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Analysis Of Thomas Paine's Common Sense

Decent Essays

1) Thomas Paine’s Common Sense is different from most political documents of that time period because he used language that could be understood by ordinary people. This is most evident in the sections entitled Of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession and Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs. In the first section, Paine states that all of mankind is equal and that: the distinctions of rich, and poor, may in great measure be accounted for…” (Paine, 96). This specific quote seems to go against the English policy of deference- a political and social aspect in which those of a lower class would defer to higher society members when it came to governmental matters. In this specific quote, Paine seems to ignore that practice, choosing instead to say that all men are equal. …show more content…

A second example can be found on page 98: “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 and no quarrel with us on any other account, and who will always be our enemies on the same account.” This particular statement brings into mind Britain’s justification when it came to taxing the colonists after the French and Indian War. English leaders believed that because the war was fought on colonial soil, it was done to defend the colonists. As a result of this war, the taxes were implemented and enforced which heightened. tensions between the colonists and

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