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Thomas Paine Thesis

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Kate Lau Professor Lassar History 15 12 April 2024 Essay #1 In 1776, Thomas Paine, an American federalist, wrote a pamphlet, Common Sense, in which he argued that “the cause of America is in great measure the cause of all mankind” (Give Me Liberty!, Seagull, Chapter 5) and that the new nation would become “an asylum for mankind” (Give Me Liberty!, Seagull, Chapter 5). Based on my readings of colonial society in Give Me Liberty!, written by Eric Phoner, I agree with Paine’s assertions. I believe he was tired of their tyrannical government and made this case because he wanted the freedom, liberty, and clean slate that they didn’t have under British rule. Having moved to the colonies, Paine immediately began efforts to overthrow the British colonial …show more content…

However, Paine knew that the colonies were diverse communities, filled with unique individuals with differing identities and beliefs. He knew his target audience for Common Sense would be normal colonists who all sought religious, economic, and political freedom. Paine wanted the colonies to be the home of freedom. In fact, many aspects of the colonial cause were in agreement with Paine’s claims. “Opposition to the Intolerable Acts now spread to small towns and rural areas that had not participated actively in previous resistance” (Give Me Liberty!, Seagull, Chapter 5), and the Continental Congress was formed in Philadelphia to coordinate resistance to the Acts. Progressively, colonists were starting to resist the British government, and talk of liberty spread through the colonies. Many want democracy in the future. However, there were aspects of the colonial cause that didn’t fully support Paine’s claims as well, such as the reality of slavery and dispossession of Indigenous peoples. Paine called for America to be the asylum for mankind, but who exactly was their definition of

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