What Impact Did Common Sense Have On America Essay

What impact did Common Sense have on America? To understand its impact, one must first understand its purpose. Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense during a time of tension between Great Britain and America. He wrote Common Sense for a specific purpose with a specific audience in mind. He detailed copious reasons why America should depart from Britain. He also included numerous justifications for independence. Common Sense had an immense effect on the colonists. Its effects ultimately led to independence from Britain. If Common Sense had not motivated the colonists to fight for independence, America may never have parted from Britain.

There are several events that built tension between America and Britain. The accumulation of these events eventually

led to the American Revolution. The origin of the war is considered to be the French and Indian War. Despite Britain’s victory, the colonists sustained burdening costs to compensate for the British financial deficit created to finance the war (“Common Sense”). Furthering the tension, various acts were passed over the course of several years. For example, the Quartering Act, the Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts, the Tea Act, and the Intolerable Acts were passed (Kelly). In response to the Tea Act,
Americans stormed a ship owned by the British East India Company and dumped large volumes of tea into Boston Harbor.

In retaliation, the British Parliament imposed a variety of restrictions aimed at reasserting their control over the colonies. These measures, known in America as the intolerable acts, spurred the convening of the first continental congress in 1774 (“Common Sense”).

Selected delegates convened to discuss their aforementioned grievances at the First Continental Congress. Their focus at the time included no taxation without representation and removing the British soldiers from America (“American Revolution History”). The grievances, placed upon the colonies, eventually led to the American Revolution (Kelly).

Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense for the common man. His writing was simplistic to ensure that everyone would be able to understand (“American Revolution History”). “In common, straightforward language it marshaled every conceivable argument for independence, and it did so more persuasively than any piece of political writing that had come before it” (Axelrod 145). Even though he himself was not religious, he used quotes from the Bible, because he knew his audience was religious (“Thomas Paine’s Common Sense”). He wrote Common Sense knowing that people in America were unsure of what to

do.
Despite all the recent hardships, the majority of colonists since birth were reared to believe that England was to be loved and its monarch revered…Americans were divided against themselves. Arguments for independence were growing. Thomas Paine would provide the extra push (“Thomas Paine’s Common Sense”).
Common Sense was a main influence on the decision to fight for complete independence (“Common Sense”). He related their situation to familiar circumstances, comparing it to a man that procrastinates and is continually bothered by the thought of procrastination (Paine 46). He also appealed to their reasonable side in saying,
The debt we may contract doth not deserve our regard, if the work be but accomplished. No nation ought to be without a debt. A national debt is a national bond; and when it bears no interest, is in no case a grievance. Britain is oppressed with a debt of upwards of one hundred and forty millions sterling, for which she pays upwards of four millions interest. And as a compensation for her debt, she has a large navy; America is without a debt, and without a navy; yet for the twentieth part of the English national debt, could have a navy as large again (Paine 37).
Common Sense was deliberately written in a certain style in order to convince the average colonist of the proper course of action.
Paine urged Americans to completely break all ties with Britain. Most colonists still considered themselves British at the time (“Jan 9, 1776: Thomas Paine Publishes Common Sense”). Paine argued:
Europe, and not England, is the parent country of America. This new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of Europe. Hither have they fled, not from the tender embraces of the mother, but from the cruelty of the monster; and it is so far true of England, that the same tyranny which drove the first emigrants from home, pursues their descendants still (Paine 23).
He also denounced the hereditary monarchy in favor of a republican government (Axelrod 145). “To say that the constitution of England is a union of three powers reciprocally checking each other, is farcical, either the words have no meaning, or they are flat contradictions” (Paine 10). In Common Sense, Paine rhetorically asked his audience to present any possible advantage of reconciliation. He ensures them that they will be able to survive independent of British trade in the European market (Paine 24). In addition, Paine pointed out the absurdity of a small country controlling an entire continent (Paine 28). These aforementioned reasons led Paine to suggest that complete separation was more beneficial than reconciliation.
Thomas Paine supplied numerous reasons for Americans to claim their independence from Britain. He outlined four main reasons for gaining independence in Common Sense. First, a country will not mediate a dispute between Britain and America as long as American is seen as a part of Britain. Second, France or Spain will not help Americans repair their relationship with Britain, because the French and Spanish would suffer in the end. Third, other countries will view Americans as rebels, so long as they are under British rule. It endangers foreign peace to believe that to be true. However, Americans can resolve that issue by becoming independent. Fourth, the colonists could reap the benefits of international alliances and trade if they declare their independence (Paine 45).
Common Sense tremendously impacted colonists. It was instantly popular, and within three months it had sold around 120,000 copies (“Thomas Paine’s Common Sense”). “Paine's ideas played a central role in rallying public opinion and were an important precursor to the Declaration of Independence, which was written six months later” (“Common Sense”). The American Revolution had actually begun the previous year with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. However, the purpose of said war was unclear. Many people were unsure that complete independence was advisable. “His pamphlet convinced many who were unsure of the purpose of the war and played a profound role in influencing the opinion of laymen and lawmakers alike” (“Common Sense”). Common Sense established a common cause for the colonists to fight for (Axelrod 144).
American independence was the ultimate outcome of Common Sense.

In order to gain that independence, a war had to be fought. Numerous battles ensued, including the Battle of White Plains, the Battle of Princeton, and the Battle of Stony Point (Axelrod 355). The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. However, Britain dismissed it as an insignificant document, and did not formally recognize it until 1783 (“The Declaration of Independence, 1776”). In the end,

…the British removal of their troops from Charleston and Savannah in late 1782 finally pointed to the end of the conflict. British and American negotiators in Paris signed preliminary peace terms in Paris late that November, and on September 3, 1783, Great Britain formally recognized the independence of the United States in the Treaty of Paris. At the same time, Britain signed separate peace treaties with France and Spain (which had entered the conflict in 1779), bringing the American Revolution to a close after eight long years (“American Revolution History”).

Ultimately, just as Paine suggested, America gained its independence from

Britain.
Common Sense impacted the progression of American history. It was written during tense times in America. When it was written, Paine knew his audience and catered to the needs of said audience. As far as Paine was concerned, there were copious reasons for splitting from Britain. There were also prominent reasons for gaining independence. The impact on colonial America was monumental. In the end, America gained its independence from Britain after many hardships. Common Sense allowed America to become its own independent entity separate from Britain. “And here without anger or resentment I bid you farewell. Sincerely wishing, that as men and christians, ye may always fully and uninterruptedly enjoy every civil and religious right; and be, in your turn, the means of securing it to others…” (Paine 59).