American Independence Dbq

594 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Thomas Paine's common sense compared

Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense one of the most influential pieces in the 1700’s. This motivating pamphlet written by Paine acquired mass appeal and advocated for American independence, through many strong and understandable cases he is able to reach the colonies and stir a motivation within the people to be active for revolution. Through the many supporting claims brought up by Paine on why it was critical that the need for independence be dealt with at that time in history, relies heavily on obtaining support from all people in the colonies. Loyalist to the British rule was his main focus of persuasion for they would counter argue that remaining loyal to the British would support economy, safer to stay attached, and that British was the reason for the colonist existence, Paine’s strongest …show more content…

Many arguments are brought out on the basis of the British not doing its motherly duties. Most issues concerning the people of the colonies lie on the simple fault of British rule. “America is only a secondary object in the system of British politics” (Paine, Pg. 93). British sole purpose of the colonies is to better benefit, there is no urgent need to listen to the grievances of the people. Other concerning factors contributing to the amoral mother country include issues such as a hereditary line of kings, distance from Britain, religious issues, and taxation without representation. One of the facing concerns for the people of the colonies is concern for hereditary ruling. “Another evil which attends hereditary succession is, that the throne is subject to be possessed by a minor at any age…” (Paine, Pg.79). Paine’s arguments are simply the faults that just about every colonist comes to experience and have no power or voice to change. Colonies are obligated to be ruled by unfit kings and subject to the tyranny which

Show More
Related

  • Comparing Anne Bradstreet, Phillis Wheatley, And Thomas Paine

    877 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Differences Of Thomas Paine And James Chalmers

    1169 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Comparing Thomas Paine's Common Sense and Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence

    1125 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thomas Paine constructs Common Sense as an editorial on the subject of the relationship between the Colonies and Great Britain. Through the paper, he hopes to educate his fellow Americans about this subject. In his introduction, he says he feels that there is 'a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong'; which 'gives it a superficial appearance of being right'; (693). He is alluding to the relationship, also calling it a 'violent abuse of power'; (693). This choice of words is similar to those of Jefferson, who asserts that the king had established an 'absolute tyranny'; over the states. Both men set an immediate understanding about their feelings towards the rule of Great Britain over the States. However, where Common Sense seems to be an opinionated essay, Thomas Jefferson writes somewhat of a call to battle. Paine generally seems to be alerting his readers to the fact that there is more going on than they are aware of. Jefferson, on the other hand, begins his declaration by stating, 'When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another'; (715). Unlike Paine, this seems to presuppose that readers are aware of the plight of the nation, and Jefferson is announcing that the time has come to take a stand.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Patrick Henry And Patomas Paine

    718 Words  | 2 Pages

    When it comes to the topic of the American Revolution, most of us will readily agree that it influenced essentially every code of ethics in today’s society. Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine address an identical topic. That is, they both provided inspiration to the American Revolution cause. Patrick henry on one point of view, speaks of the harshness of the British rule over the American colonies. In his statement, Patrick Henry addresses the oppressive British rule and emphasis grounds to maintain basic human rights. “Common Sense”, on the other hand stresses on the trials and tribulations of the American colonies under the British rule. With the use of persuasion in their writings, both Henry and Paine support the war against the Great Britain.

    Read More

  • Thomas Paine Common Sense Rhetorical Analysis

    861 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Common sense will tell us, that the power which hath endeavored to subdue us, is of all others, the most improper to defend us.” Such words scribed by the Revolutionary radical Thomas Paine epitomized the drive behind the American Revolution of the 18th century. For nearly two hundred years, the citizens of the American Colonies had been fastened securely to the wrist of the mother country, England. They had tolerated the tyrannous rule, but not without the simmer of rebellious thoughts. As England piled tax after tax onto their colonies, thoughts of revolution and revolt sprung up in the minds of the colonists and brewed there, waiting for a catalyst to drive them into action. The catalyst ignited on January 10th, 1776 when Thomas Paine published his fiery pamphlet ‘Common Sense’. The 48-page pamphlet presented before the colonists a vision for independence that had never been conceived before. It radically altered the course of the Revolution and would later find itself molding the foundation of America’s government indefinitely.

    Read More

  • Declaration Of Independence DBQ

    1224 Words  | 3 Pages

    Imagine living in a country where no citizen has a say in the government’s actions. Envision a nation where the ruler can tax people without permission and the common people are forced to obey without question. That was life in The Colonies before the year of 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was created. Great Britain passed laws whether it benefited the people or not. Before the Declaration of Independence was composed, a plethora of unnecessary taxes were approved. These taxes sent many colonists into debt. According to “The Declaration of Independence, 1776,” published on Office of the Historian, a famous tax called the Stamp Act was passed by Parliament. This tax forced colonists to purchase stamps for every paper product

    Read More

  • Reasons For Independence In Thomas Paine's Common Sense

    937 Words  | 2 Pages

    Thomas Paine, in the pamphlet Common Sense, succeeded in convincing the indifferent portion of colonial society that America should secede from Britain through moral and religious, economic, and governmental arguments. Using strong evidence, targeting each separate group of people, Thomas Paine served not only to sway the public 's opinion on American independence, but also to mobilize the effort to achieve this ultimatum.

    Read More

  • The Arguments of Thomas Paine and James Chalmers Over the Revolutionary War

    735 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Influence of Thomas Paine's Life on His Writings

    408 Words  | 1 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson

    466 Words  | 1 Pages

    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...

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Thomas Paine And John De Crevecoeur

    1114 Words  | 3 Pages

    His exceptional writing and simple style reached many receptive ears across the Colonies. He also spoke plainly as was with de Crevecoeur yet tended away in his writing from the rural and the pleasant and more towards politics and the ugly truths that were part of colonial life. Consider his most famous work “Common Sense” it is an agitation against the crown of England, this would become a pattern with the man. In its most basic form “Common Sense” is a call to arms and revolution. It is also a great if very lengthy argument for what should happen after the war is won establishing a republic. “The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth. ’Tis not the affair of a city, a county, a province, or a kingdom; but of a continent—of at least one-eighth part of the habitable globe. ’Tis not the concern of a day, a year, or an age; posterity are virtually involved in the contest, and will be more or less affected even to the end of time by the proceedings now” (Paine 136). This is Paine’s original thoughts on the matter and his beginning argument. He continues with “We have boasted the protection of Great Britain without considering that her motive was interest, not attachment; and that she did not protect us from our enemies on our account, but from her enemies on her own account, from those who had no quarrel with us on any other account, and who will always be our enemies on the same account.” (Paine 137). It seems a pretty simple argument to the author that Americans are only entangled in foreign wars because of the association with Great Britain. He makes another assertion that “America would have flourished as much, and probably much more, had no European power taken any notice of her. The commerce by which she hath enriched herself are the necessaries of life, and will always have a market while eating is the custom of Europe.” (Paine 137). Paine’s call to a republic

    Read More

  • A Comparison Of Common Sense Vs And Thomas Jefferson's Declaration Of Independence

    641 Words  | 2 Pages

    Both Thomas Paine’s Common Sense pamphlet and Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence got American moving into the direction of independence from Britain’s ruling. Paine’s Common Sense was ideas from one man and was easily understood by the common man. The pamphlets gave Washington’s hope during the worst parts of the war. Jefferson’s Declaration was a statement by the people and for the people. The purpose for the Declaration was to break away from the restraints of being ruled by Britain. The colonies had good reasons to want to break free from Britain and set up a new government. Britain did not listen when complaints were made about the way they were governing.

    Read More

  • The Common Sense And The Crisis, By Thomas Paine

    1333 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thomas Paine’s Common Sense and The Crisis, No. 1 deal directly with the colonist’s rejection of British rule. According Paine, the British Crown had over stayed its welcome in the political and cultural development of the colonies. The introduction of Common Sense clearly states that the British monarchy has “a long and violent abuse of power,” and that the people of the colonies have the right to be involved and have meaningful representation to the king and Parliament (325) This is a core value of the colonists. Settlers of the English colonies saw the New World as a way to start a new government and new culture, especially when they were given no power in the Parliament. Paine further casts a light on the problems between Britain and America in the third section of Common Sense. He states that Britain is not connected to America anymore, even if the people are descendants of the country. The passage also expresses the selfishness of Britain protection of the colonies to gain truth and control of the people. (326-328) The writings of this section reflect how colonists felt and further helped them to realize that their former mother country, Britain, was an enemy rather than a

    Read More

  • Thomas Paine's Common Sense

    719 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the late 17 hundreds the American colonies were split between separating from Great Britain or not. Some colonists felt they did not need to leave the rule of Britain, while others saw potential for the American colonies without Great Britain parliament. In the pamphlet titled Common Sense, Thomas Paine expressed his beliefs to separate from Great Britain in order to achieve greater opportunities for the Americans. He believed that nothing that came out of the monarchies was good, that America was oppressed and to structured to be run by Great Britain.

    Read More

  • The Relationship Between Society And Government In Thomas Paine's Common Sense

    1398 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

More about American Independence Dbq

Open Document