Works of Ben Franklin and John Smith - Essay Example

Works of Ben Franklin and John Smith will come up with written works, which are based on what they see and hear. After seeing and hearing about certain events or even about certain people, the authors will incorporate them in their works with a certain perspective. Likewise, eminent individuals as well as authors like Ben Franklin and John Smith viewed the Native American people from certain perspective, which is reflected in their works. So, this paper will discuss how Native Americans were portrayed both favorably as well as negatively in their works by Ben Franklin and John Smith Ben Franklin's early attitude towards Native Americans as well as on slavery was on the negative side.

In the 1730s, Franklin in his newspaper, the Philadelphia Gazette, featured articles supporting slavery as well as advertisements for purchasing slaves. Later, he started viewing Native Americans favorably on the same lines as the White Americans, degrading or belittling the Black Americans in some of his writings. In his 1751 essay, “Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind,” Franklin wished that America could be for whites and Native Indians only, writing, “Why increase the Sons of Africa, by Planting them in America, where we have so fair an opportunity, by excluding all Blacks and Tawnys, of increasing the lovely White” (History News Network, 2006).

In addition, Franklin understood the culture of Native Americans and also lobbied to protect them, against any retribution by the majority population. He wrote, “If an Indian injures me, does it follow that I may revenge that injury on all Indians? . If it be right to kill men for such a reason, then, should any man with a freckled face and red hair kill a wife or child of mine.” (Franklin, as cited in Lapham and Saunders, 2005). Capt. John Smith, an English soldier, explorer and author, was known for establishing the first English settlement in North America in Jamestown, Virginia.

He chronicled that process in the form of Journals, which was published altogether in 1612. Major sections of those journals featured content about the Native Americans, their culture, way of living, etc. In those writings, he favorably viewed them and acted wisely with them. Understanding that Native Americans’ support is very crucial for establishing the settlement, Smith did not go on the offensive against them and instead tried establishing cordial relations with them. “Realizing that the very existence of the colony depended on peace, he never thought of trying to exterminate the natives…In his writings, Smith reveals the attitudes behind his actions” (Randel, 1939).

At the same time, in the journal, The Generall Historie, Smith viewed some of the Native Americans particularly a Chief of a Native American tribe negatively. That is, he compared Chief Powhatan to a “devil”, and even referred the Native Americans as “barbarians”. However, on the whole, he had good relationship with them and wrote how they were kind-hearted and helped them, after the initial hiccups. “… they boldly demanded what we were, and what we would; but after many circumstances they seemed very kind….

” (Smith, 1624) Franklin wrote many satires that clearly showed his mixed viewpoints about the Native Americans. That is, in spite of favoring slavery and indirectly promoting it, Franklin tried to understand the Native Americans and their culture in a positive way, and also wished that other colonizers also do the same. In 1784, Franklin in his work, “Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America”, states that, “Savages we call them, because their Manners differ from ours, which we think the Perfection of Civility, they think the same of theirs” (Franklin, 1784).

This statement illustrates how Franklin also understood their mindset, and how they can be viewed favorably as people who have their own identity and way of living. That is, he indirectly implied that Native Americans are also good people with strong beliefs, and even if those beliefs do not match those of the majority, it does not mean it is wrong. On the same lines, Capt. John Smith also had an open-minded view of the native people. He viewed and portrayed them in a favorable light, referring them as comely and civil, and also calling their chiefs as emperors.

Thus, from the above analysis of Ben Franklin and James Smith’s writings and works, it is clear that both mainly viewed the Native Americans favorably, but there were some inconsistencies. In some parts of their works, both of them had some critical views against them, however on the whole, portrayed and treated them in a favorable and positive way. References Franklin, B. (1784). “Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America.” In Health Anthology of American Literature, NY: Houghton Miflin, 2004.

History News Network. (2006). David Waldstreicher says Ben Franklin's bad side is neglected. Retrieved on March 11, 2011 from http://hnn.us/roundup/entries/20403.html Lapham, S. S and Saunders, A. (2005). Benjamin Franklin's evolving views on race and ethnicity. Social Education. Retrieved on March 11, 2011 from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb6541/is_1_69/ai_n29159184/ Randel, W. (1939). Captain John Smith's Attitudes toward the Indians. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, 47(3), 218-229. Smith, J. (1624).

Captain John Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New England & the Summer Isles (1624). Retrieved on March 11, 2011 from http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/bdorsey1/41docs/10-smi.html