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1. Comparison: The thoughts and writings of Benjamin Franklin with that of Emerson and Thoreau. Each of these writers and thinkers are considered to be great and greatly influential Americans; However, Emerson and Thoreau’s Transcendentalist beliefs are very different from those of Franklin. Compare and contrast how these influential writers beliefs promote a competing and sometimes contradictory vision of the “American Dream.” In the process, you should arrive at a clearer understanding of Transcendentalism, Franklin’s message, and the writings of each of these men. In order to write this paper, you may want to take some time and read through the selection of Franklin’s Autobiography starting on page 7 in your reader.