Common Sense, By Thomas Paine

The book Common Sense by Thomas Paine was an American pamphlet written during the American Revolution, which was around the time when America was trying to gain independence from Britain. Paine discusses government, religion, and colonial issues. In the first chapter Paine differentiates between the society and the government. He described the society as being positive and constructive and he described the government being a necessary evil. Meaning the colonist needed to have some form of government to protect themselves from the basic rights. Paine also confronts the British government saying that their government is far too complicated and controversial, and that it would eventually cause problems for the colonists and the hierarchies. He makes up a pretend situation with a group of people on an island who are cut off from the general population. After developing relationships with one another the lawmaking portion becomes unavoidable. Paine says the people will be better off if they make up the rules they have to abide by instead of having set rules the King comes up with himself.

He continues with this thinking by writing, "Thus necessity, like a gravitating power, would soon form out newly arrived emigrants into society [… ] and render the obligations of law and government unnecessary" ( Paine, Par.4). The quote explains how we unconsciously group together based on common interest and once that happens there is no real reason to have a type of government because at this time we are all working and coming together to achieve one goal. This supports Paine's purpose of having America completely break away from Britain by showing the people and congress that there is no reason to be governed by someone across the sea when they through trying to make America successful have already formed a society that has a common goal.

Common Sense was written by Thomas Paine and published in 1776. Paine wrote it as a plea for the American people to break away from Britain and to declare independence from the king. He was asking his audience to take a step back and see that just because something is tradition, does not mean it is necessarily right. Paine wanted to show his readers that government and society is not the same thing, which is how most people viewed it. Society was something that people should want to have, while a government is something that people had to have in order to keep themselves in check. That by paying the various taxes, the people were inadvertently paying to live in such bad conditions. America should break away from and form a democratic party, one that allowed the people to decide what rules they should have. Britain was too far away to be able to rule the colonies correctly. That in being so far away it would take forever for Parliament to respond to any complaints that America might have. Britain was not a favorite with other countries and therefore the colonies were at a greater risk of war because of it. He spoke to his readers in a way so that even the simplest of people would understand how desperately America needed to establish its independence.

Paine begins his pamphlet with a strong use of rhetorical appeals to explain the necessity, though minor evil, of a government, leaving room to the reader’s common sense to realize it as a democratic system. Paine’s structured logos of the first two paragraphs provides a logical and convincing evidence for the need of structure in a society to provide safety and concludes: “Wherefore, security being the true design and end of government, it unanswerably follows that whatever for thereof appears most likely to ensure it to us, with the least expense and greatest benefit, is preferable to all others” (par. 2). The pathos of the text is instead increased by dire diction and schemes like juxtaposition and parallel structure. Paine’s powerful juxtapositions points on the contrast between right and wrong, society and government (identified as British Crown). Through the fear, Paine manipulates the public’s thoughts convincing it of the danger that Britain constitutes when saying “Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher” (par.1). The effect of highlighting this difference is that audience is voluntarily forced to choose the society as benefic and to condemn the government, which now, also because of the dire diction, appears to them as a threat. Paine’s ethos is instead built thanks to the authoritative and self-assured tone: the author’s confidence emerges particularly in

American colonists were getting more and more frustrated with the rules being forced onto them by the British, so Thomas Paine’s timing was very crucial in convincing everyone to take such drastic measures. Paine’s structure makes it clear the colonists need only one more final inspiration to fight and he wants to present that as simply as possible by saying, “In the following pages I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense...” (Paine n.pag.). Thomas Paine was a patriot of the 1770s, meaning he was one of the people who did not like being controlled by the British. The structure gives Paine a specific tone that seems very understandable and very to-the-point. He is trying to spread the idea that the solution to their Britain problem is very simple, but is overlooked by most colonists before 1776 when the pamphlet was written. He blatantly and clearly presents his argument immediately to his readers to give the colonists confidence and make them feel starting a rebellion will be easy to win and worthwhile to do. The colonists all came to the colonies to gain some freedom from the British Empire, yet are still getting controlled by them without any physical representation.

Paine initially expounded on the connection between society and government and how a government's viability could be judged just on its capacity to ensure the freedom and property of its citizens. He contended that the legislature laid out in the English constitution neglected this.

It was written in a concise manner that the common people of that century could understand it. Not only was it persuasive but it became an immediate sensation across the colonies. Paine describes how mankind was in a state of equality, but as time changed, the circumstances with it changed. Certain people put themselves as a king over the masses and nature did not approve. “One of the strongest natural proofs of the folly of hereditary right in kings, is, that nature disapproves it, otherwise she would not so frequently turn it into ridicule, by giving mankind an ass for a lion” (188). Paine then connects this by saying, even with reconciliation with Great Britain, the disadvantages with it would be too numerous. The dependency would tend to directly involve us with “European wars and quarrels, and set us at variance with nations who would otherwise seek our friendship” (188). Paine finally concludes with how we should stand up against oppression and accept freedom as our ally. “Receive the fugitive, and prepare in time an asylum for mankind”

2) Some flaws that Paine finds with the current English government is the King of England holds all the power in the government and the Constitution of England is far too complex. The Constitution is too complex for the people to understand so that creates numerous problems, which will never be able to be solved. He believes that the government is contradicting itself when it explains that they have a union of three powers that are checking each other, but in reality no one has power over the king. England is allowing the king to have all the power to do pass any law that he chooses without any consequences. The current English

He argues in his book that it was one of the biggest mistakes in history to bring a monarchy succession. Paine thinks it is very important for people to understand that man originally was in the state of equality, which means that inequality was caused by some certain circumstances which are in America’s case, the British occupation. Originally, there were no kings, until the ancient Jews demanded one, and from here it started. Paine considers this as a sin because god only should rule over the people. The ancient Jews asked the prophet Samuel to have a king, at first he tried to dissuade them, but he couldn’t. They insisted on having a king, until they had one. This story in Paine’s opinion must be known by everyone in order to understand what is happening in America, and why they should face it and stop it. A revolution must be held by people who understand the situation, and why it is wrong, Paine had the evidence to prove that the British in America is wrong, and that they must have no king and a heredity succession. Thus, they have to make a Revolution, which is the American Revolution, urging for America’s Independence.

Common Sense challenged the authority of the British Government. It was the first pamphlet to advocate American Independence. Some of the things Paine covered: the superiority of republican government over a monarchical system, equality of rights among all citizens, and the world significance of the American Independence. Paine wanted his thoughts to be heard and to have other people think about what he has said. His goal was to help America become free from the British.

When he stated, “In England a king hath little more to do than to make war and give away places; which in plain terms, is to impoverish the nation and set it together by the ears.” it showed both of his objectives in just one sentence (Paine). It showed how destructive and non-pure a monarchy is because all it does is fight and take over other areas, but at the same time it shows how much the colonists need to claim their independence or else they will be in possession of a radical government. Thomas Paine also stated, “For it is the republican and not the monarchical part of the constitution of England which Englishmen glory in, viz. the liberty of choosing an house of commons from out of their own body—and it is easy to see that when republican virtue fails, slavery ensues.” (Paine). This means that the democratic republic is perfect in his opinion but it can’t be perfect when the leader is a monarchy with a king. His use of this simple information allows the common people to understand what he is trying to portray and makes them think the same way he is. Paine’s use of simplicity along with persuasive arguments pushed his views towards people and would eventually lead to the fight for independence in the Revolutionary

The purpose of the excerpt form Common Sense was to discuss all of the unfair things Britain did to America while under their rule. Paine's main argument was to convince others to start their own government. He states facts/reasons why Britain's rule is no longer needed and uses rhetoric in a way where he is constantly repeating how horrible Britain had been.He said a few things to give more emphasis on why they needed to separate from Britain for example;"We boasted the protection of Great Britain, without considering, that her motive was INTEREST not ATTACHMENT; that she did not protect us from OUR ENEMIES on OUR ACCOUNT, but from HER ENEMIES on HER OWN ACCOUNT...".He said this to give an emphasis on how Britain took advantage of the colonies

Therefore, Paine destroyed the importance of the British constitutional system as a guarantor of liberty and as consistent with reason and human needs. He launched his enterprise with a withering attack on the pretensions of monarchy after the rejection of the Olive Branch Petition, the new focus of the Americans' sense of betrayal and wrath. Loyalty to the monarchy was not important to the Americans. By demolishing the monarchy, and exposing the British constitution as built on monarchy, Paine suggested that the Americans consider independence from the British monarchy. Additionally, by exploding the constitutional context, he also transformed the argument from being the sole province of those politicians learned in the law, customs, and usages of the British system to an argument in which all Americans could and should take part.

The American Revolution shaped North America politically, socially, and economically. The American Revolution ended British rule in North America. It was an uplifting progress for the United States.