The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Lesson Plan

How have you changed your thinking about Franklin's perception of non-white people? What can you draw from the text to develop a credible interpretation of his beliefs about non-whites?

Strong answers will note not only what Franklins says about non-whites, but also what he does not say. They will note several instances of racially charged or prejudiced language (including the term "savages"), and they will look for implied, if not explicit, reflection on the use of this language and on the perception of Native Americans in the text in general. In looking for a more humanistic treatment of the events surrounding the Native Americans, they may try to deduce whether or not...