Thomas Paine Argue For American Independence

Political activist Thomas Paine during the beginnings of the American Revolution wrote a pamphlet , Common Sense , to convince the American people and the continental congress to completely break away from England and it's monarchy. Paine writes in a passionate tone to explain the differences between society and government, how they both form, and why. Paine aims to convince his audience to cut ties with the motherland through his use of rhetorical appeals, figurative language, and schemes.

As the year 1776 began in the American colonies, tension with King George III’s England was at perhaps an all-time high.  Americans were frustrated with the actions of their rulers overseas.  Taxes and trade restrictions had been placed on them, and British and mercenary soldiers occupied their towns and cities.  There had even been fighting at Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill.  As America grew, England’s hold on it tightened, and a few voices began speaking of independence.  The loudest and most convincing of these belonged to Thomas Paine, born in England and living in Philadelphia.  His pamphlet, Common Sense, expressed the argument for American independence in a way no one had before and had a great influence on the Declaration of

If Thomas Paine never published Common Sense Americans today would not only fail to fully grasp the many aspects as to why colonist wanted independence so bad, but it also might have taken American’s many more years before they earned their independence, and it is possible that America may not have ever got its independence. Common Sense was a crucial turn for American’s opinion against Britain. It was key factor in pursue colonies to fight for complete independence. So if Common Sense was never written, American’s today would be oblivious to how the colonist felt back then.

During the late 1700's, the colonies and their mother country, Great Britain, were butting heads with immense taxation and the unreasonable laws England placed on the colonies. Thomas Paine was a journalist at the time and published one of his famous works "Common Sense" in 1776. The pamphlet was intended to challenge the British government authority that was overruling the colonial power. The arguments Paine states in Common Sense became some of the deciding factors of the colonies breaking away from Great Britain.

Thomas Paine was a British-born citizen of Pennsylvania whose formal education ended at only thirteen years old, but he chose to educate himself in his free-time. He met Benjamin Franklin who then persuaded him to move to the colonies. He introduced his views of an independent Continent very shortly before the American Revolution, which heavily influenced many middle-of-the-road colonists. Common Sense is arguably his most influential work, and it was decidedly written in such a manner that the common folk could comprehend. In his famous pamphlet, he writes about government as a necessary evil, state of nature, the problems of monarchial systems of government, the

He had already written papers about the injustices and cruelties the Americans had to face while being overruled by Britain. Thomas Paine was the only American who had the audacity to write about gaining independence from Britain. He was the one who believed in America and its citizens to become a world superpower, and to grow into making their beloved country special. Written in his essay Age of Reason, he said, “I saw, or at least I thought I saw, a vast scene opening itself to the world in the affairs of America; and it appeared to me, that unless the Americans changed the plan they were then pursuing, with respect to the government of England, and declared themselves independent, they would not only involve themselves in a multiplicity of new difficulties, but shut out the prospect that was then offering itself to mankind through their means,” (44). In this passage of The Age of Reason, he stated his motive to write Common Sense. His motive to write Common Sense was for his patriots and the country as a whole. Not to make his political status rise, but to help America progress as an independent country. It wasn’t about him and his career as an author, but about having colonial unity amongst it’s citizens, and fight together to make America advance. Not only was their motive from the American public, but also from his fellow comrades, like Ben Franklin. They would frequently discuss upon this matter of independence and other international news, and this would have a significant influence into the writing of his persuasive essay. He spent hours daily discussing with his fellow moderns. It is obvious that Paine incorporated the conversations and correspondence with his compatriots into his essay. The long discussions that he had with Ben Franklin and his other friends gave him good ideas and a good understanding of their current situation. These long discussions were

In a time of uncertainty and alliances Thomas Paine’s pamphlet, Common Sense provided the American people an easy way to understand the breakdown of who they were going to go to war against and why they should. Paine offered opinions with intellectual backing, opinions that were soon backed or opposed by other colonists and debated from taverns to law offices all over the colonies. In this paper, I will be discussing Paine’s intended audience, his perspective, the major problems he sees between England and the American colonies, and why his writing was so persuasive to support the revolution and weaknesses in his argument.

Thomas Paine is most known for his influence in the freedom loving American colonies. With his excellent use of rhetoric and his charisma, he quickly began to gain followers. In his writings, such as "Common Sense," "The Rights of Man," and "The Age of Reason," he used these skills to call the Americans to action. Thomas Paine influenced American society and literature with his argumentative pamphlets and influential writings which inspired Americans to take action against Britain.

Thomas Paine, one of the United States’ greatest minds behind the American Revolution, published Common Sense in 1776 with intent on persuading the colonies to pursue a war already bound to happen. His simple gripping prose promoted the premise that the rebellion was not about subjects wronged by their monarch, but a group of independent people being oppressed by a foreign government. Common Sense played a drastic part in the American Revolution, as its use of rhetoric and vigor assisted him in stating that war has already began, that now is the time to fight, and demonizing Great Britain as a brute, one of which has no respect for other people. Paine sets the groundwork for the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution by attempting

In Common Sense, Thomas Paine writes about why he thinks America should become independent from Britain. His thesis is that monarchy, being fundamentally flawed, is a bad form of government and that America should rebel against the king and become an independent nation. The author does achieve his goal when the Declaration of Independence is signed in the summer of 1776.

The American Revolution was the American colony’s action against the injustice of the English law in an effort to restore their natural rights. Some of central issues of the war were Parliament passing unnecessary taxation on colonists; such as the stamp and sugar act, due to the French and Indian War. As a result, the colonist rallied “taxation without representation” because the colonists had no say towards the British government, Parliament. During the Revolution, patriotism sparked amongst the colonists. The colonies decided that they will also be fighting for their American independence from Britain.

While contending that Britain does not consist of a trustworthy government, when it comes to the colonies rights and justice they receive. There have been multiple instances in which the British imposed unright taxes upon the American colonies, even after they were repealed. “Until an independence is declared the continent will feel itself like a man who continues putting off some unpleasant business from day to day, yet knows it must be done” (Paine 44). The main point of Paine is that the Americans should secede from Britain. And in order to do so, the colonists must act soon. And he enforces a call to action by the American colonists in their independence from

Thomas Paine was concerned about the American need and cause for independence. Until independence is declared the continent will feel itself “like a man who continues putting off some unpleasant business from day to day, yet knows it must be done, hates to set about it, wishes it over, and is continually haunted with the thoughts of its necessity.” He was inspired by Benjamin Franklin and the revolution. In Common Sense he argued for the colonies independence from Britain, saying the government that denies representation should be replaced. Should not be a revolt against taxation but a demand for independence. Paine hated monarchial government and he knew that if there was any reconciliation with Great Britain it would only cause the current situations to repeat themselves.

In essence, Common Sense is about freedom in America, not only about cutting off its ties with the British. The freedom Pained swooned about was a specific kind of freedom that only existed in the New World. Once the ties were severed, it was new beginnings. One of the types of freedoms Paine had hoped to see, was the freedom of man and woman to think and feel the way he or she chooses to; something that was not commonly practiced or accepted in their old lives back in England. But, in effort to obtain this unique kind of freedom, Americans had to be willing to stand up and fight for that right. This was a war a on freedom and it couldn’t be won sitting down, they had to be active and play an active role in this vision so that it could become a reality. Paine was a firm believer that it was everyone’s responsibility to protect their freedom at all cost. It was nothing more or less than a basic right that everyone should possess. In efforts to get the people to come to a realization, Paine attempted to persuade the readers ( the colonist who read his pamphlet Common Sense) that a man is one who makes decisions not only for himself but, for future generations by choosing to fight for freedom from England. It was because of those first people who immigrated here to America in search of shelter from their oppressive and manipulating homeland, and because of that, America

One of the most fundamental people in the push for American Independence, Thomas Paine offers much advice in both Common Sense, and The Crisis. Paine offers very strong arguments in Common Sense, which are supported by his own reason, his sensibility, his common sense and by his ability to draw inference from what has already happened. Paine uses every element in his ability to help give more depth to his arguments and plans. However, of all the cases Thomas Paine makes in Common Sense, the ultimate goal of Paine is to incite the American Public to make a stand against British tyranny, and break from Britain altogether, and become independent.