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Thomas Paine Common Sense Analysis

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The birth of a nation does not happen overnight nor with one word. One can clearly see how words and ideas have an impact on people’s thoughts and writing by examining “The Declaration of Independence” and Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense.” Basically, the two documents echo principles stated in John Locke’s “Second Treatise of Government,” and share a style of expressing their feelings on national issues; the authors examine and give reasons for colonial problems with the government and offer a solution. The tone and audience might vary, but the overall message is similar in its principles, showing the impact Locke and Paine had on such a vital document in our history as the “Declaration of Independence”. One may say that the “Declaration …show more content…

“Common Sense” is a much longer piece and this allows it more time to develop more detailed points and elaborate the feelings of concern. It is written in a simple language so that all the colonists could understand the context. Another difference between these documents is that while “Common Sense” was written to persuade the colonists of the need for Independence from Britain, on the other hand the “Declaration of Independence” is a statement that actually carries out the action. A further difference is that the “Declaration of Independence” was written by several members of the Continental Congress, even though Thomas Jefferson is considered the chief author, but the thoughts and wishes behind the author were those of many, while Thomas Paine is the sole thinker and author of his work. Both documents, “The Declaration of Independence” and Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense,” are aimed at convincing the colonists to understand the basic ideas that all people are created equal and have the same rights given to them from God, and that they have the right to pursue these rights. The philosopher John Locke wrote of these things still earlier in 1689 in his document “The Second Treatise of Civil Government.” This document talks about life and liberty and the right to pursue them on an equal plane of existence. Locke felt it necessary

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