Although William Bradford and Ben Franklin lived 100 years apart from one another, they share at least one common theme: each man adhered to and dedicated himself to a particular system of belief. One key difference betweenBradfords faith and Franklins ideal of success is that Bradford believed that theway to improvement was through God. Franklin believed that the only person orthing that could make things happen was you. Bradfords point is illustrated in iswork Of Plymouth Plantation. He states, The difficulties were many, but notinvincible. For though there are many of them likely, yet they were not certain. It might be sundry of the things feared might never befall; others by provident careand the use of good means might in great measure be prevented; and all of them,through the help of God, by fortitude and patience, might either be borne orovercome. (Bradford 144) In this quote he is talking about the pilgrims firstcoming to America. He thinks that through God they survive and will prosper. Bradfords puritan belief influenced the way that he survived. His survivaldepended on the his faith in God. Imagine someone coming to a new world justfor the sake of coming. If he didnt have his faith he probably wouldnt havestayed and founded the Plymouth colony. But because of his faith in God, hestayed.Franklin believes that God is to be thanked, but his own hard work withGods providence made him the way he is. (Franklin 370) Franklin believed theonly way to improve was to take what God had given to you and work hard usingyour talents to become successful. He stated in Poor Richard Improved, He thatplough would thrive, Himself must either hold or drive. (Franklin 439) Thismentions nothing about God, only He or Himself. Whereas all of Bradfordspassage about himself mention something about God. Franklins belief system isthrough hard work and self-improvement. He achieved all he did through his ownhard work. Ben Franklin ...
