Abstract
This paper explores the ideas, principles and values embodied in Benjamin Franklin's life and works. Franklin's writings, such as
the "Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin" and "Poor Richard's Almanac" contain time-tested success formulas that helped Franklin shape his success and also inspired an entire genre of books. The author explores how many of the ideas presented in Franklin's writings influenced today's self-help books. The paper cites Steve Covey and Blaine McCormick as two self-help writers influenced by Franklin.

From the Paper
"Benjamin Franklin is rightly called the first success guru of America. His ideas, principles and values embodied in his life and works are evident of the fact that this man possessed a great entrepreneurial spirit and never-say-die attitude which turned him and millions of others who followed his advice into millionaires. However do not equate success with money alone. Franklin was not only a wealthy person; he was also a completely successful statesman, a shrewd politician and a disciplined person as well. The self-help books that teach us about time management and success today have largely been inspired by Franklin's ideals. As Anker (1999) observes: "

Tags:Benjamin, Franklin, self-help, Steven, Covey, Blaine, McCormick

Abstract
This historical study analyzes Benjamin Franklin's religious rejection of Puritanism within the context of his belief systems. It closely inspects his autobiography and discusses how Franklin mentions important transitions from his Puritanical background and embraced the Enlightenment Era philosophy of science and republican government.

From the Paper
"This historical study will analyze Benjamin Franklin's religious rejection of Puritanism within the context of his belief systems. Through a close inspection of his Autobiography, Franklin mentions important transitions from his Puritanical background, and embraced the Enlightenment Era philosophy of science and republican government. By realizing the experiential philosophical innovations of this Founding Father, the rejection of Puritan thought was a direct result of greater religious liberties and of the separation of church and state in government. In the late 18th century there was a political basis for Benjamin Franklin rejecting the Puritan ideals that had dominated New England for many years. "

Tags:franklin, america, war

Abstract
Benjamin Franklin is considered by many to be one of the greatest Americans to ever live and is also held as an important pillar of America's national heritage. Some may also argue that he exemplifies the American dream and all that is truly American. The paper shows that as the son of a candle maker and with only a minimal amount of formal education, Benjamin Franklin was influenced by his modest background and used his dedication and determination to master many disciplines in his quest for success. The paper examines how throughout his life, Benjamin Franklin took on the roles of statesman, philanthropist, inventor, revolutionary, publisher and philosopher. In regards to his personal and political ideologies and achievements, Benjamin Franklin epitomized the Ideal American.

From the Paper
"Although Benjamin Franklin was a man of many interests and talents, he is most certainly best known for being an exceptional statesman. In the English and French wars, he sided with the British and tried to encourage peace with the Native Americans and the French. Franklin also fought for Native American rights. He returned to London for a while and used his networking there to stress the importance of America as a colony. However, he became disillusioned with the British and their self-importance, and decided to refer to himself as an American rather than an English American. This was the starting point for Franklin's fight for independence."

Tags:Pennsylvania, Gazette, Way, to, Wealth, Declaration, of, Independence

Abstract
This paper explains that Benjamin Franklin's autobiography "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin" relates his entrepreneurial spirit that turned him into a shrewd businessman, a great inventor and innovator, a community leader and later a very well-known and well-respected politician. The author points out that this book indicates that the business environment was changing and industrialization was gaining hold because, as Franklin reported, while the older generation was skeptical and cautious, the younger generation was full of optimism, courage and believed in possibilities. The paper suggests that an important lesson from Franklin's book is that a person may gain success and still be rude and arrogant, but a man who is remembered for ages is someone who remained humble when he was going up.

From the Paper
"The key to success may not be one and the same for everyone but it appears that hard work and believing in one's decision play critical role in shaping the lives and careers of successful people. Benjamin Franklin knew he loved printing and that this was the business to be in. He also had the inclination to start this business in Philadelphia so while some people tried to discourage him, he stuck with his beliefs and worked tirelessly to make himself a success in this business. As we later see that not only he became an immensely successful printer and publisher, he also turned into a competent politician. This wouldn't have been possible if he never believed in himself or if he listened to the negative opinion of other people. "

Tags:entrepreneur, inventor, politician, childhood, humble

Abstract
This paper explains that Verner W. Crane's thesis in his book "Benjamin Franklin and a Rising People" is that, as Franklin rose to affluence with his inquisitive, questioning mind, his extensive research, writing and inventing, at the same time, his fellow citizens, the 'rising people', also began to question the conventions of the British government, which led to the American Revolution. The author points out that Crane examines Franklin's contributions by working chronologically through his life. The paper relates that, throughout the book, Crane uses excerpts from various letters, newspapers and writing pieces of Franklin's to show exactly the kind of man Franklin was. The author concludes that Franklin was definitely a one-of-a-kind person, who was crucial to the beginning stages of this country.

From the Paper
"Crane explains that Franklin was a very talented writer but James did not allow him to display his abilities enough for Benjamin's liking. To counter his brother's stubbornness, Benjamin began writing letters that were published in the paper under the name Silence Dogood. This habit of using a ghost-name stuck with Franklin as he used it several other times throughout his life. Nonetheless, James eventually found out about Benjamin's ghostwriting ways and expressed his displeasure."

Tags:visionary, letters, ghost-name, credibility, faith

Abstract
In this report the author centers on the positive aspects of Benjamin Franklin's autobiography. He describes how Franklin overcame early challenges, such as poor math and grammar and how he presented the idea that a combination of constitution and through the sheer force of will, any disability or disadvantage can be overcome. The author describes that for Benjamin Franklin there was but one definition of success, that, of course, was his definition. He highlights that perhaps more important than this single-mindedness is the idea that with enough work, enough study and enough sacrifice anybody can reach his ideal of what it is to be a successful American. The author concludes that Benjamin Franklin was the epitome of the neoclassical age of reason and his thoughts were both liberating and prohibitory.

From the Paper
"First, a man whose works he read and respected was a vegetarian. Obviously, if so am great a person is a vegetarian, than there must be something about being a vegetarian that was good, and Franklin decided he wanted to be great like Toyon. A simple case of "monkey see_monkey do." The second reason he did it appears to be to save money. This was a good way for the curious, young Franklin to get more money to buy books. Thirdly, it seems like an attempt to improve his constitutions. He clearly implies in the last sentence that sacrificing meat, or anything else, makes for a better person. He believed that giving up meat made him smarter. An added bonus was that the time not spent eating with his family, or going out, gave him more time to study his math and his grammar."

Tags:logi, rights, human, nature, society, virtuous, united, states

Abstract
This paper explains that Benjamin Franklin's writings present a varied and complicated view of women so that scholars cannot fully comprehend his attitude towards them. Next, the paper describes colonial America's views on women, Franklin's relationship with his wife, his nickname "our founding flirt", his writings as Miss Polly Baker and his later years. Although he was known as a proponent for the rights of African slaves, the paper criticizes Franklin's failure to support women's rights but does state that he was involved in actions to better other issues faced by women. The paper includes many quotations especially from his writings.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Colonial America's Views on Women
Benjamin Franklin's Married Life
"Miss Polly Baker"
Franklin's Later Years
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Miss Polly Baker was another pseudonym used by Franklin to explore the legal position of women during the period. Miss Baker was a young woman who gave birth to a bastard child and was subsequently "punished" for this "crime." Her punishment involved a forced marriage to one of her judges. Polly offers witness to the inequities of women in the public sphere; she is a victim not only of her actions, which were condemned by a judgmental society but not, technically, illegal, but also by the social restraints that prevented her from legally improving her position.
"In reading Miss Baker's "testimony" the reader learns that this is not her first infraction. Rather, Polly has mothered several illegitimate children and the fathers of her children are rumored to be high respected members of society. The testimony of Polly demonstrates the inequity faced by a woman in the then modern society. First, Polly was disadvantaged because of her poor education; she lacked the means to sustain herself in a lawful employment and was therefore unable to afford an attorney for representation. " MAY it please the Honourable Bench to indulge me in a few Words: I am a poor unhappy Woman, who have no Money to fee Lawyers to plead for me, being hard put to it to get a tolerable Living.""

Tags:promiscuous, marriage, pseudonym, misogynist, mothers

Abstract
The paper provides a brief biography of Benjamin Franklin's background and then details Franklin's genius in the field of science and his many inventions. The paper devotes considerable time to discussing Franklin's achievements as a peerless American visionary, an economist, a political thinker, a civic scientist, an elderly statesman, revolutionary spymaster, a writer, a man of letters and an ambassador to France. The paper looks at his influence over and motives behind documents such as the Declaration of Independence. Finally, the paper considers Franklin's specific characteristics, such as an aversion to tyranny, humor, humility and tolerance.

Outline:
Short Biography
Controlling Communications in His Time
Rising to Positions of Influence and Prestige and Personal Gains He Made in Each
His Influence Over and Motives Behind these Major Documents
The "Real" Benjamin Franklin

From the Paper
"Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts to Josiah and Abiah Folger (Kelly 2007, the Electric Benjamin Franklin 2007). He had only two years of formal schooling but this handicap did not stop him from making the best out of himself. He first helped his older brother James in the latter's printing press until he decided to seek his own destiny in Philadelphia. Through diligence and wisdom, he evolved into a statesman, inventor, scientist, publisher and a politician. His accomplishments as such were unique in his time when colonial North America did not yet have sufficient cultural and commercial institutions for his original ideas."

Tags:visionary, economist, thinker, civic, scientist, inventions, statesman, revolutionary, spymaster, writer, ambassador

Abstract
The paper discusses how Benjamin Franklin's autobiography is not simply a chronicle of this Founding Father's early life. It is also a historical portrait of colonial America and the cultural and political conflicts of the pre-Revolutionary era. The paper explains how Franklin attempts to show how a moral, hard-working life can yield social and financial profits. Benjamin Franklin rose from the status of a poor printer's apprentice to a financially secure publisher, inventor and entrepreneur. The paper highlights how Franklin believed his life showed that a man must take responsibility for his own moral and political upbringing and economic fortune.

From the Paper
"While Franklin's tremendous social mobility demonstrates how his society was in a state of great economic and social flux, Franklin credits his own moral fortitude with his success. Franklin believed that man could truly pull himself up by his own bootstraps, no matter where he began in life. Franklin stresses the values of thrift, honesty, and diligence in business and credits how he showed early signs of innate intelligence with his ability to foster such skills within, rather than his upbringing alone. Even as a child, "the little money that came into my hands was ever laid out in books." (14) True, as his book is supposedly directed to his son, Franklin gives his own father some credit for reinforcing these vales early on in the boy's life."

Tags:Founding, Father, colonial, America

Abstract
This paper examines how Edmund S. Morgan fulfills his purpose of presenting a positive picture of Benjamin Franklin with this autobiography and how, in about 330 pages, the author offers a wealth of material related to Franklin's life, exposing his inner longings and his personal ambitions in a way that many historians cannot, due to their unwillingness to take a personal stance on any historical figure. It analyzes how Morgan obviously admires Benjamin Franklin and hopes to enrich the public's understanding of his life and his accomplishments and how, in doing so, Morgan offers the layperson a scholarly, well-researched, and reputable biography that is, nevertheless, approachable and easy to read.

From the Paper
"In fact, Morgan acknowledges the legendary status that Franklin has achieved. The author continually refers to his folk hero status and the urban legends that surround Benjamin Franklin. Regarding the kite-flying incidence, Morgan asserts that unlike George Washington cutting down the cherry tree, Benjamin Franklin really did fly the kite, (11). Morgan devotes a vast amount of his book to Franklin's scientific as well as his political and social achievements. Especially in the early chapters of the book, Morgan accounts Franklin's lifelong fascination with the natural world and the world of physics and electricity, for which he became famous. Franklin was a natural scientist, one who was fascinated with the natural world and who was also dedicated to documenting and understanding its workings."

Tags:declaration, independence, america