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Unequivocally one of the most historically and culturally-significant pieces of literature, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense has been meticulously analyzed for its effectiveness in eliciting the reaction that Paine himself intended in 1776. At the forefront of Paine’s pamphlet is “Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs,” notable for its first sentence: “In the following pages I offer nothing more than simple, facts, plain arguments, and commonsense” (7). Within, Paine “elaborates” on three main points that strengthen the option of independence: the effects of British rule on the colonies; the plausible relationship with Britain upon reconciliation; the actual role of England as a parent country as opposed to England’s optimal role. However, …show more content…
upon analysis of the text, I discerned that Paine does not develop his main points to the extent that he does his almost-propaganda-like statements regarding England. Despite this, adding historical knowledge to Common Sense can help one corroborate Paine’s views to an extent. Overall, when expressing his views on the colonies’ relationship with England, possible results of reconciliation, and England as a parent country, Paine does not elaborate, but information regarding the Navigation Acts and mercantilism can assist one in understanding the significance of Common Sense. As one can infer, Thomas Paine is not of the mind that America has prospered as a subject to Great Britain. (“I challenge the warmest advocate for reconciliation to show a single advantage that this continent can reap by being connected with Great Britain” (9). Despite all his qualms with his adopted country’s current diplomatic situation, the author does not detail specific events in the colonies’ history, but rather focuses on vague notions that state that the Americans’ cause is justified or that Britain has caused irreparable harm to the colonies, such as in “The authority of Great Britain over this continent, is a form of government, which sooner or later must have an end” (9). However, the author briefly mentions a few grievances that the colonies hold against their “parent country.” Of more prominent recognition are acts and trading. As to acts, the T. Paine briefly mentions that the colonies suffer immensely from taxes and would have seen a stop in trade as insignificant if all acts were repealed. American trade had suffered eminently as a direct result to Britain. However, Paine focuses on English wars and resulting deficit colonial trade (9, 13). Despite this, Paine failed to mention one very important event that was the bane of the success of the colonies: the Navigation Acts. According to Henry William Elson in History of the United States of America, “…the one great source of irritation between the mother country and her colonies was found in the Navigation Acts” (9).
Economically, the main benefactor of success in the American colonies was international trade. To funnel profits through only British merchants, Oliver Cromwell passed the first Navigation Act, which limited all imports of the colonies to be transferred on English ships. However, this first act was impotently enforced, and reform was imperative. Honing its economic control over its colonies, England passed an additional Navigation Act, albeit it was largely an upgrade to the former. All imports to the colonies were to only be transferred on British ships; correspondingly, all exports of the American colonies were forbidden to be disembarked on any country other than England (Elson 1). In fact, these acts were met with more consternation than the stemming of trade during a time of war. However, referring to the Navigation Acts, which were not mentioned in Common Sense, does not detract from the pamphlet itself, but is merely to expand upon the text. In reality, both utilized in conjunction assist in helping the reader understand Thomas Paine’s next point: the colonies’ future relationship with …show more content…
England. Thomas Paine discusses the future of the relationship between Britain and its American colonies through the possibility of reconciliation. Initially describing how there are no benefits in retaining a strong connection, the author eventually transitions into discussing why America should declare independence. “I have heard it asserted by some…America has flourished under…connection…Nothing can be more fallacious…” (8) sets the tone for Paine’s opening argument, reflecting the information given on the benefits of the relationship with England. After giving mention to parent countries (which will be addressed later), Paine attempts to sway the reader with convictions in reference to Britain. The author openly calls Britain an enemy, and makes the statement that the colonies’ main goal is to utilize markets in Europe, a goal that cannot be achieved through connection with Britain, who creates superfluous enemies for its subjects (9). This may perhaps be an allusion to the first battles of the American Revolution, which occurred approximately seven months prior to the publishing of Common Sense. Paine concludes with a sentiment that declares the current state of affairs as inevitable. He firmly believes that as the King is indifferent to the needs of his subjects, and that he “…MAY ACCOMPLISH BY CRAFT AND SUBTILITY, IN THE LONG RUN, WHAT HE CANNOT DO BY FORCE AND VIOLENCE IN THE SHORT ONE… (13),” referencing that the King may wantonly desire to annihilate his colonies. In any event, it is imperative to understand the origin of these anti-British sentiments. What could have led the most important colony in all of known history to revel in the thoughts of abandoning all ties to its former leader? Clearly, the answer is that of Britain’s role as a parent country. Thomas Paine’s core feelings come to light when he begins his rant on England’s role as a parent country.
The author stems his views from this: “…PARENT OR MOTHER COUNTRY hath been jesuitically adopted by the King and his parasites…” (8). From this, Paine gives two examples of what he feels is misemployment of America by Britain, the parent country. Primarily, the author feels that a parent country must always keep the interests of the colony in mind. According to the pamphlet, Britain has protected America to uphold British interests, and that it has protected the people not from countries with ill will towards America. Continuing further, the author feels that in order for a world power, such as Britain, to rightfully control a colony, the colony cannot have a gamut of people of various nationalities. As “not one third of the inhabitants, even of this province, [Pennsylvania], are of English descent,” (8) Paine feels that the rule of Britain is unjust and selfish in that it controls a country whose inhabitants have no connection to the world power. Although I agree strongly with Paine concerning the information pertaining to Britain’s actual role as a parent country, I do not concur with what he believes is optimal rule as history has displayed otherwise. In short, Paine does not consider the dominant economic policy during the 18th century:
mercantilism. According to Michael Cranny, writer of Crossroads: A Meeting of Nations, mercantilism “…was the primary reason behind Europe’s desire to colonize new lands” (237). The focal point of mercantilism is that nations looking to accumulate wealth and thus power by increasing exportation and simultaneously decreasing importation. To achieve these ends, a country must locate raw materials for production. As Europe had been almost completely expunged of natural resources, the New World attracted sizable attention (Cranny 237). To be able to obtain these resources, a nation, in this case Britain, would require a colony. It is essential to note that despite all reasons for immigration to the New World, an increase in population only served England’s ends. As Cranny writes, “Colonies existed for the benefit of the home country. Colonies could not sell their raw materials to anyone but the home country, and they were not allowed to manufacture anything for export (237). This compelling sentence succinctly describes Britain’s reasons for the Navigation Acts, and its obliviousness to American concerns. Through all this information, one can discern even the slightest evidence of truth in Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, no matter how perturbed by the author’s methods in deliverance. Despite its “transcendence of time” and significance, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense can perhaps be puzzling even to seasoned readers and amateur connoisseurs of history. This problem is especially prevalent in “Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs” as its evidence of England’s wrongdoings are supported by intangible notions more often than the alternative. However, when discussing the effects of Britain’s relationship with the colonies, a plausible connection in the future, and the world power’s role as a parent country, using well-known historical content, such as the Navigation Acts and the concept of mercantilism, to supplant the text, one may truly discern the nature of Thomas Paine’s “treatise” on the then-current state of affairs in America. Personally, I’ve come to the conclusion that the power of Paine’s message, the reason for its transcendence, does not lie fully within the confines of the pamphlet, but is deeply rooted in the experiences of the readers themselves. Truly, Common Sense is the embodiment of the American spirit.
The idea of independence from Great Britain, it is something that is so commonplace a thing that I think very little of it on a day-to-day basis, but there was once a time when it was not so common, there was even a time when many thought the idea of fighting for independence was a foolhardy or reckless move and we were better off under the rule of Great Britain. This was not necessarily an incorrect way of thinking as Great Britain had provided the colonies with resources that would have taken far longer to develop for themselves. In 1776, Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense a pamphlet that encouraged this new way of thinking and urged the people of the thirteen colonies to fight for their independence from Great Britain, as their help was now seeming to become a hindrance.
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
Paine’s view of government pertaining to the colonies demonstrated his rhetoric, appealing to the common man. Thomas Paine’s work influenced the nation of today, laying down the foundation and need for patriotism during the revolution. Works Cited Paine, Thomas, Sidney Hook, Jack Fuchsman. The "Common Sense" Common Sense, Rights of Man, and Other Essential Writings by Thomas Paine. New York: Signet Classics, 2003.
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.
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
“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.
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.
Thomas Paine’s objective in “The American Crisis” is to persuade Americans to untie and take action in ridding America of British control; his writings effectiveness is due primarily to his employment of religious diction, vivid imagery, a sentimental anecdote, an urgent tone, as well as his consistent exploitation of his audiences’ emotions.
Great Britain’s debt level is high; rather, the compensation for her debt is the investment of a strong navy to defend herself and the American people. Conversely, “our land force is already sufficient, and as to naval affairs, we cannot be insensible, that Britain would never suffer an American man of war to be built, while the continent remained in her hands” (34). Paine understands the important role of a navy, and he warns the American public that America is vulnerable to attack and destruction because the British will never sacrifice their manpower for America’s liberty and freedom from other countries. Paine points out that America has an opportunity to “leave posterity with a settled form of government, an independent constitution of its own, the purchase at any price will be cheap” and prosper with a constitution and a military of her own to defend herself and her people in times of turmoil and crisis because “a navy when finished is worth more than it costs” (34, 36). “Commerce and protection are united,” and America’s “natural produce” of timber, iron tar, leaves the American ports to gain marginal profits for the colonial states across the Atlantic in Europe (36).
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
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.
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.
The man with the most impact that changed history was Thomas Paine. He created a pamphlet called Common Sense . Not only did he have an impact he had a somewhat negative life. His burial was very awful. Paines beliefs in religion was different from other people. That belief caused him to create a book the age of reason.
Thomas Paine anonymously wrote “Common Sense”, a pamphlet discussing the ideas of independence from Britain. This helped the colonists put their frustrations with their government into words. Paine wrote it so simply that anyone could understand his ideas, and it was quite persuasive. He says, “The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth.” (Baym 326) Essentially, Thomas Paine explains how independence from the monarchy would be a really wonderful thing, and he ultimately explains that this independence is inevitable. He talks about how Britain is the parent of America. He compares America to a child growing independent of its parents. Although at one point, America was “flourish[ing] under her former connection with Great Britain”, he says that now it is time for America to grow independent. He uses the example of a child who has been raised on milk never moving on to eating meat. Although the child grew a lot on milk, that doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t continue to grow by eating meat, by gaining more independence. (Baym 326) And he says that while Britain is their parent country, parents shouldn’t “devour their young,” or “make war upon their families.” (Baym 327) He’s using this extended parent example to show that America really doesn’t need a parent country anymore. This idea of total independence from Britain put a lot in perspective for Americans at the time. They became empowered and confident in this idea of
Thomas Paine's main argument in Common Sense is full of analysis and logical views about the American Independence. Specially, his article was to aim to the revolution for the better world without putting too much one's power on America. The evidence was that many disputes happening like the war between France and Britannia over the New World 1. From my perspective, I agree with his three main arguments about the difference between government and society, the negative side of monarchy and hereditary succession, and the truth of the American situations since these showed weakness that America has and strength that America can consider about.