What Are Paine's Arguments For American Independence

During the American Revolution separation was either supported by patriots, opposed by loyalists, or impartial to neutrals. In 1774, the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, home to Thomas Paine, to achieve two objectives: list American grievances and plan for resistance against British rule, thus creating the Declarations of Rights and Grievances (Norton, 2012). From 1774 to 1775 resistance movements were gaining momentum against Britain, however a statement of total separation from the monarch had not been explicitly declared. A year later, in 1776, when Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was published, American independence gained support. Paine’s Common Sense, which argues against the corruption of a ruling monarchy, condemns British

He presented the monarch as evil, corrupt, and unjust, infringing upon the rights of the American people. He stated that supporting a corrupt and broken government would disable one’s judgment, therefore lacking the ability to recognize a good government. Paine criticized hereditary succession by opposing the law that some men are naturally born superior to others. The hereditary succession of Kings would undoubtedly place a “fool” on the thrown, leading the country into a state of turmoil and confusion. Common Sense argues that the amount of bad kings outnumbers the amount of good kings and that although certain Kings achieve honor, their descendants can be unworthy of inheriting this honor. He also uses religion to argue that a King presupposes idolatry, which is heresy. By establishing a monarch, the people are choosing to serve a king, instead of God. (Paine, 2004) Paine utilizes pathos to impose fear upon his readers, by presenting the image of a jealous and angry

In 1774, the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, home to Thomas Paine, to achieve two objectives: list American grievances and plan for resistance against British rule, thus creating the Declarations of Rights and Grievances (Norton, 2012). From 1774 to 1775 resistance movements were gaining momentum against Britain, however a statement of total separation from the monarch had not been explicitly declared. A year later, in 1776, when Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was published, American independence gained support. Paine’s Common Sense, which argues against the corruption of a ruling monarchy, condemns British treatment of Americans, and advocates America’s “natural right” to institute a new government presents compelling arguments for an American declaration of independence. This pamphlet held its popularity because it plainly presented arguments towards independence in “a formula anyone could understand” (Oliphant,