preview

'An Analysis Of Thomas Paine's Common Sense'

analytical Essay
1075 words
1075 words
bookmark

Laney Kasper 3:35 MW Analysis of Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” Thomas Paine wrote a series of pamphlets anonymously in 1776, targeted at the average member of society, showing his belief in the American Revolution. He was an extremist and most of his ideas stemmed from The Enlightenment. Throughout the series, he discusses society and government in a comparative way. He chose to remain anonymous at the time of writing these, and its understandable why. In his writings, the first chapter alone, he challenges monarchy and the corruption within, and also challenges the idea of kings and monarchy. Before Freedom of Speech, speaking out against the government was considered treason and punishable by death. Thomas Paine wrote this paper to raise awareness, but remained anonymous to keep his life. He spoke about how wrong and twisted he thought …show more content…

In this essay, the author

  • Analyzes how thomas paine wrote a series of pamphlets anonymously in 1776, targeting the average member of society, showing his belief in the american revolution. he was an extremist and most of his ideas stemmed from the enlightenment.
  • Analyzes how thomas paine wrote this paper to raise awareness, but remained anonymous to keep his life. he spoke about how wrong and twisted he thought the government was in his pamphlets.
  • Analyzes how thomas paine defined government with terms such as "wickedness", "restraining our vices" and "creating distinctions".
  • Analyzes how thomas paine explained that britain is an island, and we are a continent. he believed that having ties with england is severing our personal economics.
  • Explains that the colonies were already in war, they had been for years, but it was time the colonists saw the diminishing of rights as unjust.
  • Explains that great britain was constantly in and out of war at the time. the french and indian war pushed for the beginning of the war between britain and the colonies.
  • Analyzes how thomas paine's pamphlets focused on american independence and the reasons the colonists had to start a war against england.
  • Analyzes how the battle of bunker hill led to the realization that the british were low on funds and had a weakened military at the time.
  • Analyzes how thomas paine's anonymous leadership led the colonies to a victory against their mother country and the gain of their own independence.

There were many battles and acts that Thomas Paine believed were sufficient reasoning as to why it was time the colonists gained their independence. We had already been in war. We had gone through various battles in many years with Britain, so fighting as this point was not a new idea. So, Thomas Paine pitched that we should go to war for our independence, because we’ve already been at war. The very start of the reasoning for the war against Britain all began with Britain’s need for income after the French Indian War. That led to the Sugar Act (1764), Stamp Act(1765), Quartering Act(1765), Declaratory Act(1766), Townshend’s Act(1767), Tea Act(1773), Coercive Acts(1774), Battle of Lexington (1775).Then came the Battle of Bunker Hill (1775) which was crucial to the gradual movement towards independence, which is what Thomas Paine strived for and believed in. This battle gave colonists the confidence they needed, and was the Battle that showed the colonies that they could stand against

Get Access