Midterm Writing Assignment Topic 1
AML 1000 Online
“Remarks concerning the savages of North America " is a part of early American Literature that highlights Franklin's criticism of the Native Americans being referred to as “savages”. This essay is based on Franklin’s experiences with the social and cultural nature of the Native Americans. Franklin’s descriptions of native life are described in such a way as to emphasize some of the failings of his own western society. This essay was written in 1784. In this remarkable essay Franklin makes observations on how the society of Native Americans differs from that of white English America. The main point that Franklin was aiming for is that Native Americans are anything but savages. Franklin wanted to convince people that just because a culture is different than our own does not mean they are savages and unclean. He even goes as far in his arguments to say that in some respects, the Native American culture and people are more polite than the British. Franklin gives examples describing ways the Indians respect the white people’s values and cultures and in return the Americans believe the Indians values are barbaric. Benjamin Franklin asked the question why the Native Americans should be called savages just because their lifestyle is different than others. One of the first examples given was, in 1744 at the Treaty of Lancaster the Six Nations a proposal was formed asking the Indians to send some of their young men to college in Virginia. This was purposed so they could teach them the lifestyle that the Americans know and practice. Why did the Six Nations believe that there was room for improvement in their community, they wanted to instill some of their values to the Indians. The Indians felt the white man had no moral values when it came to either living in the wilderness or building cabins, knowing how to survive outside or either be counselors to the young. They spoke of great honor and high esteem...
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