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Thomas Paine's significance during the American Revolutionary War
Thomas Paine common sense analysis
Thomas Paine common sense analysis
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Throughout Common Sense, Paine advocated for a republic that was built on equality and property. Thomas Paine was a British colonist who believed it was time to truly be independent from Britain, in his writing Common Sense he spoke bluntly and plainly to win over more colonists for freedom. He takes no time to say that his beliefs are logic and reason based. He begins chapter 3 by writing, ‘In the following pages I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense; and have no other preliminaries to settle with the reader, than that he will divest himself of prejudice and prepossession.” Paine tells his audience that there is no hidden agenda in what they are about and they can make their decision through their own common sense. …show more content…
Through showing colonists that the last resort to free themselves from Britain was important, Thomas Paine helped influence the revolution, while slightly influencing the Declaration of Independence. Only after Common Sense came out did the founding fathers realize they needed independence. Even they were not brave enough to stand against British rule. There are quite a few differences between the language used in the Declaration and Common Sense. While Common sense was written for common people to read, the Declaration was written in a way to get alliances with Europe. One of the alliances was with England, which Thomas Paine wanted to cut off all ties with England. The founding fathers did have more lose if they went down Paine’s route, the British could have them killed. “The state of a king shuts him from the world, yet the business of a king requires him to know it thoroughly; wherefore the different parts, unnaturally opposing and destroying each other, prove the whole character to be absurd and
England was a powerful kingdom ran by a strong King name William the Conquer. King William felt as if what he says goes, and this made the Americans furious because they had no say so in the government. Thomas Paine then came along a smart and intelligent guy who made Americans realize that one does not need to be part of the England society lets succeed away from their laws and be independent. Knowing his audience well, Thomas Paine used many biblical allusions to encourage revolution in his classic pamplet Common Sense.
The idea of independence from Great Britain, it is something that is so commonplace a thing that I think very little of it on a day-to-day basis, but there was once a time when it was not so common, there was even a time when many thought the idea of fighting for independence was a foolhardy or reckless move and we were better off under the rule of Great Britain. This was not necessarily an incorrect way of thinking as Great Britain had provided the colonies with resources that would have taken far longer to develop for themselves. In 1776, Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense a pamphlet that encouraged this new way of thinking and urged the people of the thirteen colonies to fight for their independence from Great Britain, as their help was now seeming to become a hindrance.
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
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.
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
In the year 1776 on January, the Common Sense was written anonymously by Thomas Paine. “The pamphlet began not with a recital of colonial grievances but with an attack on the “so much boasted Constitution of England” and the principles of hereditary rule and monarchial government” (Foner 198). Thomas Paine insisted that the British was more of a burden than a benefit of the colonies. Paine argued that both the outbreak wat in 1775, which was the British rights to tax the colonies, and the corrupted society that was growing were diminishing liberty. Having independence for the first time, the colonies could instigate themselves from involvement from the endless wars of European. “Common Sense quickly became one of the most successful and influential
Thomas Paine anonymously wrote “Common Sense”, a pamphlet discussing the ideas of independence from Britain. This helped the colonists put their frustrations with their government into words. Paine wrote it so simply that anyone could understand his ideas, and it was quite persuasive. He says, “The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth.” (Baym 326) Essentially, Thomas Paine explains how independence from the monarchy would be a really wonderful thing, and he ultimately explains that this independence is inevitable. He talks about how Britain is the parent of America. He compares America to a child growing independent of its parents. Although at one point, America was “flourish[ing] under her former connection with Great Britain”, he says that now it is time for America to grow independent. He uses the example of a child who has been raised on milk never moving on to eating meat. Although the child grew a lot on milk, that doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t continue to grow by eating meat, by gaining more independence. (Baym 326) And he says that while Britain is their parent country, parents shouldn’t “devour their young,” or “make war upon their families.” (Baym 327) He’s using this extended parent example to show that America really doesn’t need a parent country anymore. This idea of total independence from Britain put a lot in perspective for Americans at the time. They became empowered and confident in this idea of
In Thomas Paine's pamphlet, Common Sense, he persuaded many American colonists, through sound logic and reasoning, to fight for their independence from the British monarchy. He convinced the American colonists to fight for their freedom during one of the best opportunities they had to do so. Due partly to the Enlightenment in America, colonists yearned for a democracy with equal representation. However, many were unsure of whether or not it was the best decision to separate from Britain. To help tip the scale towards the side of declaring independence, Paine wrote in his pamphlet that: America would do better financially without Britain, Americans had evolved from further needing military protection from Britain, and that it would be in the colonists best moral interest to secede from their mother country.
Throughout Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, he described the necessity of an American independence from England. By using “simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense,” Paine depicted the ever-growing list of offenses committed by the British against the colonists, providing much evidence that the damage done by England was irreparable, and could be rectified only through the separation of America from England (Paine, 1). Throughout the pamphlet, Paine listed the many grievances and uses them to show his audience that while “reconciliation [with England is] like an agreeable dream,” the severe damage done by England had already deeply affected the colonists to
Thomas Paine’s influence through the writing of his pamphlets changed the world, particularly the United States of America and France forever. President John Adams said “I know not, whether any man in the world has had more influence on its inhabitants or affairs for the last thirty years than Thomas Paine” (Schlereth np). Paine wrote his most influential piece, “Common Sense,” where he inspired the American colonies to rebel against the British. He was widely praised in the new America as shown by President Adams. Speaking from personal experience, Paine poured out his hatred for the British denying the deep seeded respect that exists within him. He realized that breaking away from Britain would be the hardest thing any of them would ever have to experience and he hoped to portray himself in the same situation as all of the other Americans and eventually Frenchmen. Paine was a part of the Enlightenment where literature transformed into more revolutionary writing as they battled the British. The Enlightenment was a cultural movement that emphasized reason and individualism. Thomas Paine is recognized as one of the most important American authors of all time because of the impact that he had on the entire population of America and the power of the written word is unmatched.
After a few months, Paine could not take it so he left the Army, and he took his personal experiences and put them into words of inspiration. The American Revolution was the mother to “Common Sense,” Paine was the father. He gave birth to one of the biggest pieces of propaganda of the time (Bazyar). “Common Sense” lit a fire inside of the soldiers, it seemed. “Common Sense helped ignite the American Revolution” (Bazyar). Paine and America started to rebel against common rules and taxes, to fight for what they believed in. The pamphlet was said to “revive” the cause for America fighting in the war (Davis 56). “Common Sense” was greatly appreciated, and called out all who disagreed with what was said. The pamphlet was first published in January of 1776, but by who? (Bazyar). “Common Sense” was first published anonymously, yet it was later changed to Thomas Paine after being successful (Davis 60). The pamphlet hit the gates running, so to say, selling 150,000 copies across the colonies (Bazyar). Thomas Paine was from England, yet he was supporting his new home, America, which rebells against the norm and supports him being a nonconformist. Paine wrote “Common Sense” to be a strong defense of American Independence (Kindig). It was a long pamphlet in heavy detail, it also showed the many benefits of freedom for America (Bazyar).
Thomas Paine is undoubtedly one of the most prolific founding fathers of the United States, albeit not in the manner most would expect from a founding father. Paine was not a drafter of the constitution, nor was he an early member of Congress or President of the United States. However, Paine did have a profound impact on society, not only in America, but also abroad. Often remembered for helping spur the American Revolution, yet not as often remembered for the other revolution in France. Two of the more famous writings from Paine are, of course, Common Sense and The Rights of Man, both of which were written during revolutionary times in separate countries. It goes without saying that when a revolution is taking place there will be many on both sides of the war; in both of these instances, Paine was the voice of the people and stood up for what was right regardless of the consequences. I posit Thomas Paine was the most influential man for revolution in America and France despite fear of backlash or imprisonment. In fact, near the end of his life Paine was not only imprisoned, but somehow evaded being beheaded as well. Thomas Paine was even more influential as a result of his extreme lack of self-interest and ability to stay true to the cause of his writings rather than wither away in fear.
Paine’s view of government pertaining to the colonies demonstrated his rhetoric, appealing to the common man. Thomas Paine’s work influenced the nation of today, laying down the foundation and need for patriotism during the revolution. Works Cited Paine, Thomas, Sidney Hook, Jack Fuchsman. The "Common Sense" Common Sense, Rights of Man, and Other Essential Writings by Thomas Paine. New York: Signet Classics, 2003.
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.
Much shorter, but just as equally influential, The Declaration of Independence was a famous document that was authored primarily by Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson mentions how the colonies should be considered as equals with their English counterparts and why it is important for man to have freedom. Paine and Jefferson both want Americans to succeed, but they also have some notable differences in their documents. The Declaration of Independence called for the colonists to have the same rights as the British, and it was mainly directed for England to realize that Americans were united and serious about this cause. Common Sense’s goal was for the colonists to break apart from the British and start their own country with their own laws and rules, and was directed towards convincing the American people that rebelling against England was the right move. They differ slightly in their intended audience and message, but they want the same for America-a better future. Both documents were critical of Great Britain, showed the lack of support from England, and attempted to improve the state of the American colonists by breaking away from the