The Arguments of Thomas Paine and James Chalmers Over the Revolutionary War

735 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: American revolution social and political

The Revolutionary War was one of America’s earliest battles and one of many. Although, many came to America to gain independence from Great Britain many still had loyalty for the King and their laws. Others believed that America needs to be separated from Great Britain and control their own fate and government. I will analyze the arguments of Thomas Paine and James Chalmers. Should America be sustained by Great Britain or find their own passage? America is deemed to be the safe haven for all those who are escaping persecution in their country for religious rights and personal freedom. The fundamentals and foundation of America is that all are equal and all have the right for a better life. Where else in the world do you have the luxury of the pursuit of happiness and prosperity? However, because America is so diverse and sensitive to the plight of people wanting to obtain what America stands for, unfortunately we place ourselves in impossible predicaments around the world and the Revolutionary War is no different. Thomas Paine wrote the Common Sense and in this pamphlet he wrote about America’s separation and independence from Great Britain. His argument stated that America is a large continent and we are in charge of our own fate and direction (Paine 107). Paine further explained that people migrated to America to escape the control of the King and his laws. Paine introduced a theory when comparing America to a small island, that it is possible if separated we can come together and make our own laws and run the country as we see fit (Paine 109). Paine believes that we are no longer in need of Britain’s help and that we can eventually form alliances with other countries as we stand alone outside of Britain’s control. Paine’s d... ... middle of paper ... ...erall, Great Britain wanted to rule colonies to benefit themselves and only concerned for their own welfare and not that of the American people. In conclusion, without struggle and without sacrifice this country would not have gained the independence and prove that united we stand and divide we fall. Thomas Paine quite elegantly put it “however strange it may appear to some, or however unwilling they may be to think so, matters not, but many strong and striking reasons may be given to shew, that nothing can settle our affairs so expeditiously as an open and determined declaration of independence” (Paine 111). Works Cited Chalmers, James. "Plain Truth." Shi, David and Mayer, Holly. For the Record. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2013. Paine, Thomas. "Common Sense." Shi, David and Mayer, Holly. For the Record. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2013.

Show More
Related

  • Comparing Anne Bradstreet, Phillis Wheatley, And Thomas Paine

    877 Words  | 2 Pages

    Thomas Paine’s Common sense from III Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs is about the conflict between New England and America. The Americans didn’t like the way the British treated them so Paine’s stated his issue why America has to be an independent country to save its government and the reasons to wanted having freedom with Britain. Pain gave reason in the text what would happen to the American government if they stayed dependent from England. Paine’s Common Sense spoke out his beliefs about the hardships in America and how he felt America. A quote by Thomas Paine, “The authority of Great Britain over this continent is a form of government which sooner or later must have an end: and a serious mind can draw no true pleasure by looking forward, under the painful and positive conviction that what he calls ‘the present constitution’ is merely

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Patrick Henry And Patomas Paine

    718 Words  | 2 Pages

    Paine dwells on the differences between government and society. He stresses greatly on the fact that a government should be able to protect its society. Giving life and liberty to its people. He also points out that, Britain is the main cause of enemy to the Americas. Expressing disagreement with the British in American, he criticized the British government. He believes that the monarchy has too much power and their system is unreasonable. Paine complicates matters further when he writes, that the Americans are not British anymore. It is not British in a sense that it is so diverse, with different types of Europeans. In Paine’s views Britain is not a mother country, since it imposes harsh treatments and is in a war too often. The idea of best interest was important to Paine. In his views, Britain sees the Americas as profitable institutions to control and gains riches from, as opposed to the development and freedom of the nations. Independence from Britain was one of many ideas of this pamphlet. “Common Sense”, essentially pointed out the reasons why the colonies should leave the British and form a new government. His views on government inspired “Limited government” and “natural laws”, which gives citizens more control on how they shape their local environment and

    Read More

  • Reasons For Independence In Thomas Paine's Common Sense

    937 Words  | 2 Pages

    Thomas Paine, in the pamphlet Common Sense, succeeded in convincing the indifferent portion of colonial society that America should secede from Britain through moral and religious, economic, and governmental arguments. Using strong evidence, targeting each separate group of people, Thomas Paine served not only to sway the public 's opinion on American independence, but also to mobilize the effort to achieve this ultimatum.

    Read More

  • The Contradiction between Beliefs and Actions in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

    2137 Words  | 5 Pages

    New York: St. Anthony Messenger, 1996. · Paine, Thomas. Common Sense. New York: Norton and Company, 2003. · Twain, Mark.

    Read More

  • What Is The Thesis Of The American Crisis By Thomas Paine

    1075 Words  | 3 Pages

    The document “The American Crisis” focuses mainly on the crises that America would face during the time of revolutionary war. Thomas Paine, in this article urged people to unite and to fight against Britain. He encouraged and inspires the colonialist’s soldiers to strive for independence from “tyrant and evil” colonial kings and its government. He believed wholeheartedly in the American Revolutionary cause but oppose violent practices.

    Read More

  • Common Sense: An Influence on American Independence

    1222 Words  | 3 Pages

    Paine had not entertained the idea of independence from Britain when he arrived in America. He thought it was “a kind of treason” to break away from Britain. It was not until the Battle of Lexington in 1775 that he considered “the compact between Britain and America to be broken” (Claeys). This idea of a broken compact allowed Thomas Paine to write a political pamphlet.

    Read More

  • The Common Sense And The Crisis, By Thomas Paine

    1333 Words  | 3 Pages

    Colonies settled by the British were not keen on being ruled by the British from the beginning of the colonization of America. Puritans immigrated to this New World after facing religious discrimination under the British Crown. The New World meant a fresh start for the Puritans. They could set up their own government and free practice their religion. Those who were not Puritan were still likely to share the belief in independence for the mother country and a fresh start However, British rule prevailed providing their own laws and power. The British Crown sought to grasp full control of the colonies for the good of the mother country and its values. Of course, eventually the colonies achieved independence through prominent figures in society

    Read More

  • Thomas Paine's Response To The American Declaration Of Independence

    1844 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the year 1776, an English-born American writer by the name of Thomas Paine published one of the most critical documents to American independence prior to the Declaration of Independence itself. His paper, Common Sense, called for the immediate break away of the colonies from England and the formation of a republican government, superior to the former monarchy. Though the sheer number of copies sold can speak for the impact of Paine’s work, proper insight requires us to look into the arguments that were presented. There was undoubtedly opposition from the remaining Loyalists, so how did Common Sense so totally eclipse the counterarguments? What caused this single document to inspire such a revolutionary spirit in so many colonists across

    Read More

  • Thomas Paine's Common Sense

    719 Words  | 2 Pages

    It was only a matter of time until the colonist had enough of the governments crap for abusing the power that they were given. Great Britain was just using the colonies to make more money and the colonist thought they would be better off on their own then under Britain’s rule. Paine states, “Our corn will fetch its price in any market in Europe, and our imported good must be paid for buy them where were will” (Common Sense p.24). Paine thought if the Americans had control over their ports then Great Britain had nothing to offer them anymore. With that, American was no longer just colonies; they had grown into something much greater, a self thriving country. America became a refuge for many types of European with different type of beliefs. Paine Strongly worded, “Europe, and not England, is the parent country of America” (Common Sense p.

    Read More

  • The Relationship Between Society And Government In Thomas Paine's Common Sense

    1398 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was a powerful and successful propaganda weapon used to promote his idea of independence from Britain. In order to prove that seeking independence was necessary at this time in history, Paine wrote about the relationship between society and government, his opinions about the British monarchy and the King, and the freedoms he believed had been stolen from the colonists. Common Sense was written in terms that were easily relatable to the colonist of this time period. After they finished reading his work, many colonists’ opinions about the British were swayed by his strong words. Even though Paine arrived in America quite late, he was able to make a significant difference by changing the colonists’ views, which ultimately

    Read More

  • Common Sense: Give Me Liberty by Patrick Henry

    1153 Words  | 3 Pages

    Paine, T., & Slaughter, T. P. (2001). Common sense and related writings. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's.

    Read More

  • Impact Of Thomas Paine's Common Sense On The American Revolution

    780 Words  | 2 Pages

    1776 marked a tumultuous period in American history, remembered through the birth of a new nation as affirmed by the Declaration of Independence. However, preceding this was a radical shift in public opinion compressed into months. The publication of Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense on January 10th 1776 lead to the definitive shift from loyalist reconciliation to patriotic independence. Through the culmination of increasing frustrations with imperial rule, contrasted with the expectation of local autonomy, Paine influenced the colonialist to realise the necessity for independence.

    Read More

  • THOMAS PAINE, MORE THAN COMMON SENSE

    1890 Words  | 4 Pages

    Paine, Thomas. "Common Sense." Common Sense (January 3, 2009): 1. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed February 27, 2011).

    Read More

  • Comparing Thomas Paine's Common Sense and Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence

    1125 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thomas Paine constructs Common Sense as an editorial on the subject of the relationship between the Colonies and Great Britain. Through the paper, he hopes to educate his fellow Americans about this subject. In his introduction, he says he feels that there is 'a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong'; which 'gives it a superficial appearance of being right'; (693). He is alluding to the relationship, also calling it a 'violent abuse of power'; (693). This choice of words is similar to those of Jefferson, who asserts that the king had established an 'absolute tyranny'; over the states. Both men set an immediate understanding about their feelings towards the rule of Great Britain over the States. However, where Common Sense seems to be an opinionated essay, Thomas Jefferson writes somewhat of a call to battle. Paine generally seems to be alerting his readers to the fact that there is more going on than they are aware of. Jefferson, on the other hand, begins his declaration by stating, 'When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another'; (715). Unlike Paine, this seems to presuppose that readers are aware of the plight of the nation, and Jefferson is announcing that the time has come to take a stand.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Thomas Paine And John De Crevecoeur

    1114 Words  | 3 Pages

    His exceptional writing and simple style reached many receptive ears across the Colonies. He also spoke plainly as was with de Crevecoeur yet tended away in his writing from the rural and the pleasant and more towards politics and the ugly truths that were part of colonial life. Consider his most famous work “Common Sense” it is an agitation against the crown of England, this would become a pattern with the man. In its most basic form “Common Sense” is a call to arms and revolution. It is also a great if very lengthy argument for what should happen after the war is won establishing a republic. “The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth. ’Tis not the affair of a city, a county, a province, or a kingdom; but of a continent—of at least one-eighth part of the habitable globe. ’Tis not the concern of a day, a year, or an age; posterity are virtually involved in the contest, and will be more or less affected even to the end of time by the proceedings now” (Paine 136). This is Paine’s original thoughts on the matter and his beginning argument. He continues with “We have boasted the protection of Great Britain without considering that her motive was interest, not attachment; and that she did not protect us from our enemies on our account, but from her enemies on her own account, from those who had no quarrel with us on any other account, and who will always be our enemies on the same account.” (Paine 137). It seems a pretty simple argument to the author that Americans are only entangled in foreign wars because of the association with Great Britain. He makes another assertion that “America would have flourished as much, and probably much more, had no European power taken any notice of her. The commerce by which she hath enriched herself are the necessaries of life, and will always have a market while eating is the custom of Europe.” (Paine 137). Paine’s call to a republic

    Read More

More about The Arguments of Thomas Paine and James Chalmers Over the Revolutionary War

Open Document