Understanding Thomas Paine's Common Sense

Common Sense, by Thomas Paine, is a pamphlet that was written in 1775-76. Paine’s purpose for this writing was to be an encouragement to the general people of the thirteen colonies to seek declaration of their independence from Great Britain. Paine’s desire to connect with the common people is evident in his plain and easy to understand writing style; he wrote in an educated, but straight-forward manner. Dubbed a “political quack” by Loyalist, James Chalmers of Maryland in the Plain Truth (New), and accused of producing a “crapulous mass” by none other than John Adams, we see just two examples of the many attacks on Paine, who prevailed to

Paine opens the first paragraph by comparing society and government observing “Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness”. This comparison lays the foundation for Paine’s claim that society is most desirable to

He argues that a democratic system based on continual elections and rights of the people protected by a written constitution would be more beneficial to society. To strengthen the concept of democracy, Paine speaks of a hypothetical society brought up in an isolated part of the world, away from other inhabitants. This supposed society represented the first people. Thomas Paine claims that some of its people will have many accomplishments other will not; thus through hunger, disease, misfortune and death it is inevitable that the people will set up some form of government that “…will establish a common interest with every part of the community, they will mutually and naturally support each other, and on this (not on the unmeaning name of king) depends the strength of government, and the happiness of the governed” (Thomas Paine, Common Sense). This statement reassures his beliefs towards democracy while showing how pointless English rule is to society. Thomas Paine is attempting to promote American independence with this document by explaining the benefits of democracy, in doing so he is demeaning the English government. Paine emphasizes the prejudices the English may have had by stating, “And as a man, who is attached to a prostitute, is unfitted to choose

During the revolutionary period, new thoughts and ideas were being presented. These ideas ultimately formulated into an American political ideology. Questions were being asked and it was during this time that a new experiment in government would take place. However, before that could occur, great thinkers had to present their ideas and argue for a change in government. Thomas Paine argued for lofty ideals such as freedom, security, and equality. It was through these arguments that he encapsulated the American ideology during this period. Therefore, for the purpose of this paper, I will argue that Thomas Paine’s Common Sense best represents the formulating ideology found during this period. I will first discuss Paine’s argument for

From the beginning, Paine makes it obvious that he does not like the idea of a government. Paine believes the only value of a government lies in controlling our weaknesses. According to Paine, the natural state of man is to live without a government and its control. A government's existence is justified only to remove problems that would be created by this natural, anarchic way of life. If the government does not to improve society or actively causes some of the same troubles that would result from anarchy, it becomes their fault. However, Paine views the idea of a government as a necessary evil. A large part of Paine’s argument is devoted to attacking monarchy. Paine criticizes the monarchy as an institution and, in particular, its manifestation

In Common Sense, Thomas Paine argues for American independence from Britain. Paine explains why being free from Britain would help America in the long run and how American independence could affect people’s lives for the better. Also, Paine addresses the problems of current government and the relations with other countries in Europe. Paine responses to the arguments that suggest that America needs to stay under Britain by insisting that America has evolved, and does not need Britain's help anymore. Moreover, Paine reinforces his vision of America through his description of Britain, which shows that Britain failed to protect America as a parent country, and they actually seek only their own profit. As a great supporter of the American Revolution,

Around the time of 1776, words of rebellion filled the Boston Harbor, spreading throughout the colonies like an infectious virus. The angered Americans, overtaxed and mistreated by the British after the French and Indian War, debated and argued amongst themselves about the future of their young colony. The American colonies interested in seeking independence from their motherland Britain, looked abroad in hopes to find moral and political reasons to justify revolution. In the pamphlet, Common Sense, Frenchman Thomas Paine brought forth such reason using rhetorical elements such as figurative language, rhetorical questions, and assertions in order to boost the morale of the colonists and support the Americans in their revolution against

Thomas Paine’s main motive for writing Common Sense was for it to be used as a persuasive tool to get America to revolt against Britain and become a separate country. I found many points that explain why Paine wrote his pamphlets. Paine was simply sick of British rule on the colonies and by writing his pamphlets was an easy and effective way to speak to the colonist. Paine was telling the American colonist that they have the resources and every right to rule themselves rather than be ruled by someone half way across the globe. Paine’s main reason for remaining anonymous was because of the treasonable content. I also believe Paine choose to stay anonymous because he may have been scared of losing the trust of colonist and being looked down upon. Many colonists thought that separating from Britain was going to create a war.

Paine’s many writings included “The Crisis”, “Common Sense”, and “The Age of Reason” all of which were extremely influential to the American people. However, throughout the duration of his writings, it was apparent that Thomas Paine went from being a person that almost every

Common Sense, by Thomas Paine, is a major document of American history written between 1775-76. In this, Paine argues for the independence of the colonies. He begins his argument with general reflections about government and religion. He then specifies issues that dealt with the colonies.

Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense questions the King’s priorities and why American colonists would stay with him, which gave the American colonists the confidence in themselves to separate from the British. In Thomas Paine’s first page of his pamphlet Common Sense, Paine says “As a long and violent abuse of power.” Now for years the colonists had believed the King had bad advisers and that basically everyone in Britain but the King was the problem. Paine goes on to state “The remains of Monarchical tyranny in the person of the King.” He claims that the King is a tyrant and standing in the way between colonists and freedom. Thomas Paine sees what most American colonists are blinded by other theories or just choose not to see that the King is egotistical and seeks power only for himself. Once, Thomas releases Common Sense for the world to see, he publicly exposes the King for who he truly is.

​Thomas Paine's Common Sense is a seminal piece of American literature and American history; arguably it's the most important piece. Paine wrote Common Sense in 1775-1776, and it's theme was to spread his political beliefs. He wanted American independence from the British monarchy. The pamphlet was anonymously released on January 10th, 1776, and it explained to the reader why the colonies needed to rebel against their British oppressors. It was sold far and wide across the colonies, and it was successful; it inspired many of the soldiers during the initial summer of rebellion in 1776. The whole idea of the pamphlet revolves around persuading the reader to side with the rebels in their valiant fight for independence, and he absolutely uses contemporary persuasive techniques in his writing. He uses facts about the present, he looks towards the future, and he uses religion to persuade his readers. In fact, it's a testament to how the act of persuasion has been very similar over the last 238

Common Sense, by Thomas Paine goes over the subject of American Independence. starting off his argument, paine overlooks on government and religion. Paine’s point of view in society, everything to help the people join together to finish a constructive good. He believes that government is only purpose is to protect the people from themselves. Government has its start with the vilest of mankind and is therefore a necessary vile at best. He says that government's main reason to be there should be to protect our freedom and our rights, paine also believes that a government should be judged to a point to which it makes the target.

Paine's vehement use of schemes exposes the intertwined relationship between the government and the governed, as he interjects, "Interchange will establish a common interest with every part of the community, they will mutually and naturally support each other and on this…depends the strength of the government, and the happiness of the governed"(par. 2). This delicate, yet critical balance of the people versus the state is what this country has been about from the very beginning of it, a place where there will not be the acted upon, but those who act, a place where choice has become the most important part of life, the very center of life itself, affecting both individuals, communities, and this nation as a whole. This catching parallel structure is also used in the final paragraph as Paine expresses: "However our eyes may be dazzled with show, or our ears deceived by sound; however prejudice may warp our wills, or interest darken our understanding, the simple voice of nature and of reason will say, it is

In the work of Thomas Paine, "Common Sense" Paine mentions throughout of the working for a positive government with the idea of equality. Thomas Paine writes different excerpt that give theories and idea with the goal of implementing those ideas into a government that may be just and fair. Paine reflects on the English constitution specifically the crown. Paine also provide an insight to having a higher power to run a government. Paine also criticizes the idea of monarchy and hereditary succession. Complications would ultimately arise through his ideas and theories due to the differences in religions.