Common Sense By Thomas Paine Analysis

A poet once said, “Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” There are two documents in American History that truly made America what it is today. Common Sense by Thomas Paine was inspiring to many American colonists as it was persuasive in showing how the colonists should have their own independence. Paine appealed the average citizen’s rationale, hence the title common sense. Paine’s pamphlet illustrates the importance of independence, and argues that colonial life under British rule was detrimental to America’s potential to become prosperous. In a fairly lengthy, but readable style, Paine discusses the differences between democracies and monarchies, specifically Great Britain’s. Paine

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

Locke believed that although we have a right to liberty, but that it did not give anybody the opportunity to abuse it. He states in The Second Treatise of Civil Government that,”… no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions” (Locke 2). Similarly, Locke believes that we are granted these rights by the government from birth. Locke says that a government has a duty to preserve the rights of the people. But if they were to fail in that aspect, Locke says that rebellion is permissible. He writes,”…if a long train of actions shew the councils all tending that way; how can a man any more hinder himself from being persuaded in his own mind, which way things are going; or from casting about how to save himself… (Locke 1). Thomas Paine was not as influenced by Locke in Common Sense, but Locke undoubtedly had a significant role in shaping Paine’s views. For example, Locke permits rebellion under certain circumstances and Paine developed strong opinions about gaining independence. At least to some extent, Locke had a large influence on the writings and ideology of Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine; and therefore on the creation of the United States of