An Analysis Of Thomas Paine's Common Sense By Thomas Paine

Up until the American colonies had become established, the colonists were highly dependent upon the military and economic support of Great Britain. Though the colonies Britain’s only concern was profit and not the wellbeing of the colonies, especially in Boston, the desire for this support, as well as the necessity, dissipated. As this happened, two groups were formed; the Tories, who supported staying with England and loyal to the king, and there were the Whigs, who supported liberty and patriotism and wanted the right to self-government. The colonists did not want to secede from England until they felt it absolutely necessary, by which point news of the British military occupation in Boston was spreading throughout the colonies, and with

Of these articles, “Common Sense,” by Thomas Paine was likely the most popular. The reason for this is that he wanted what the people wanted; a leader that was in the colonies and would rule to the benefit of the colonists. Written in January of 1776, “Common Sense” made many bold and profound statements about the king and England’s reign over the colonies. Paine introduces his ideas by stating that it is “exceedingly ridiculous,” that in England’s monarchy, parliament has “[excluded] a man from the means of information, yet [empower] him to act in the cases where the highest judgement is required,” in order to attract the attention of his readers (Paine, 2). In response, the colonists spread his ideas of independence as being “Common Sense,” and stating that “Ye that oppose independence now, ye know not what ye do,” alluding to the Bible when Jesus asked forgiveness for those who were to crucify him, suggesting that fighting against independence would be fighting to be subject of England’s “barbarous and hellish power,” (Paine, 2, 5). Thomas Paine argues that no man or woman should have control over any person or territory by stating “that in America the law is King,” as it should be in all free countries (Paine, 5). Thomas Paine closes his article by stating that “a government of our own is our natural right… that it is infinitely

Many arguments were made against independence that “when this war is proclaimed, all supplies from foreign parts will be cut off,” leaving the Colonies subject to the will of the Canadians and “to the numerous tribes of savages,” who would, without hesitation, seek revenge on the colonists (Leonard, 2, 3). Another argument that seems to neither support nor oppose the prospect of independence is that “a love of Freedom is a predominating feature which marks and distinguishes the whole,” implying that such a thirst for freedom as is present in the colonies could lead to its ruin (Burke, 2). But, when news of the Boston Massacre spread throughout the colonies, although quite exaggerated, had the effect of pouring fuel onto an unlit fire of kindling and gunpowder. The Boston Massacre occurred March 5, 1770, when British soldiers fired into a crowd of people after a Whig protest of merchants selling English goods. But, the spark that ignited the war did not come until four years later, when the continental congress addressed parliament for a repeal of the Coercive Acts that was blatantly ignored. When it became clear that there was to be no repeal, the colonists began to prepare for their war for independence which