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
Thomas Paine claims in Common Sense that the people living in America do not need to tolerate the oppression from their British overlords. His main purpose for writing this pamphlet was to expose the injustice of the British towards the Americans and to persuade those who still believed that the British were either needed or were beneficial for the Americans in 1776. Paine values the idea that the Americans need to revolt against their evil ,oppressive, monarchical rulers in Britain and to establish pure democracy in the Thirteen Colonies. Paine writes from the perspective of an equal to his fellow American man, thus making him relatable from common folk to the wealthy merchants and upper classes. Paine shows the British tyranny over America as horrific and he wishes to expose British faults and impurities to inspire the colonists
Paine's viewpoint is stated strongly and unequivocally. He believes that the only way the thirteen colonies can thrive is to obtain their independence from Great Britain. He states his reasons at the outset quite clearly, and from the wording, it is argued quite persuasively that in his view, there is really no acceptable option but to fight for independence. Paine does not believe that government is a desirable force in a country, but that it is a necessary one. One of his initial arguments is that because of mankind's basic "impulses of conscience," government is required to keep law and order in the land: "For were the impulses of conscience clear, uniform, and irresistibly obeyed, man would need no other lawgiver" (Paine, 1776, p. 19). In Paine's view, then, to live
Thomas Paine made no secret for his hatred of the British monarchy. This was partially due to their absolutism beliefs, the oppression of his countrymen, and the system of government where the rich got richer and the poor get poorer. He believed that Britain would never have a balanced government so long as monarchy and hereditary succession stayed in place. When Thomas Paine immigrated to Philadelphia, several things had strong influences on his writing of Common Sense. The Intolerable acts as well as the Enlightenment Challenge influenced his writing concerning the view of parliament and British monarchy (maybe switch this sentence for the next one).After Parliament had passed The Intolerable Acts, Paine watched the continuation and control the British Monarchy and Parliament had in America, along with their unnatural behaviors and influence over government issues, the ideological changes that came from ‘The Enlightenment Challenge’. Paine believed change could and should happen; that America could find economic independence and not carry any burden of debt if they separated from Britain since their debt was actually Britain’s in the first place. Paine said that there could be no reconciliation; he understood that to become free and have liberties with an independent government there was no going back, only forward. Paine had a strong desire to see religious freedom become possible, and for people to have the right to choose and
Paine's first published work was called African Slavery in America a pamphlet criticizing slavery in America as wrong and unjust. In 1775 Thomas Paine picked up on the revolutionary spirit that was rising in America with the events of the Boston Tea Party and the events of Lexington and Concord. On January 10, 1776 Paine wrote the pamphlet know as Common Sense. This pamphlet became one of the best selling, most influential documents to come out of the Revolution. Thomas Paine was able to explain to most everyone, since most everyone read his pamphlet, not only what the people of America should be fighting for but why they should be fighting for it. John Adams once said “Without the pen of the author of Common Sense the sword of Washington would have been raised in vain”. In Common Sense Paine says that sooner or later America needs to separate with the mother country. Thomas Paine explains these Arguments with facts and common sense, thus the
In Common Sense, Thomas Paine argues for American independence from Britain. Paine explains why being free from Britain would help America in the long run and how American independence could affect people’s lives for the better. Also, Paine addresses the problems of current government and the relations with other countries in Europe. Paine responses to the arguments that suggest that America needs to stay under Britain by insisting that America has evolved, and does not need Britain's help anymore. Moreover, Paine reinforces his vision of America through his description of Britain, which shows that Britain failed to protect America as a parent country, and they actually seek only their own profit. As a great supporter of the American Revolution,
Thomas Paine’s main motive for writing Common Sense was for it to be used as a persuasive tool to get America to revolt against Britain and become a separate country. I found many points that explain why Paine wrote his pamphlets. Paine was simply sick of British rule on the colonies and by writing his pamphlets was an easy and effective way to speak to the colonist. Paine was telling the American colonist that they have the resources and every right to rule themselves rather than be ruled by someone half way across the globe. Paine’s main reason for remaining anonymous was because of the treasonable content. I also believe Paine choose to stay anonymous because he may have been scared of losing the trust of colonist and being looked down upon. Many colonists thought that separating from Britain was going to create a war.
As conflict between Great Britain and America rose and American’s started to feel the overbearing clutches of Britain close in, it became increasingly more apparent that liberty, separation from England and the abolishment of Monarchy, would be the only thing to satisfy the 13 colonies. After a plethora of ploys— the Stamp, Townshend and Sugar Acts—to accumulate capital to settle Britain’s lingering war debts from the French and Indian war and American’s not being permitted to have a representative of their own present in parliament, as well as, having no vote in who would be elected law makers in Britain; America was in desperate need of an inspirational figure to back their frustrations. Radical journalist and political animal, Thomas Paine, was the first to openly ask for liberty, in the Pennsylvania Magazine. Paine’s ordinary language appealed to the common folk, and allowed them to participate in colonial meetings; Their strength would be dependent on numbers. The published piece gave clear reason for the colonists to fight for their freedom. Thomas Paine’s Common Sense pamphlet asserted purpose to the impending ward on England, and inspired all to get involved.
Charles Inglis, in his loyalist rebuttal to common sense titled “a crack-brained zealot for democracy” (1776), argues that the pamphlet by Thomas Paine is “an outrageous insult on the common sense of Americans” and claims it his duty to God, his king, and his country to counteract the deceitful lies it withholds. He supports his claim by first pointing out the author’s flaws in the method which he presented the information saying that his tone came across as “whiny” and “begging.” Inglis then presents a few examples of what good reconciliation with Great Britain would bring such as peace, no more blood shed, and better trade or naval advantage; then presenting what evil could arise if no reconciliation were reached such as devastation and ruin across America. Finally, while speaking highly of how marvelous of a country America is, explains its glory would be long forgotten is a war waged between Great Britain and America due to America’s seceding. Inglis’s purpose is to persuade other American minds to follow in his thinking in order to keep the peace between the two great lands and allow America to continue thriving as it was with Britain.
Initially, the Colonies were fighting simply to have their rights as British citizens recognized. This line of thinking changed over time, which was influenced by Thomas Paine’s Common Sense. Through this pamphlet, Paine was one of the first to put forth the notion of American Independence, putting into written word what others had only thought of. However, when Common
Thomas Paine, born in 1737 in Thetford, England, came to America in 1774 after meeting Benjamin Franklin and receiving a letter of recommendation. Once he reached the colonies, he became the editor of the “Pennsylvania Magazine” as well as begin his career as a political pamphleteer. Paine became a major voice for political issues through his works including, “Common Sense” and “The American Crisis”. Both of which addressed what the colonies were fighting for, a fresh start as a society and political institution free from European corruption.
Thomas paine was a writer and political philosopher. Thomas speech moves people and motivated them to do more like patrick henry's but thomas speech was more powerful.
The fundamental focuses inside of this entry recommend that America is a nation where a huge number of societies, religions, and dialects exist together. He recommends that our administration, which was made "on the standards of society and the privileges of man", can conquer the previously stated contrasts. In any case, this affirmation can undoubtedly be refuted.
Paine’s arguments about the government’s oppression stirred among many Americans. Many of those who were neutral views saw the reality on the ground and the atrocities committed by the colonists against the Americans (Paine, 2012). As people learned about the unfair and unjust ways of the British Monarchy led by King George III and the British Parliament, the quest for freedom gained support. People saw the need to declare independence and remove the colonists who oppressed their rights. The pamphlet revealed the rights enjoyed by British in England which assisted many Americans to understand the oppression they faced.
Thomas Paine was a man of many opinions; I mean my goodness the man named this “Common Sense”. He did not share in the cookie cutter lifestyle most have, which allowed him to share experiences that privileged said knowledge and opinions. He had an eager rage towards the subject of religion and government. Paine’s thought was to separate church and state. He wanted to protect religion and its freedom but felt that the government should not delegate its feelings toward the subject matter. Thomas Paine did not travel to the United States until the age of thirty-seven. He knew how England worked. The English parliament ruled towards a set national religion. He felt that if the government plugged in its two sense then the same could happen and the people would be obscured at losing one of their rights.
He wrote the influential pamphlet Common Sense, which was an assault on monarchial rule and the American colonies independence from Britain. “Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same miseries by a government, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer. ”(Paine) Paine also felt that society as a whole, was produced by our wants, and governed by our wickedness. Paine was once imprisoned in Britain for sedition.