Benjamin Franklin was a Political Hero in Sheila Kemps...

Sheila Kemp did an outstanding job in her short history of one of America’s most treasured -- arguably the most looked up to -- political heroes. Whether the Cockpit had as astounding an effect on Franklin’s political career, and the defining moment that pushed him on the path as an advocate for independence is up for argument. Did Kemp adequately protect her position: that Benjamin Franklin became a revolutionary after his incident at the Cockpit? The questions seem to be answerable morally, as well as historically. In truth, Kemp defended her position with as much armor as she could smith whilst writing her definingly short biography, but sometimes lost her argument in midst of a flood of historical information. Thus, in this review the†¦show more content†¦According to Kemp, Franklin was merely representing the wrong colony at the wrong time. And said that, although events in Massachusetts put Franklin on the hot seat, there was an underlying reason for Wedd erburn’s attacks. Some of which were inherent, for instance, the ideologies between American Colonists and the British Elite were very much different than how Franklin imagined the Empire. He believed that all colonists were grateful to be part of the Empire, and even went as far as to advocate ill-fated taxes to be introduced to the Colonies in an attempt to relieve some british debt. Furthermore, to the british mind, taxes that were being legislated were perfectly within the Empire’s right, and that every time taxes became too overwhelming, British officials would back down against resistance. Such was the case for the Stamp Act which was enacted in 1765 and repealed in 1766 after riots broke out in the Colonies. In the case of Franklin, exasperations also gave way to his eventual disenfranchisement of the Empire. His own pride was destroyed at the cockpit that day, something Franklin was no stranger to and definitely was unable to handle in a casual fashion. Thus, Kemp adamantly claims -- throughout her work -- that Franklin saw his opposition to the Empire, as a personal and not entirely a political issue as he once did. Kemp states,†Franklin lived in a place where social status