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Common sense and the fight for independence
Common sense and the fight for independence
Role of Thomas Paine in the push toward Independence and the founding of the United States
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There was a lot of tension building up during the 1760's and 1770's between Great Britain and America and something had to be done about it. Is it worth the risk declaring independence from the most powerful country in the world? The forefathers were in a confusing situation and had to come up with something to do to solve the problem. They needed something to come along and help them make a decision. The writing of Common Sense by Thomas Paine was a major help in persuading the push to declare independence. There were a lot of events leading up to the colonists deciding to finally declare there independence from Great Britain. The British put numerous taxes on the colonies, which they sought to be unfair. The stamp tax and the tea tax were just a few of the taxes that made the colonists upset with the British. Colonists protested these acts in many ways. The Son's of Liberty were a group that was created to protest and they were responsible for such demonstrations as The Boston Tea Party. Then there was actually violence involved in the 1760's. This is when the Boston Massacre happened, where British soldiers in Boston shot at an angry mob and killed five colonists. Finally there were actual battles going on between the British soldiers and the American soldiers at Lexington and Concord before the war was started and before the Americans declared independence. All of these events led to much tension between Great Britain and the America. What colonists were to do after these events led to much debate. It was the right time for independence but the question of if they were actually going to do it arose. This is where Thomas Paine and his pamphlet Common Sense comes into the picture. Paine was from England and came to America in 1774. He was a friend of Benjamin Franklin, were he found him Paine a job in Philadelphia. It is in Philadelphia were Paine wrote Common Sense after he met delegates from the Second Continental Congress. In his pamphlet lie many convincing arguments for the case of independence for the colonists. The first thing that Paine did was to attack the king in his writing. He says that all mankind is created equally so why should there be a separation of kings and subjects. This is a good statement because it probably touched upon what the people of that time were feeling about there king.
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
The American colonists under English rule had many rules and regulations dictated by the king and his governors that the colonists were not enthused about. The colonists eventually grew very tired of how England was ruling them and they were on the verge of making a huge decision; to fight for independence from England or to remain a colony. Two men, Thomas Paine and James Chalmers, would offer two opposing stances on this issue. Paine would write his letter Common Sense in 1776, arguing that becoming independent from England would make America stronger economically and politically as a nation, while Chalmers wrote his letter Plain Truth in 1776, arguing that to be a strong nation economically and politically the American colonists would
The 1770s proved to be a time of much chaos and debate. The thirteen colonies, which soon gained their independence, were in the midst of a conflict with Great Britain. The colonies were suffering from repeated injuries and usurpations inflicted upon them by the British. As a result of these inflictions, Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry addressed these injustices, and proved to be very persuasive through providing reasoning and evidence that moved many colonists to believe that to reach contentment and peace the colonies had to rid themselves of British rule. These men's works were very effective, not only because of the rhetorical devices used, but also because Paine and Henry were passionate about the cause they were committed to.
The language used in Common Sense is that of a leader hoping to inspire his followers to heed his warning and answer his call. Paine's audience was the people of the colonies, he wanted them to realize that the oppression of the crown has not limit and sure there were benefits of belonging to the crown, there were far more oppression beyond measure that comes with such benefits.
The measures made to ensure the king does not have absolute power are not enough to prevent him from ultimately getting his way no matter what that may be. On page 27 Paine tells how the king made the declaration that there will be no law unless put in place by himself. This effort to make the colonists powerless as to how they are governed is tyranny. Paine’s also argues that this event shows how Britain believes America has become too powerful and is trying to slow its growth and development (27). Those who are in parliament so far away from the tragic events that take place in America who live in such a vastly different world are too ignorant to make judgements for America (23). Paine’s statement that in America “law is king,” demonstrates the author’s argument that law developed for the people should be what runs the country not a single man (30). This coincides with the way America was running well before the war ended and Britain decided to exert more power over the colonies. This is made even more evident when Thomas Paine states Britain cannot be relied on to defend them because Britain is the entity that had been trying to take away America’s power and the people rights. Furthermore,
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 envisioned individual rights.... ... middle of paper ... ... Paul Revere’s Ride discusses much of the same. Another point was Thomas Paine, the author.
With his many writing he wrote, The Age of Reason, The American Crisis, and Common Sense. Common Sense was one of Paine's most popular and influential pieces that brought together his ideas to the public to show that their independence from the British was essential. It was written in a forceful style to show the issue to strive for complete independence for the Colonies. The piece sold more than 100,000 copies, and it helped pave the way for the Declaration of Independence. Further on during the Revolution, Paine wrote The American Crisis. It argued for American independence and revolution, and antagonized any course of actions with Britain. Paine had changed the view of what independence meant. He was able to associate his beliefs and ideas of freedom that grasped everyone in the colonies. Paine’s Crisis encouraged and helped finish the
The complex and remarkable life of Thomas Paine has greatly influenced his many writings. His style of writing also has caused him to become very popular and has helped him influence many people. Thomas Paine's common sense and hard life had a strong influence in his writing of "Common Sense." In his writing of the "Common Sense he demanded for a revolution. He wrote very simply and boldly so that all his readers would be able to read his writing. He fought for people's freedom as he had in his own life and because of his commitment "Common Sense" became the most widely and influential writings of that time. This became an inspiration to many people including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, which inspired him to write the Declaration of Independence. Paine wrote the "Common Sense" because he believed that the English had outgrown any need for English domination and should be given Independence. He was fighting for his country, which was England. In his writings he said "We have it in our power to begin the world over again." This meant that America was going through a new revolution and that it should start things off right from the start and that from the beginning freedom formed the essence of American nationalism. Thomas Paine's main idea behind his writing was that people should be open-minded and stand up for what they believed just like he did when he was young. His writing helped shape America.
Paine believed that America needed to break free of the British clutches. He spoke out against slavery and joined the army to help fight the war. He did not agree with hereditary monarchy and wrote another paper to argue this point (Franklin 321). Paine was very aware of his criticizers, and worked very hard to persuade them toward his way of thinking. In his pamphlet Common Sense he writes: "I have heard it asserted by some, that as America has flourished under her former connection with Great Britain, the same connection is necessary towards her future happiness, and will always have the same effect"(Paine 323). Paine states the following argument: ."..for I answer roundly, that America would have flourished as much, and proba...
Thomas Paine was part of the Enlightment era that made people realize it is more out there than just one religion and the rule of law is enforced by God not the King. Paine tried to get people to see that the government was evil self-destructing and it did not do them any good to remain loyal to England. Thomas Paine tried to get others to see that God made everyone equal and the King does not recognize us as being equal because he is better and that is why he is king “MANKIND being originally equals in the order of creation, the equality could only be destroyed by some subsequent circumstances”(8). Paine mentions to the people that in early ages of the world, according to scripture there were no kings; which there was no wars (9). Government was into the world by Heathens, which Paine stated that this was the greatest, the invention the Devil ever made. The people where idolizing one man and that was the king and Paine tried to get people to see God does not want you to idolize no one but him, because he has the say so in the world and heavens. Paine said, “Monarchy is ranked in scripture as one of the sins
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.
When I was asked to read the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson and Common Sense by Thomas Paine I was kind of scared. As I started to read it, I found it to be truly interesting. Reading over them several times to make sure I was understanding the text and the meaning of them both. Through, out this paper I will share many compares and contrast over the Declaration of Independence and the Common Sense pamphlet. There are many reasons why these two documents had a great effect on the revolutionary American. As you will see in this paper I will point out many ways that these documents are still in effect today. In the end you will understand how the United States
When declaring independence, the bulk of the people thought that would be “…to burn the last bridge, to become traders in the eyes of the mother country.” (Garraty 110). John Dickinson had stated, “ ‘Torn from the body to which we are united by religion, liberty, laws, affections, relation, language and commerce, we must bleed at every vein.’ “ (Garraty 110). The people were afraid to break away, they pondered “ ‘Where shall we find another Britain.’ “ (Garraty 110). Eventually independence was inevitable. There was a great mistrust towards both Parliament and George III when the colonists heard that the British were sending hired Hessian soldiers to fight against them in the revolution. The pamphlet written by Thomas Paine entitled Common Sense called boldly for complete independence. This reflected his opinions on George III, calling him a brute, and also attacking the idea of monarchy itself. “Virtually everyone in the colonies must have read Common Sense or heard it explained and discussed.” (Garraty 110). John Adams dismissed it as something he had said time and time again. “The tone of the debate changed sharply as Paine’s slashing attack took effect.” (Garraty 110). A committee was appointed by Congress, consisting of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and many more. “The committee had asked Jefferson to prepare a draft” that would soon become known as the Declaration of Independence. (Garraty 112). It consisted of two parts: an introduction which justified the abstract right of any people to revolt and described the theory on which the Americans based their creation of a new, republican government, and a second part that made George III, rather than Parliament, look like the ‘bad guy’. “…The king was the personification of the nation against which the nation was rebelling.” (Garraty 112). “The Declaration was intended to influence foreign opinion, but it had little immediate effect outside Great Britain, and there it only made people angry and determined to subdue the rebels.
The American Revolution was not only a battle between the British and the colonists; it was a historical movement that brought about new ways of thinking. The ideas of liberty and equality began to be seen as essential to the growth of the new nation. The separation of the American colonies from the British Empire occurred for a number of reasons. These reasons are illustrated in the Declaration of Independence. Although Thomas Jefferson wrote the document, it expressed the desire of the heart of each colonist to be free of British rule. British rule over the colonies became unbearable in the early months of 1776, making it clear to the colonists that it was time to either give in to British power or declare their independence. This idea of independence divided the colonies, but it was not long before a revolutionary committee met in Philadelphia and drew up the document that would change American history.