How Do Thomas Paine Use The Power Of Persuasion

​Thomas Paine's Common Sense is a seminal piece of American literature and American history; arguably it's the most important piece. Paine wrote Common Sense in 1775-1776, and it's theme was to spread his political beliefs. He wanted American independence from the British monarchy. The pamphlet was anonymously released on January 10th, 1776, and it explained to the reader why the colonies needed to rebel against their British oppressors. It was sold far and wide across the colonies, and it was successful; it inspired many of the soldiers during the initial summer of rebellion in 1776. The whole idea of the pamphlet revolves around persuading the reader to side with the rebels in their valiant fight for independence, and he absolutely uses contemporary persuasive techniques in his writing. He uses facts about the present, he looks towards the future, and he uses religion to persuade his readers. In fact, it's a testament to how the act of persuasion has been very similar over the last 238

In the pamphlet Common Sense, Thomas Paine manages to persuade the inhabitants into believing that American Independence was a vital decision. The use of persuasion by Thomas Paine had a positive outcome for those colonists in favor of gaining independence. He used a variety of rhetorical devices, such as: hyperboles, analogies, and tone, to state why obtaining American Independence was essential.

Few documents through American history have withstood the test of time and have become statement pieces for our society. In this group, the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson and Common Sense by Thomas Paine both hold high positions. Thomas Paine wrote “The Crisis”, which was a chapter in his pamphlet Common Sense, which advocated that the thirteen original colonies gain independence from Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence was a government document written in 1776 that proclaims America a state of democracy not connected to Britain. Although they share a general topic, both feature a wide range of similarities and differences to each other. These similarities include the times they were written, similarities in the

Political writer, Thomas Paine, in his persuasive writing, The Crisis No. 1, expresses feelings towards Britain's control over the colonies. Paine's purpose is to unite the colonists in an effort to retaliate against Great Britain. He uses an objective tone in order to unite and rally the common person in his nation.

From the Crisis No.1 written by Thomas Paine and the Speech at the Virginia Convention by Patrick Henry were two major sources during the time of the Revolutionary War. Both speeches were persuasive and moving for the colonist. The common purpose of the revolutionary speeches during that time was to persuade the common people to become fully independent from tyranny. Even though the common purpose for both speeches was to separate from Great Britain, they both used different methods or strategies in their speeches like the tone, and how they appealed to the situation.

During the Revolutionary War, writers and orators publicly revealed their thoughts on how to respond to Britain’s further subjugation of the American colonies. After a futile hope for reconciliation and failed petitions to the British government, several patriots, such as Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry, called for the colonists to take up arms against the British. Through Paine’s Common Sense and Henry’s “Speech in the Virginia Convention”, they displayed an adamant message for the colonies to fight immediately. Both used the rhetorical elements of ethos, pathos, and logos within their respective works, and their various applications to the three elements allowed for their arguments to reach all ears and influence the majority of the population towards the fight for independence.

Thomas Paine was responsible for some of the most influential works of the revolution. Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense was a very crucial part to America and its movement of independence from Britain. Paine was effective with his writings by being very plain. He wanted both farmers and officials to understand what he was talking about and be able to comprehend his ideas. Paine wanted to put his ideas out to the people of the American colonies so that they could understand it just by reading and not have to analyze and decipher what he was really trying to get across. He wanted to let the colonist know that there was no more room for talking about a split from English rule but it was time for the colonies to unite and take up arms against their British oppressors.

After Thomas Paine was condemned by the British after the revolution, he became the sole reason for the American Revolution and their thirst for independence. Liell did an outstanding job in reporting most of Paine’s life before and after his fame in America. Never before has as single document had such an impact on people that they took action for something they believed in. Common Sense was and will forever be one of the most valuable writing in all of our history I feel it can easily without hesitation be compared to the Declaration of independence. They are both based on the same subject matter for one goal for the colonies to breach the oppression of the King.

Thomas Paine was the most persuasive writer for the American Revolution. He wrote to inspire soldiers under Washington that they can win the war, remain strong and fight for the freedom of their country.. In Paine’s essay, “The Crisis, No. 1,” rhetorical devices that Thomas uses are personification and emotional/logical appeal to compare and contrast victory versus defeat. Paine emphasizes that the struggle for freedom from the British through personification and that it’s important because the colonists need to continue to fight and not give up.

Both Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry were influential revolutionaries who used logical, emotional, and empowering arguments to try to persuade their audiences to support the American Revolution. In particular, Thomas Paine presented his ideas in the collection of articles he wrote titled "The American Crisis". Within this work,

Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine helped persuade America to declare their independence during the Revolutionary War against Great Britain. Both, Henry and Paine used many rhetorical devices throughout their speeches. The tone is the main difference between Patrick Henry’s “Speech in the Virginia Convention” and Thomas Paine’s “The Crisis”.

Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” and Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” were two texts written during a time of unrest and uncertainty among the American colonies. In these texts, both men used an array of persuasive techniques, most of which considered rhetorical devices. Although Henry used multiple metaphors and rhetorical questions to advance his purpose, Paine’s practice of rhetorical devices surpassed that of Henry’s. Paine’s text, similar to Henry’s, displays multiple rhetorical questions, appeals, and metaphors throughout his speech. All of these assist him in creating a better argument, swaying the audience to his cause.

In Thomas Paine's Common Sense and the Declaration of independence by Thomas Jefferson, there are some similarities and differences in the way they address what they believe in. They use the same techniques to making their feelings known, which include examining the problem, giving reasons for why it is a problem, and offering their opinion on the solution. Jefferson's and Paine's difference in their tone is obvious when observing who they are referring the documents to, the overall outline of their documents, and the relative significance of the documents.

“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph”. In December of 1776, Thomas Paine, a poorly educated man, would travel from England to America in search of a fresh start. He received a letter from Benjamin Franklin, which inspired him to become a local journalist. During the conflict between Britain & the colonies, he sided with the colonist and would write the pamphlet “Common Sense”. Paine wrote many persuasive essays using all three techniques, however, his best technique was “logos” because it was used to convince soldiers to stay, for those at home to join the fight, and he gave dramatic but realistic situations if they were to fail.

As an anonymous author Common Sense, Thomas Paine wrote the first pamphlet in the colonies to urge immediate independence from Britain. After writing Common Sense, he then wrote the first of sixteen pamphlets titled The Crisis. “The first Crisis paper (‘These are the times that try men’s souls’) was read to Washington’s troops at Trenton and did much to shore up the spirits of the Revolutionary soldiers” (Paine 324). Paine motivated the troops to keep their eyes on what really mattered throughout the war. The purpose of his writings are incredible and he definitely left an impact on a numerous amount of people.