Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Blog 3(a)


People Who Changed the World

I admit that I didn't know that much about Benjamin Franklin or Thomas Jefferson before our reading of them. Granted, we have just touched the tip of the iceberg in the lives of these men, but I don’t think anyone can argue the fact that they are two of the key figures in the shaping of our country. I have briefly touched on some of Franklin’s philosophies and it’s obvious that he and Jefferson shared many of the same ideas. Both were very hard workers and spoke out against laziness. They each had a desire for scientific knowledge and were both inventors in their own right. Perhaps most importantly, they each strove to see that people were granted their freedom from not only King George III and Great Britain, but from any kind of oppressive rule. While they both served in the Continental Congress and on the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson was primarily responsible for the first draft. If he hadn’t done any of his many other accomplishments, the Declaration would be enough to make him one of the most important people in history.

Thomas Jefferson
We could spend hours discussing all of Thomas Jefferson's accomplishments, but let's just list a few:



  • Drafted the Declaration of Independence
  • Third President of The United States
  • Governor of Virginia
  • Founded the University of Virginia
  • Lawyer
  • Prolific Architect
  • Farmer of thousands of acres
We complain about having to work 40 hours a week, but can you imagine how many this guy put in! I mean, when did he find the time to sleep? It makes sense though, because the repeated message throughout the Franklin and Jefferson readings is to stay active. The person that came to mind in comparing the hard work that these men constantly did was Warren Buffett. Buffett, who is one of the most wealthy people in the world, was a hard worker from the time he was a child. Long before he made his billions in investments, he would go door to door selling things like gum, magazines, and sodas. He also sold newspapers, golf balls, stamps, and detailed cars for additional income. He and a business partner placed pinball machines in local shops which became very profitable. He did all this and accumulated a good savings, all before the age of 16. I think it's safe to say Buffett shows some of the same drive to succeed that Franklin and Jefferson had. There are countless other examples of this drive throughout history, but these men were truly two of the first innovators of our time.

Now, before I raise Jefferson or Franklin up on too high a pedestal, I would like to make one final point about them., which I think deserves attention. It has to do with the fact that both of these men owned slaves. In Jefferson's case, he most likely had an affair with one of his inherited slaves and fathered several children with her. This is a matter for another blog in and of itself, but the point I wanted to make is that while they championed for the freedom of all people, did they believe in true freedom for the enslaved people. Yes, Jefferson and Franklin were abolitionists, but they still believed that the African Americans should be sent off to another location after they were freed. They didn't believe that the races we be able to live successfully together. So, my question is was their view on liberty really for all people, or only the ones that suited their needs. It is a topic for much discussion, but still we must acknowledge these men truly changed the world. 


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