The Inventor of The American Dream

Benjamin Franklin's autobiography tells the story of a poor young man who becomes a pivotal figure in the creation of the American Nation. He goes through his young boyhood as a candle maker to a man who composes a set of virtues in which all men can follow to achieve the American Dream. In a way, these Thirteen Virtues in which he describes is the first stepping stone in the building of the American Dream. This "dream" is a belief that anyone, despite their social status or monetary situation can achieve greatness. Benjamin Franklin's autobiography is the first written exhibition of this dream being achieved. It is with this autobiography that leads Americans to their belief in manifest destiny in the Westward Expansion. The early Americans believed, through their president's example, that in America anyone can achieve greatness and the Western Frontier was the place to do this. In all, Benjamin Franklin's autobiography is one of the first recorded examples of someone achieving the American Dream in early America and this book sets a guideline for the rest of Americans with the Thirteen Virtues.
This idea of being in control of one's life and lifestyle is completely opposite from the Puritan values that were embraced when first settlers arrived.The Puritan belief was that everyone's life is predestined by God: monetarily and socially. Therefore, the idea that one is able to alter one's life was completely new in America. The fact that the president achieved this provided an example for the rest of the country to follow by. He became the first example of a person achieving the American Dream.