An Analysis of The selling of Joseph by Benjamin Franklin †American Literature Essay (200 level Course)

An Analysis of The selling of Joseph by Benjamin Franklin – American Literature Essay (200 level Course) Free Online Research Papers An Analysis of The selling of Joseph by Benjamin Franklin American Literature Essay (200 level Course) There is no doubt that slavery is one of humankind’s worst experiences. Humans have been practicing slavery for centuries. From the big Roman Empire to the small kingdoms of Asia and Africa, slavery was a common and acceptable practice. In all these societies slaves were traditionally kept and used as domestic servants and it was also an indication of power and wealth, but they were not used for commercial gains. Things changed with the discovery of the New World, the need for quick and cheap labor increased. Benjamin Franklin’s satire on the defense of slavery makes a lot of sense. He bases his argument on religion, wealth, civility and power. His use of Divan of Algiers to further illustrate his point was a good and valid idea. The Divan uses all this points to argue that slavery in fact is good for the continuation of their civilization. The Divan feared the fall of Authority if slavery was to be abolished. Religion has been used a lot of times to justify the continuity of slavery and the slave trade. This is also demonstrated in Franklin’s letter. Franklin writes that the divan of Algiers emphasizes that by bringing or capturing slaves they are civilizing and showing them the light of God. â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ is their condition then made worse by their falling into our hands? No; they have only exchanged one slavery for another, and I may say better; for they are brought into a land where the sun of Islamism gives forth its light and shines in full splendor, and they have an opportunity of making themselves Acquainted with the true doctrine, and Thereby saving their immortal souls†¦ â€Å" (Franklin 759) The divan of Algiers does insist that slavery is good for the so-called â€Å"infidels† and their captivity is good because it helps them become better individuals and Muslims at the same time. He also raises points that aren’t the individuals and Muslims at the same time. He also raises points that aren’t the individuals already slaves from wherever they come from? (Franklin 759). This is true since most of the people the Algerians were capturing were sailors from European ships and the Algerian assumed that they were slaves since they got treated bad by the ship owners. The Divan suggests that the captives are just changing from one slavery to another better one. Religion was used everywhere in his defense of slavery. The divan was not the only individual to use religion to his defense, the king of Bonny (now the Nigerian Delta) also used religion to legitimize slavery. The British declared all slavery being illegal and this forced the king to respond,  "†¦we think this trade must go on. That is the verdict of our oracle and priests. They say that our country however great, can never stop the trade but god himself†¦.† (The Story of Africa 2). The author Phillis Whetley in one of her poems also praised slavery â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦twas mercy that brought me from my pagan land†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Whitley 1104). The use of religion to argue on slavery was a common practice and Franklin exhibited it to us using the Divan. The Divan did not use religion only, he also used economics or wealth as a reason to try further his arguments. The Divan tried to illustrate that by abolishing slavery, the government and its people will lose a lot of money and things will be worse. The land they occupy will diminish in value and there will be no one to cultivate the farms. The government will lose a lot of money and it will not be able to pay its citizens for whatever loss they have incurred (Franklin 759). The government will also lose most of its revenues from the slaves owners. This economic argument was also used by a lot by the plantation owners in the Americas. Franklin’s Divan tried to persuade the council that the country ‘s economy will be in ruins if they do go ahead and let the slaves free. His argument is valid and makes sense when you look it in an economic perspective. The Divan states that the slave being inferior and ignorant, will not be able to establish good government and govern themselves â€Å"†¦but they are, I doubt, too little disposed to labor without compulsion, as well as too ignorant to establish a good government†¦.† (Franklin 759) The divan argues that the slaves will be treated fairly and better if they stayed. Franklin’s divan was not the only one to be concerned about the future of freed slaves, Samuel Sewall who spoke out against slavery also showed some concern on what will happen if the slaves in America were freed. In his memorial â€Å"The selling of Joseph† Seawall says about that â€Å"†¦. few can endure Negro being set free, and indeed they can seldom use their freedom†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Seawall 414). Seawall’s statements goes on to show that even though he was a pre-abolitionist he was not necessarily a supporter of an integrated society and so was the Dian of Algiers. To conclude Franklin’s use of the Divan’s argument made a lot of sense since we could compare the Algerians to the plantation owners in the Americas. Slavery is bad there is no doubt about that but I do agree with the Divan’s a4rgument when it comes to the economics of it. The whole argument takes a different turn and makes a lot of sense even though it is such a bad idea. Franklin clearly illustrates and satirizes the Divan’s argument. The points are clear and easy to understand in spite of being such a hard topic. Overall the argument makes a lot of sense and it is valid. The only thing it misses is it does not take into consideration the feelings and opinions of the slaves. Franklin clearly does a great job explaining slavery to us through the Divan. Franklin, Benjamin from â€Å"On the slave Trade† The Heath anthology of American Literature, Vol. I. 3rd ed. Paul Lauter. Bostson: Houghton, 1998.758-760. Seawall, Samuel from â€Å"The Selling of Joseph† The Heath anthology of American Literature, Vol. I. 3rd ed. Paul Lauter. Bostson: Houghton, 1998.413-418. World Service, BBC from â€Å"The story of Africa† BBC World Service website (bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica) London: 05-23-2001 Wheatley, Phillis from â€Å"On being brought from Africa† The Heath anthology of American Literature, Vol. I. 3rd ed. Paul Lauter. Bostson: Houghton, 1998.1104. Research Papers on An Analysis of The selling of Joseph by Benjamin Franklin - American Literature Essay (200 level Course)19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraQuebec and CanadaBringing Democracy to AfricaComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationUnreasonable Searches and SeizuresHip-Hop is ArtEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenThree Concepts of Psychodynamic

Thomas Saverys Steam Engine

Thomas Saverys Steam Engine Thomas Savery was born to a well-known family in Shilston, England sometime around 1650. He was well educated and exhibited a great fondness for mechanics, mathematics, experimentation and invention. Saverys Early Inventions   One of Saverys earliest inventions was a clock, which remains in his family to this day and is considered an ingenious piece of mechanism. He went on to  invent and patented arrangement of paddle  wheels driven by capstans to propel vessels in calm weather. He pitched the idea to the British Admiralty and the Wavy Board but met with no success. The principal objector was the surveyor of the Navy who dismissed Savery with the remark, And have interloping people, that have no concern with us, pretend to contrive or invent things for us? Savery was not deterred he fitted his apparatus to a small vessel and exhibited its operation on the Thames, although the invention was never introduced by the Navy. The First Steam Engine Savery invented the steam engine sometime after the debut of his paddle  wheels, an idea first conceived by  Edward Somerset, Marquis of Worcester, as well as a few other earlier inventors. It’s been rumored that Savery read Somerset’s book first describing the invention and subsequently attempted to destroy all evidence of it in anticipation of his own invention. He allegedly bought up all copies he could find and burned them.   Although the story isn’t particularly credible, a comparison of the drawings of the two engines Saverys and Somersets shows a striking resemblance. If nothing else, Savery should be given credit for the successful introduction of this semi-omnipotent and water-commanding engine. He patented the design of his first engine on July 2, 1698. A working model was submitted to the Royal Society of London. The Road to the Patent Savery faced constant and embarrassing expense in the construction of his first steam engine. He had to keep the British mines and particularly the deep pits of Cornwall free from water. He finally completed the project and conducted some successful experiments with it, exhibiting a model of his fire engine before King William III and his court at Hampton Court in 1698. Savery then obtained his patent without delay. The title of the patent reads: A grant to Thomas Savery of the sole exercise of a new invention by him invented, for raising of water, and occasioning motion to all sorts of mill works, by the important force of fire, which will be of great use for draining mines, serving towns with water, and for the working of all sorts of mills, when they have not the benefit of water nor constant winds; to hold for 14 years; with usual clauses. Introducing His Invention to the World Savery next went about letting the world know about his invention. He began a systematic and successful advertising campaign, missing no opportunity to make his plans not merely known but well understood. He obtained permission to appear with his model fire engine and to explain its operation at a meeting of the Royal Society.  The minutes of that meeting read: Mr. Savery entertained the Society with showing his engine to raise water by the force of fire. He was thanked for showing the experiment, which succeeded according to expectation, and was approved of.   Hoping to introduce his fire engine to the  mining districts of Cornwall as a pumping engine,  Savery wrote a prospectus for general circulation, The Miners Friend; or, A Description of an Engine to Raise Water by Fire.†Ã‚   Implementation of the Steam Engine Saverys prospectus was printed in London in 1702.  He proceeded to distribute it among the proprietors and managers of mines, who were finding at that time that the flow of water at certain depths was so great as to prevent operation. In many cases, the cost of drainage left no satisfactory margin of profit. Unfortunately, although Saverys fire engine began to be used for supplying water to towns, large estates, country houses and other private establishments, it did not come into general use among the mines. The  risk for explosion of the boilers or receivers was too great.   There were other difficulties in the application of the Savery engine to many kinds of work, but this was the most serious. In fact, explosions did occur with fatal results. When used in mines, the engines were necessarily placed within 30 feet or less of the lowest level and could potentially become submerged if the water should rise above that level. In many cases this would result in the loss of the engine. The mine would remain drowned unless another engine should be procured to pump it out. The consumption of fuel with these engines was very great as well. The steam could not be generated economically because the boilers used were simple forms and presented too little heating surface to secure a complete transfer of heat from the gases of combustion to the water within the boiler. This waste in the generation of steam was followed by still more serious waste in its application. Without expansion to the expulsion of water from a metallic receiver, the cold and wet sides absorbed heat with the greatest avidity. The great mass of the liquid was not heated by the steam and was expelled at the temperature at which it was raised from below. Improvements to the Steam Engine Savery later began work with Thomas Newcomen on an atmospheric steam engine.  Newcomen was an English blacksmith who invented this improvement over Slaverys previous design. The Newcomen steam engine used the force of atmospheric pressure. His engine pumped steam into a cylinder. The steam was then condensed by cold water, which created a vacuum on the inside of the cylinder. The resulting atmospheric pressure operated a piston, creating downward strokes. Unlike the engine Thomas Savery had patented in 1698, the intensity of pressure in Newcomen’s engine was not limited by the pressure of the steam. Together with John Calley, Newcomen built his first engine in 1712 atop a water-filled mineshaft and used it to pump water out of the mine. The Newcomen engine was the predecessor to the Watt engine and it was one of the most interesting pieces of technology developed during the 1700s. James Watt was an inventor and mechanical engineer born in Greenock, Scotland, renowned for his improvements of the steam engine. While working for the University of Glasgow in 1765, Watt was assigned the task of repairing a Newcomen engine, which was considered  inefficient but still the best steam engine of its time. He began to work on several improvements to Newcomens design. Most notable was his 1769 patent for a separate condenser connected to a cylinder by a valve. Unlike Newcomens engine, Watts design had a condenser that could be kept cool while the cylinder was hot. Watts engine soon became the dominant design for all modern steam engines and helped bring about the Industrial Revolution. A unit of power called the watt was named after him.