An Interactive PowerPoint for: English 10 Paw Paw High School Room 819 Fall 2012

1. The Maxims and Memoirs of Benjamin FranklinWith excerpts from:The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklinin Anthology of American Literature, pp.330-447. An Interactive PowerPoint for: English 10 Paw Paw High School Room 819 Fall 2012 “One Man of tolerable Abilities may work great Changes , and accomplish great Affairs among Mankind, if he first forms a good Plan” Benjamin Franklin, The Autobiography, p.394. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

2. MAIN PAGE Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) is considered by many to be the first American hero. Ben had his hand in each of the four major documents that established the United States as a free and independent country. He was a skilled printer, an innovative inventor, and a practical religionist, among so many other things. His life story, penned in his own hand, is a fascinating adventure of many episodes. Click on a link to find out why. ENTREPRENEUR STATESMAN PATRIOT SCIENTIST RESOURCES “The most acceptable Service of God is the doing of Good to Man”(393). QUITTERS

3. Works Cited Ayres, Thomas. That’s Not In My American History Book. Taylor Trade Publishing, 2000, pp.164-167. Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. In: Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Bernstein, Barry, et al. McDougal Littell, 1994, pp.330-447. Isaacson, Walter. Benjamin Franklin: An American Life. Simon & Schuster, 2003. Poor Richard’s Almanack 1733. Facsimile copy from Phillip H. & A.S.W. Rosenbach Foundation, 1977. MAIN “Whatever may be his Parts and Abilities, a vicious Man could not properly be called a Man of Sense”(395). Go to Author’s Page Go to Storyboard Wrong way… Don’t stop here, READ THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY!

4. From the author: Thomas J. Spoelhof Thank you for taking a minute to explore this PowerPoint presentation. I hope it has inspired you to further investigate the works of Benjamin Franklin or any of our country’s brilliant authors of American Literature. I teach 10th and 12th grade English Literature and Language Arts for Paw Paw High School in Paw Paw, MI. I am fascinated by history and the great literary works of the ages, and hope to make it my life’s work to inspire the same fascination in our young people. If you have any suggestions how this presentation could be improved, or would like to contact me for any reason, click on the mail box and send me your message. “Of all human relationships, the most enduring and satisfying are those of family”(313). Send e-mail MAIN Back to RESOURCES Buh-bye

5. The Storyboard “Acquiring the qualities of virtue requires a good plan and consistent effort”(313). Back to Main Back to Resources No mas!

6. Benjamin Franklin the Scientist MAIN Not all of Ben’s experiments were successful. He once tried to electrocute a turkey at a picnic, touched two wires between his fingers, and gave himself a jolt that nearly knocked him unconscious. He joked about the incident later. PHILOSOPHY “Common Sense aided by present Danger, will sometimes be too strong for whimsicall Opinions” (430). Ben had an interest in science and technology since his early youth. He is credited with pioneering the science of electricity and with coining the terms: armature, battery, charge, condenser, conductor, discharge, and more. INVENTOR No, no, no…

7. Ben the Philosopher “These Names of Virtues with their Precepts were 1. TEMPERANCE. Eat not to Dulness. Drink not to Elevation. 2. SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling Conversation. 3. ORDER. Let all your Things have their Places. Let each Part of your Business have its Time. 4. RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve. 5. FRUGALITY. Make no Expence but to do good to others or yourself: I.e., Waste nothing. 6. INDUSTRY. Lose no Time. Be always employ’d in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary A.ctions 7. SINCERITY. Use no hurtful Deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly. 8. JUSTICE. Wrong none, by doing Injuries or omitting the Benefits that are your Duty. 9. MODERATION. Avoid Extreams. Forbear resenting Injuries so much as you think they deserve. 10. CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no Uncleanliness in Body, Cloaths or Habitation. 11. TRANQUILITY. Be not disturbed at Trifles, or at Accidents common or unavoidable. 12. CHASTITY. Rarely use Venery but for Health or Offspring; Never to Dulness, Weakness, or the Injury of your own or another’s Peace or Reputation. 13. HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates” (369). “I grew convinced that Truth, Sincerity and Integrity in Dealings between Man and Man, were of the utmost Importance to the Felicity of Life, and I form’d written Resolutions, (which still remain in my Journal Book) to practice them ever while I lived” (369). MAIN SCIENTIST PAGE Already?

8. Ben the Inventor Among his many discoveries, Benjamin Franklin invented: The Lightning Rod, which prevented many houses from being burned to the ground. The Franklin Stove, which heated a home much more efficiently than a fireplace. The Catheter- still used today. Bifocal Glasses. He did none of this out of greed; not one of his inventions was ever patented. “As we enjoy great Advantages from the Inventions of others, we should be glad of an Opportunity to serve others by any Invention of ours, and this we should do freely and generously” (409). “Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead”(388). “Fish and visitors begin to small after three days”. SCIENTIST PAGE No soup for you. MAIN PAGE

9. “…after getting the first hundred pound, it is more easy to get the second” (404). Ben the Entrepreneur Franklin moved from Boston to Philadelphia at 17, worked as an apprentice in the printing trade, and went into business for himself at the age of 21. His perseverance and well-thought planning propelled him to success and wealth. He retired at 42, rich and famous. One of his best known and best loved works was his “Poor Richard’s Almanack”, which he wrote under the pen-name “Richard Saunders”. He also printed newspapers critical of the British government and greatly influenced the patriotic sentiment of the American population. “…for the Industry of that Franklin, says he, is superior to any thing I ever saw of the kind: I see him still at work when I go home from Club; and he is at Work again before his Neighbors are out of bed” (372). Back to bed… MAIN PRINTER PAGE

10. Ben Franklin, Printer The Benefit of going to LAW. Dedicated to the counties of K—t & H-n---rd-n. Two Beggars travelling along, One blind, the other lame, Pick’d up an Oyster on the Way, To which they both laid claim: The Matter rose to high, that they Resolved to go to Law, As often richer Fools have done, Who quarrel for a Straw. A Lawyer took it straight in hand, Who knew his Business was, To mind nor one nor t’other side, But make the best o’th’ Cause; As always in the Law’s the Case: So he his Judgement gave, And Lawyer-like he thus resolv’d What each of them should have; Blind Plaintiff, lame Defendant, share The Friendly Laws impartial Care, A Shell for him, a Shell for thee, The Middle is the Lawyer’s Fee. Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1733. ENTREPRENEUR PAGE “Many a Man thinks he is buying Pleasure, when he is really selling himself a Slave to it” (14). MAIN GIVING UP

11. Many consider Benjamin Franklin to be the original example of the optimism of the United States. His ‘pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps’ mentality established an American philosophy of a strong work ethic, good neighborliness, and loyal citizenry. Others have criticized and accused him of promoting “the shallow philosophy of the full belly and the tight purse, the capitalist saint”(331). Read the Autobiography and decide for yourself… Statesman “God helps them that help themselves” (117). “Honesty is the best policy”. Don’t do it! The first college Institutions MAIN

12. Benjamin Franklin: Patriot Ben began his life of patriotism as a pamphleteer expressing the opinions of American citizens about the “taxation without representation” of King George. He was the only American to sign the four documents that created the republic: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Peace with England, and the Constitution. “The best public Measures are therefore seldom adopted from previous Wisdom, but forc’d by the Occasion”(419). Don’t go away mad… Diplomat MAIN

13. The Founding of the First American University: Ben and his Junto, a group of fellow literary fans, wrote the Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania, an argument supporting the establishment of an educational academy. Within a short time, a board of trustees was established and a large house donated to begin the project. By 1751, the first American university was accepting students. “Like a Man travelling in foggy Weather: Those at some Distance before him on the Road he sees wrapt up in the Fog, as well as those behind him, and also the people in the fields on each side; but near him all appears clear. Tho’ in truth he is as much in the Fog as any of them” (409). MAIN Statesman page wuss

14. Institutions: Benjamin Franklin helped establish the first subscription library and the first Union Fire Company. The institutions were to be supported by “the levying a Tax that should be proportion’d to Property” (400). One fight that Ben lost was over his choice for the national bird; he wanted it to be the turkey. “This Library afforded me the means of Improvement by constant Study, for which I set apart an Hour or two each Day” (383). Statesman page Happy trails… MAIN

15. International Relations: It was Benjamin Franklin who persuaded the French to come to the aid of the Continentals and turned the tide in the War for Independence. Europeans considered him greater than Voltaire, wiser than Rousseau. Whenever invited to the royal courts of England or France, Ben would dress as a common American frontiersman. “Look round the habitable World, how few Know their own Good, or knowing it pursue” (419). Au revoir… Patriot page MAIN