Question

Provide an objective summary of the central ideas Benjamin Franklin offered in his essay regarding the problems and conflicts the colonists experienced with the Native Americans, whom they regarded as uncivilized. Your answer should be no less than 100 words in length.

Answer 1

In the essay Benjamin Franklin wrote in 1784 about Native Americans, titled “Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America”, he stated that the Native Americans were called savages “because their manners differ from ours, which we think the perfection of civility; they think the same of theirs.” The theme of empathy is seen in Franklin’s essay, as he encouraged seeing the other person’s point of view in dealing with the Native Americans. In highlighting the similarity of how Native Americans conduct their public councils to how order is maintained in the British House of Commons, he promoted the value of respect for diversity.

Answer 2

In one essay on Indians, Benjamin Franklin spoke of how the men when young could do the hunting for example but when older could become counselor's and develop oratory skills as their life style allowed for time for contemplation and the development of wisdom. Also, he spoke of how the government in Virginia offered to pay for the university education of some of the young natives and they replied, after some consideration that those that had engaged in this education in the past became useless in the skills of dealing with nature and daily life with their people living on the land so declined the offer but offered instead to educate some white people in their own valuable life skills of living life like a true native American.