On the Principles of Nature and Common Sense

552 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Relations between Britain and the North American colonies

Thomas Paine could easily be considered the most influential figure from the American Revolution. Although “Common Sense” was then published anonymously, it still directed the Founding Fathers toward seeking independence from England. Thomas Paine addresses these issues when he uses tone to convey his position on freedom of trade to American colonists approximately six months before the American Revolution began (Background).
The colonies relationship with Britain was a pressing concern in the colonial time period, even as early as 1651 when the Navigation Acts were enforced, which make it so the colonists could only export goods on British ships, any of the goods exported to another European superpower would be taxed, all imports must be inspected on British ports prior to arrival, and sugar, tobacco, and wood could only be sold to Britain or her colonies (Garcia). Paine believed that it was necessary for the colonies to separate from England. The colonists had endured various taxes instituted by the British Parliament. If the colonies separated from England they could become more profitable by trading with all of the European nations including Spain and France, which were important 18th century economic forces. Roughly three years before the pamphlet was published, January 1776, the French and Indian War came to a conclusion, February 1763. This left a horrific sum of debt on the shoulders of the British, who promptly decided that the colonies were the main beneficiaries, and therefore should have to pay for it through taxes such as the Sugar Act, a tax on sugar. Sugar is one of the most important commodities in the Americas, as it is a commonly used ingredient. Proceeding that the Stamp Act was put in place, which tax...

... middle of paper ...

...nely practicing freedom of trade. The countries such as Saudi Arabia and China influence America the same way that England did more than 360 years ago.

Works Cited
Paine, Thomas. “Common Sense.” United States. Department of State. Office of the Historian. Documents on Diplomacy. Washington, D.C.: History.State.Gov, 2011. Print.
“Background of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense” Central Kitsap Junior High School, Silverdale, WA. Sept 2013. Class notes.
Garcia, Jesus, Donna M. Ogle, C. Fredrick Risinger, Joyce Stevos, and Winthrop D. Jordan. Creating America: A History of the United States. Evenston: McDougal Littell, 2001. Print.

"Country Policies and Embargoes." PMDDTC.state.gov. The Office of the Executive Director, Technology Division, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN/EX/TD), 4 Oct. 2013. Web. 26 Oct. 2013.

Show More
Related

  • 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

    Paine dwells on the differences between government and society. He stresses greatly on the fact that a government should be able to protect its society. Giving life and liberty to its people. He also points out that, Britain is the main cause of enemy to the Americas. Expressing disagreement with the British in American, he criticized the British government. He believes that the monarchy has too much power and their system is unreasonable. Paine complicates matters further when he writes, that the Americans are not British anymore. It is not British in a sense that it is so diverse, with different types of Europeans. In Paine’s views Britain is not a mother country, since it imposes harsh treatments and is in a war too often. The idea of best interest was important to Paine. In his views, Britain sees the Americas as profitable institutions to control and gains riches from, as opposed to the development and freedom of the nations. Independence from Britain was one of many ideas of this pamphlet. “Common Sense”, essentially pointed out the reasons why the colonies should leave the British and form a new government. His views on government inspired “Limited government” and “natural laws”, which gives citizens more control on how they shape their local environment and

    Read More

  • THOMAS PAINE, MORE THAN COMMON SENSE

    1890 Words  | 4 Pages

    Thomas Paine is undoubtedly one of the most prolific founding fathers of the United States, albeit not in the manner most would expect from a founding father. Paine was not a drafter of the constitution, nor was he an early member of Congress or President of the United States. However, Paine did have a profound impact on society, not only in America, but also abroad. Often remembered for helping spur the American Revolution, yet not as often remembered for the other revolution in France. Two of the more famous writings from Paine are, of course, Common Sense and The Rights of Man, both of which were written during revolutionary times in separate countries. It goes without saying that when a revolution is taking place there will be many on both sides of the war; in both of these instances, Paine was the voice of the people and stood up for what was right regardless of the consequences. I posit Thomas Paine was the most influential man for revolution in America and France despite fear of backlash or imprisonment. In fact, near the end of his life Paine was not only imprisoned, but somehow evaded being beheaded as well. Thomas Paine was even more influential as a result of his extreme lack of self-interest and ability to stay true to the cause of his writings rather than wither away in fear.

    Read More

  • Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave

    1297 Words  | 3 Pages

    Henretta, James A., Rebecca Edwards, and Robert Self. America: A Concise History.( Boston: Bedford, St. Martin's, 2006),

    Read More

  • Paine and Henry´s Influence on the American Revolution

    963 Words  | 2 Pages

    In a time full of chaos, desperation, and dissenting opinions, two definitive authors, Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry, led the way toward the American Revolution. Both men demanded action of their separate audiences. Paine wrote to inspire the commoners to fight while Henry spoke extemporaneously to compel the states’ delegates to create an army. Despite the differences between the two, both had very similar arguments which relied heavily upon God, abstract language, and ethos. In the end, both men were able to inspire their audiences and capture the approval and support of the masses. If not for these two highly influential and demanding men, the America that we know today might not exist.

    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

  • Ida B. Wells, Booker T, Washington, and W.E.B Dubois

    1245 Words  | 3 Pages

    Divine, Robert A. America past and Present. 10th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education/Longman, 2013. 245. Print.

    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

  • Analysis Of The Common Good For All Americans

    1540 Words  | 4 Pages

    What was the common good for all Americans in 1776? Thomas Paine, a political activist during America’s struggle for independence from England, argues in Common Sense, a pamphlet published in the Pennsylvania Magazine, with the American colonists, demanding a revolt with the British crown (Thomas Paine). He passionately believes that the answer to the “…benefit of all people in [American] society” (Thomas Paine) will result from the freedom of oppression for the thirteen American colonies. Common Sense, “the most incendiary and popular pamphlet of the entire revolutionary era”, remains noted by historians as one of the most influential pieces of literature during the era of the American Revolution

    Read More

  • Common Sense: An Influence on American Independence

    1222 Words  | 3 Pages

    Paine had not entertained the idea of independence from Britain when he arrived in America. He thought it was “a kind of treason” to break away from Britain. It was not until the Battle of Lexington in 1775 that he considered “the compact between Britain and America to be broken” (Claeys). This idea of a broken compact allowed Thomas Paine to write a political pamphlet.

    Read More

  • The American crisis by Thomas Paine

    1086 Words  | 3 Pages

    During 1776, the United States was at war to gain its own independence from the hands of the tyrant King George III and his kingdom. As the fightt continued, the spirits of the U.S. soldiers began to die out as the nightmares of winter crawled across the land. Thomas Paine, a journalist, hoped to encourage the soldiers back into the fight through one of his sixteen pamphlets, “The American Crisis (No.1)”. In order to rebuild the hopes of the downhearted soldiers, Thomas Paine establishes himself as a reliable figure, enrages them with the crimes of the British crown, and, most importantly evokes a sense of culpability.

    Read More

  • The American Revolution Was NOT Justified

    1035 Words  | 3 Pages

    Brennan, Linda Crotta. The Birth of the United States. Ann Arbor: Cherry Lake, 2011. Print.

    Read More

  • Thomas Paine Common Sense Essay

    867 Words  | 2 Pages

    That belief caused him to create a book about the age of reason. Thomas Paine had a powerful impact on colonist minds by creating “Common Sense”. Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet that helped cause the Continental Army to form, and to make a colonist turn against the British. He influenced the Americans to fight for their rights that the king had taken away from them; their natural born rights. Paine said “If Britain is our motherland, then why would she treat her kids badly?”

    Read More

  • Native American Reservation Life and History

    1235 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nash, G. B., Jeffery, J., Howe, J., Winkler, A., Davis, A., Mires, C., et al. (2010). The American people: creating a nation and a society. (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Education

    Read More

More about On the Principles of Nature and Common Sense

Open Document