Benjamin Franklin And The Changing World of 18th Century American Society

It is my intention in this paper to present some aspects of the work and thoughts of Benjamin Franklin which reflect the Puritan tradition from which he sprang. In some of his literary production, Franklin mirrors the great changes that occurred in Puritanism, from an elevated theological level into a practical utilitarian approach of more popular nature. Benjamin Franklin was born into a simple but hard-working family of Puritan stock. Proud of their being free (franklins) for many a generation, they endeavored to preserve their freedom in the best possible way that of being useful to the community. This way of thinking and behaving was one of the Puritan tenets, which, along with industry, listed virtue, charity, frugality, education, and simplicity (not necessarily in that order), as some of the most important signs of election From the Puritan creed and theology, however, the great Majority of people was only able to extract so much, and the popular interpretation of the sermons and essays which the preachers poured on them was often quite removed from the original intent of the ministers. It is also true that much of what was preached demanded too great a sacrifice, renunciation, and resignation on the part of the congregations. Most of th