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Paine's Argument For American Independence

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“The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind” (Paine 1). With the Revolutionary War beginning in 1775, and the publication of Common Sense, by Thomas Paine, only a year later, this statement was widely recognized and addressed the issue at hand: the fight for independence. According to Paine’s assertion, America’s desire for peace and freedom is a basic necessity of life; it is what all men desire. Despite this innate thirst for liberty, many residents of America’s thirteen colonies were fearful of Great Britain, and because of this fear, complied with Great Britain’s every whim. Consequently, most colonists were hesitant to fight against the mother country for independence. But Paine would not accept this attitude. …show more content…

The author begins by invalidating any rally for peace maintained by the loyalty of hereditary succession, saying “The whole history of England disowns the fact” (Paine 21), followed by evidence of the many civil wars fought by the English. By evaluating these facts, the reader is able to clearly see how hereditary succession does the opposite of its purpose: it establishes quarrels and thwarts peace. Paine also considers the belief that the British government is credited with American prosperity, and because of this, Great Britain will always be of necessity to America. Though Paine refutes this immediately comparing the belief to these absurd notions: “…because a child has thrived upon milk, that it is never to have meat, or that the first twenty years of our lives is to become a precedent for the nest twenty” (Paine 25). Paine even disproves the necessity of reconciliation between the colonies and Great Britain with two major points. In summarization, he says reconciliation will bring ruin because of the British desire to advance at the expense of America and Great Britain’s inability to protect or govern the colonies due to its distance from the continent (page 36-40). By providing numerous logical responses to arguments opposing the formation of America into its own state, Paine assures worries common among colonists, gaining even more advocates for American

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Paine justifies the need for separation by explaining that the colonies have little to gain from British rule. If the states become independent, they have more opportunities for commerce with the rest of Europe. He also stresses that, if they were to remain attached, the same problems they have had in the past will reappear. The conflict of British need for profit and the American desire for autonomy could only be ended by declaring independence.

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776 Words | 4 Pages

Pamphleteer, Thomas Paine, in his book, Rights of Man, signifies the American political revolution to independence from England. Paine characterizes Americans for their concord and how their unity is unexpected. He doesn’t expect this unity because of the diversity that exists in the nation, and he argues the unity of Americans by describing the beneficial factors of living in the nation. Paine’s description of American principles can be used today, as many of these principles still exist, allowing Americans to unify.

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1069 Words | 5 Pages

In his discussion, Paine argues out that apart from gaining international respect, America would advance its own security and commerce by being able to trade with other partners in Europe and the globe. He mentions that all Europe should benefit from America’s goods not only Britain. He explains that by saying British are not the only people who settled the continent but different parts of Europe, so British should not be the only European country to benefit from the colonies. As a result of all the reasons above, the colonies needed no reason to continue submitting to Britain authority and should gain their

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743 Words | 3 Pages

Thomas Paine had successfully contributed to the declaration of independence and his 47-page pamphlet, “Common Sense”, impacted numerous Americans. “Common Sense” allowed citizens of the colony to

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147 Words | 1 Pages

In his pamphlet Common Sense, Thomas Paine vehemently protests his views on American Independence by using simple facts to defend his statement on freedom from Great Britain, as well as governmental and religious proclamations. Born in the Age of Enlightenment, a European intellectual movement in the 18th century, Paine was brought into a world where people wished to learn and share their opinions and ideas on subject matters more freely than that of previous eras. Democratic values became more appraised compared to life under British rule. As a result, Paine became an advocate for the people of the Thirteen Colonies, declaring the feelings every colony felt but had not had even heart to exclaim. Back in Paine’s time, the

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852 Words | 4 Pages

Thomas Paine and John Locke were two influential figures, who contributed in the American revolutionary spirit. While Common Sense deliberate enthusiastically the most common but unstated truth: America should be free from control of Britain, John lock claimed the property, the social contract theory with calmness. Revolutionary ideology was generated in the colonies thanks to the Common Sense Pamphlet’s indisputable contents and the wide circulation. On one hand, it is Thomas Paine who first point out that America belongs to itself, exemplified by histrionical, economic, religious, politic, and even geographic evidence. Thomas Paine wrote in this book “Our land force is already sufficient, and as to naval affairs, we cannot be insensible, that Britain would never suffer an American man of war to be built while the continent remained in

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713 Words | 3 Pages

Paine is against America having a connection with Britain and a single person having power. As Paine expresses, King George III is not and should not be able to be in power of the colonists because mankind is created to be equal and therefore kings should be “disapproved by nature” (Paine 217). Not only does Paine express his anger at the topic of a ruler for all, he also voices that America is connected to whatever Britain does and whatever problems Britain has: implying that America has no say what so ever under Britain (Paine 218). Paine is suggesting that Britain is not only hurting but also is subordinating America and its colonies, so a declaration of independence is in need.

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766 Words | 4 Pages

“It is wholly owing to the Constitution of the people, and not to the constitution of the government that the crown is not as oppressive in England as in Turkey.” We should give power to someone who is fair and not self-centered. Paine stated “from the errors of other nations, let us learn wisdom” to advise us to avoid repeating the past in the future from learning about bad past experiences. Paine argued for American’s separation from England by comparing the Kings that Great Britain has had to what a government should be

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654 Words | 3 Pages

Before this many Colonists did not know of the harsh injustices done by the British. They also did not believe that the cause for revolution was urgent. Thomas Paine showed them that the cause was urgent by explaining the wrongs the British had committed and why King George was a tyrant. He also showed them that America did not need the British Empire 's protection. This quote shows his reasoning “Small islands, not capable of protecting themselves, are the proper objects for kingdoms to take under their care; but there is something absurd, in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island.”

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635 Words | 3 Pages

Many circumstances have, and will arise, which are not local, but universal, and through which the principles of all Lovers of Mankind are affected, and in the Event of which, their Affections are interested (Paine, 1776)”. Thomas Paine disagrees with the British government and the way they handling business he encouraged Americas to declare their independence. The Declaration of independence was a documented created by Thomas Jefferson that announced the split from the colonies and Great Britain, it. The Declaration of Independence states “we hold these…all men are created equal...with certain unalienable rights...that when any form of government becomes destructive... It is the right of the people to alter or abolish it (Jefferson, 1776)”.

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513 Words | 3 Pages

In the winter of 1776, during American Revolution, the still young America faced three major dilemmas: their seemingly imminent defeat, the moral debate between the Whigs and the British loyalists, and the panic and confusion of the American public. In efforts to settle the three American dilemmas, Thomas Paine wrote The Crisis No. 1 in December of 1776. In his work, Paine aimed to calm the American public and convince them to stand up to the British, and turn the war into an American victory. Paine was very successful in this, and his paper was proclaimed as one of the most persuasive works of the American Revolution. Paine’s

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497 Words | 2 Pages

The American way has been paved by many great thinkers but none may be as important to our current circumstances as Thomas Paine. In his article “Common Sense” he provided a call for independence from the British Monarchy. He clearly lays out the problem with the current British method of rule, saying “Monarchy and succession have laid… the world in blood and ashes. ‘Tis a form of government which the word of God bears testimony against, and blood will attend it” (Pain, 1776). The major value he presents in his writing is “Liberty”.

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296 Words | 2 Pages

In Thomas Paine's "An American Crisis", he is responding to Great Britain's attempts to restrict colonial activity, mainly the taxes imposed on the colonies from 1764-1767, beginning with the Sugar Act. His pamphlet expressed his discontent with the British Parliament, whom he felt were exploiting the colonies, and urged Americans to fight for independence. One of the things Americans were mostly angered by was the lack of representation in passing bills and acts, such as the Sugar Act of 1764 and the Townshed Act passed in 1767. Paine saw this as an abuse of power and felt as if the relationship between the colonies and Great Britain was borderlining slavery, which he stated that "for so unlimited a power can belong only to God". Peaceful

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780 Words | 4 Pages

With his persuasive language, he laid out a very convincing view, framing Britain’s dominion over the colonies as unnecessary and ill deserved. He did well by opening with “…I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense”* this is a humble and equalizing statement; offering a baseline from which to build an argument for freedom. He continues using language crafted to project profound ideological and emotional stirrings within those who would receive his words. Paine wrote “Now is the seed-time of continental union, faith and honor.

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146 Words | 1 Pages

In “Common Sense,” Thomas Paine, attacked many ideas of British rule, even the government and its controlling system. Paine argues for the idea of American independence. This way it will stop the British from controlling them and renew a sense of humanity into the government. Paine adds to this by saying that the British government

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