Benjamin Franklin. Thomas Paine. and Thomas Jefferson all had similar values and thoughts about America refering political relations and its economic system. They all besides had a bent for acquiring people to follow them.
Benjamin Franklin. who had merely died about 30 old ages before William Cullen Bryant wrote To Cole. the Painter. Going for Europe. seemed to show different positions about America vs. Europe in his letters. In a missive Franklin wrote to his grandson. he expressed how he wanted to return to America before his decease but didn’t think he would be able to. He seemed so passionate when composing about America. It was as if there was nil better than America.
We besides know that Franklin was really involved in political relations and economic sciences. He is one of the first people we read about who was really concerned with money and how it affected position and political relations. Obviously wealth affects position in at least some facet. Whether the wealth was measured by money or by land. it defined societal category. Merely people of the upper category took portion in political relations.
Franklin was one of America’s establishing male parents. He helped compose the Declaration of Independence. which we still stay by today. over 200 old ages subsequently. Benjamin Franklin listed 13 virtuousnesss with their principles in one of his paperss. He listed these to do certain he abided by all of them and merely these 13. One of the principles was ‘order’ . He expanded on this by doing a agenda of how his concern and his life should run. It listed what should be done for the twenty-four hours. including when he should eat and kip. He was decidedly in front of his clip and put the criterions for Americans today.
Thomas Paine instilled his thoughts onto others in Common Sense. He starts out by stating. “In the undermentioned pages I offer nil more than simple facts. field statements. and common sense” . Merely by composing this. he has already captivated the reader and forced them to see his positions and merely ‘common sense’ . Paine seemed to specialise in rebellions and working for the ordinary individual. This was Paine’s engagement in political relations ; acquiring the common individual to see how they were oppressed and how things should alter. He took action by organizing revolutions.
Paine felt that America should be free from British control. He stated. “We have boasted the protection of Great Britain without sing that her motivation was involvement. non attachment ; and that she did non protect us from our enemies on our history. but from her enemies on her ain history. from those who had no wrangle with us on any other history. and who will ever be our enemies on the same history. ” He used this to explicate to Americans how Britain had created enemies for us because of their ain personal grounds and when we were under onslaught. Britain didn’t attention and consecutive. they had created enemies for both topographic points.
Thomas Jefferson took portion in political relations every bit good as Franklin and Paine and was the chief writer of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson. unlike Franklin and Paine. was born into his wealth. He was ne’er a common man and hence ne’er knew what it was like to be in that place.
I find it interesting that person of his stature would be allowed to assist compose the Declaration of Independence which helps steer everyone including common mans. He couldn’t perchance understand what would be best for them. This is likely why there are many things in the fundamental law that don’t seem just to an ordinary individual. such as the Electoral College. This system was fundamentally created because a regular individual could non hold a ballot left in their custodies. Although Jefferson seems like he wants independency for America. it besides seems like he doesn’t trust America to hold this Independence.
All three people that I have discussed seem to differ in their positions of America vs. Europe from Bryant. Bryant seems to be thrilled that America is based on Europe. Topographic points such as New York and New England were about exact reproduction of the masters. Benjamin Franklin. Thomas Paine. and Thomas Jefferson were seeking to alter the manner America was to do it a better topographic point to populate. It is because of these work forces that America is everything it is today.
