one of the most important political figures of the twentieth century.... hellip; It is a general perception among people that no American President is more concerned about how he is portrayed than franklin Roosevelt.... He shrouded himself in dozens of disguises, including Sphinx, Father, Doctor, and Captain of the Ship of State franklin Delano Roosevelt, America's longest serving President, is one of the most important political figures of the twentieth century....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

Adam Smith & John Maynard Keynes

This paper "Adam smith & John Maynard Keynes" presents great economists.... Their economic theories did not have much in common, however, no one can deny the impressive influence smith and Keynes had on the policies of their times and even on the theoretical positions of their most vocal opponents.... hellip; One can say that Adam smith is regarded as not merely the father of modern political economy or just a starting point for a history of thought class but a system builder who sought to integrate ethics, morality, political economy and jurisprudence into a coherent whole....
10 Pages (2500 words) Literature review

The history of eyeglasses

It is generally accepted, however, that the invention probably came out of Italy during the time of the early Renaissance.... In his article “Eyeglasses and Concave Lenses in… nth-Century Florence and Milan” (1976), author Vincent Ilardi discusses some documents that had been found indicating earlier fabrication of specialized lenses in these cities more than 100 years prior than what had been previously believed....
16 Pages (4000 words) Essay

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Born on January 30th, 1882 in New York to James Roosevelt and Sara Delano Roosevelt, franklin Roosevelt was the only child from this wealthy family.... His contributions were more relevant to the United States, a country he governed for 12 years during a worse time in American… Under his leadership, America was able to overcome numerous challenges and emerge one of the biggest economic and political powers of the 20th century (Coker 8)....
8 Pages (2000 words) Research Paper

Research Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt

After finishing his studies at Princeton and the University of Virginia Law School, he obtained his university degree at john Hopkins University and embarked on an academic profession (Freidel 61).... ideology. On the other hand, franklin Roosevelt, who is the 32nd U.... This paper analyzes and discusses the life and legacy of Woodrow Wilson and franklin Roosevelt as U....
9 Pages (2250 words) Research Paper
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us