Summary Of Benjamin Franklin Primary Sources

The primary source is vital to our understanding of history. Through analysis of primary sources, historians can piece together a most accurate representation of events. Through this analysis they may produce secondary sources, that explain those primary ones. Along with events that transpired, primary sources provide some insight into thought processes and conversations between people. Benjamin Franklin was a critical character in American history. He was a founding father, was central to our independence and more. During his life he wrote his Autobiography where shared his life. While this is a firsthand account of his life there are issues with the book, particularly the fact that he left out the American revolution all together. Despite

One, it was written after the fact. Franklin was writing about his life and experiences after it had all happened. The most effective primary sources are written in the time period that they occurred in (Definition of Primary). This allowed for him to look back and perhaps change his reaction to, or misremember events that may have transpired. Also, he completely leaves out the revolutionary years. The fact that he left out a period so pivotal to his life and country brings into question the validity of the rest of the document. But, when reading primary sources, one must always remember that sources lie. So, this issue creates less of a problem when defining the autobiography as a primary source. But even with these issues, the document is still written by Benjamin Franklin about his life, thus making it a primary source

In his writing a theme that is most prevalent is that of the American dream. Although not coined that yet, as the United States didn’t exist at the time. But right from the beginning Franklin speaks to the fact that he created his success and fortune from nothing but hard work, and intelligence. When describing Franklin’s Autobiography as a primary source, it is important to note that this theme of the American Dream. Most famously from the Declaration of Independence preamble, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” ( Dec. of Ind. Pre.). Of course, Franklin played a part in the development in this document, but it represents the sentiments of the founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, as he is the author. This theme, and the fact that other documents mirror this theme further cement its status as a primary source