Autobiographies of Ben Franklin and Frederick Douglass Essay

Ben Franklin and Frederick Douglass ar the most prominent figures in American history who fought for emancipation and embody rights, democracy and racial equality. Frederick Douglass was one of the most important figures in anti- slavery and genteel rights move handst which took place in the 19th century. Ben Franklin was a scientist, politician, diplomat and author. His brotherly and political activity coincided with consolidation and creation of the nation and for this reason his prominent ideas had a great impact on formation of the nation.Thesis For both(prenominal) Franklin and Douglass, contend from oppressive circumstances became a turning point in their cargoners giving rise to political and social activity. The themes of survival and escape are closely connected with family background and early conduct of both men. gum benjamin Franklin was of a family that for generations had lived by the sweat of its brow. Like his ancestors for generations back, he was bred to a craft through a long apprenticeship. That he became a journalist was non altogether accident.His Uncle benzoin and his maternal grandfather had been versifiers, and his elder brother had fuck off printer of the fourth newspaper set up in new England. Franklin describes his experience I disliked the trade and had a strong lean to go to sea, however my father declared against it. But residing near the water I was much in it and on it 1. 1. Franklin, B. The narrative of Benjamin Franklin (with accession and Notes). (Macmillan, 1914), 7 Moreover, he l acquire early that writing, if one has a statement of it, is useful for creating and controlling the opinions of men. The story of his teaching himself to write is generally kn admit.Frederick Douglass was innate(p) a slave in 1818, and raised by his grandparents. Historians suppose that Douglass grandmother, Betsy Bailey, was the interchange figure in his early years1. In contrast to Franklin subjugation and slavery were the d riven forces which forced Douglass to escape from. At their twenties, Franklin and Douglass escaped and run to titanic cities looking for job and career opportunities. At the age of 20, Douglass escaped from his operate and went to New Bedford, Massachusetts. No longer in the clutches of slavery, he was effect to top the next steps in his career as an orator, a preacher, and an abolitionist 2.It was a watershed in his life. This battle with Mr. Covey was the turning-point in my career as a slave. It rekindled the few expiring embers of freedom, and revived within me a sense of my own manhood 3. At the age of 18, Franklin broke indention and run to Philadelphia. During a year, he worked for Samuel Keimer, a printer. On the October morning, 1723, when Franklin passed under the family of the Bible, entered the shop of Bradford and asked for work, Samuel Keimer, a rival printer, had set up in the town. Bradford had cipher for the lad to do, but gave him a home and sent him to Kei mer, by whom he was soon employed.He describes I hit been the more particular in this description of my journey, and shall be so of my first entry into that city, that you may in your mind compare such unlikely beginnings with the figure I have since made there3. 1. Lampe, G. P. Frederick Douglass Freedoms Voice, 1818-1845. (Michigan State University Press 1998), 27. 2. Ibid, 26 3. Douglass, F. story of the career of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave. 1997. http//sunsite. berkeley. edu/Literature/Douglass/Autobiography/ 4. Franklin, B. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (with asylum and Notes).(Macmillan, 1914), 24 During a few months all went puff up, and Franklin spent his beat courting and printing. Franklin was sent to Boston with a letter to Josiah, a printer. Josiah refused to take him, and Benjamin came back to Keith, who now dispatched him on a fools errand to London. He sailed with the belief that he was to have garner of introduction and letters of credit th at he was to buy types, paper, and a press, and return to America a master printer. He reached London to find Keith a knave and himself a dupe. After the escape, both men started active political and social activity.Douglass became a lecturer for the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. He started publishing activity and published several(prenominal) newspapers including New National Era, Frederick Douglass Weekly, The North Star, Frederick Douglass progress-up, etc. He made friends with Wendell Phillips and William Lloyd Garrison. During the Civil War, he was an adviser to hot seat Abraham Lincoln. Philadelphia during 1727 to 1757 was a town of remarkable intellectual activity. During 1727-1730, Franklin emerges as the chief political leader and scientist, the energizing, galvanizing source of two-thirds of the towns important enterprises 1.In autobiography, Douglass creates a vivid image of slavery as a kernel with deprives many people a chance to be free from oppression and hu miliation. There is intensity of illusion because the author is present, constantly reminding readers of his unnatural wisdom. The righteous quality of both works depends not on the validity of doctrines, but on the incorrupt sense and arguments presented in the work. In both books, a certain amount of plot is based on emotional response. For Franklin, escape became a turning point in his career and world views. It was at this time that Benjamin founded the Junto, wrote his famous epitaph,1. Lampe, G. P. Frederick Douglass Freedoms Voice, 1818-1845. (Michigan State University Press, 1998), 28, 2. Franklin, B. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (with Introduction and Notes). (Macmillan, 1914),. 27 in grew religious, composed a sacrament of the Eucharist for his own use 1. For instance, to get a circulation Philadelphia Franklin resorted to clever expedients. He strove to make the Gazette amuse its readers, and to persuade the readers to write for the Gazette for he well knew th at every contributor would buy a dozen copies of the paper containing his fade from sheer spang of seeing himself in print.Necessity to survive and grimness had a great impact on their moral values and views. Douglass support equal rights movement and fight for emancipation in England where he earned the nickname The Black OConnell. After the Civil war, Douglass was selected the President of the Reconstruction-era freedwomans Savings Bank Minister-General to the Republic of Haiti and marshal of the soil of Columbia. In 1862 Frederick Douglass described him as a miserable tool of traitors and rebels and instead a genuine representative of American prejudice and negro crime 1.For many Americans, religious norms represent the main code of values and norms find specific mode of conduct personally and socially preferable. To some extent, this focal point of thinking gives strength and flexibility to both men who reflect their own identification with an entity the nation. Desire for independence and self-identity can be interpreted as distinctively American feature and unique style of life. The first adjudge master of American literary expression, Franklin is also in the heroic tradition of American humor.Franklins humor and wit-the gentle touch that won mens hearts and affections and the bite of satire that disconcerted the enemies of America and the opponents of freedom and progress-reveal him in his most creative aspect as a initiate of the American personality. His spirit of fair play, tolerance and compromise for the better full(a) of all have elicited, over the years, the 1. Franklin, B. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (with Introduction and Notes). (Macmillan, 1914), 68.2. Douglass, F. autobiography of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave. 1997. http//sunsite. berkeley. edu/Literature/Douglass/Autobiography/ respectful admiration of Americans and the love of the whole world. Though vivid images and ideas of survival verbalis ed in his work, Douglass appealed to emotions of slaves lecture about ideas of independence, freedom and equal rights. Douglass writes It was enough to chill the blood and change the hair of an ordinary man to hear him talk. Scarce a disapprobation escaped him but that was commenced or concluded by some horrid oath 1.Douglas did not believe in arguments against slavery, supposing that common sense and moral values were higher than any religion. Always loyal to this broad depression of what is real, Douglass tends to seek a mode of radicalizing viewing. In 1872, Frederick Douglass became the Vice President of the unify States and was the first African-American who had occupied this high position. For both men, escape becomes a symbol of future and hopes. Franklin and Douglass paved the way in accordance with life expectations and aims coined by hardship and necessity to survive.Their style encompassed a respect for tender-hearted dignity transcending the limitations of color, a defense of the rights of the press and of freedom of speech and conscience, a concern for the liberty of every man to worship God in his own way, a regard for education and learning and for arts and letters, a sincere belief in equality of opportunity and condition that expressed itself in a concern to prevent excessive wealth and positive poverty, and a passionate belief in the future greatness of America. 1. Douglass, F. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave.1997. http//sunsite. berkeley. edu/Literature/Douglass/Autobiography/ Works Cited 1. Douglass, F. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave. 1997. 30 April 2007 http//sunsite. berkeley. edu/Literature/Douglass/Autobiography/ 2. Franklin, B. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (with Introduction and Notes). Macmillan, 1914. 3. Lampe, G. P. Frederick Douglass Freedoms Voice, 1818-1845. Michigan State University Press, 1998. 4. Shenk, Joshua Wolf. The Myth of Lincoln, Reconstruc ted. The American Prospect. 12, February 26, 2001, p. 36.