Preview

Thomas Paine's Common Sense

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
120 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Thomas Paine's Common Sense
"Common sense" was one of the most important pieces of literature in early America because it was extremely influential to many people throughout al of the American colonies. The colonist came to America to escape religious boundaries, so they could worship God freely. Thomas Paine uses this to his advantage by using scriptural quotes, pathos, to convinces his audience that it is common sense for the colonists to break completely with Great Britain. He says that a monarchy is terrible, and to have a king is not only an unsuccessful way to rule a nation, but it is also a sin. Paine undermines the king in his writing by using rhetorical devices to help destroy America's loyalty to the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Common Sense pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in January 1776. Common Sense was written for the colonist in an effort for a prompt declaration of independence. Paine agues in his writings the cruelties involved in their history and its policy of the British government and constitution. Paine provided convincing details of why the colonies should isolate themselves from Britain, to spark doubt in minds of the colonists so this land could be lead independent from the British rule and allow a new set of laws governed by elected officials.…

    • 435 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was written for the loyalists who were one the edge of joining the American rebels and vice-versa.…

    • 424 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Common sense is greatly credited with encouraging the colonists to finally establish themselves independently from Britain as Thomas Paine attacked the principles of hereditary rule and monarchial government. He believed that society is constructive in that people join together to accomplish common goals and the government’s role is to protect the citizens from their own vices, thus being a necessary evil.…

    • 446 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    One of Thomas Paine’s most influential writings was his pamphlet Common Sense, which led many Americans to join the cause of declaring independence from Britain, leading to the creation of the American Government. He also published a work labeled African Slavery in America, a book which urged many slave-owning Americans to set their slaves free, after this book ws published and read some Americans let their slaves free or lessened the conditions they were under. This led to the idea of abolishing slavery being brought up in the government and eventually…

    • 124 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In January 1776, Thomas Paine releases his pamphlet Common Sense which states that it just “makes sense” to break away from England since the colonies got nothing out of the relationship.…

    • 454 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Common Sense focused on mostly the colonist of America. The purpose of the book was to encourage the people to seek independence from Great Britain. Colonists in the 13 Colonies were under England’s power and the decisions of the King. Thomas Paine pointed out the negative things that the people of all classes couldn’t see to persuade them to take action. "Britain did not protect us from our enemies on our account, but from her enemies on her own account," Paine said. These wars bring few benefits to the colonists. Paine builds a case for independence, by suggesting that, "it is the pride of kings which throw mankind into confusion."…

    • 574 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Common Sense was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776. It was advocating independence from Great Britain to the people of the thirteen colonies. “It captured the imagination of the colonists as had no previous pamphlet” (Paine, page 9). The pamphlet was written clearly and persuasively in the fact of getting the 13 colonies to rebel against King George III and Britain because colonists thought that they should not be ruled by a king across the sea and have all these taxes and rules placed on them. They wanted their own independence. Their own freedom. Paine marshaled moral and political arguments to encourage the common people of the 13 colonies to fight for their own government and their own freedom. At first, people did not think it was a smart idea to go against Britain and betray their mother country. As more and more laws and taxes were placed on the people’s wills and goods, colonists started to become more and more angry and this is when Paine jumped right into the forefront with a pamphlet called “Common…

    • 1318 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Common Sense written by Thomas Paine is a book that helped unify America while emancipating from Britain during the late 1700s. In his book Paine expresses his ideas of religion, government, freedom and society. Very quickly Paine engages the audience with a strict definition separating society from government; these were two concepts often confused at this time. Paine describes an idea of societal definition consisting of a unified people bonded in their pursuit of happiness. Paine also looks at and defines government as a necessary evil “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…

    • 855 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Another way the social elite and continental congress gained support from the lower class against England was through propaganda. Common Sense, written by Thomas Paine, made the first argument for independence. Thomas Paine wrote in a way so every person could understand and appealed to a vast range of people angered by England. He represented unban artisans who were in favor of a strong central government. It was through Thomas Paine that many colonists sided with independence from England.…

    • 918 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He uses many techniques while writing, one being the overall patriotic and simple tone. Staying away from Latin phrases or philosophical arguments, Paine wrote "Common Sense" in simple terms, referring to the Bible and making the overall tone similar to that of a sermon. For example, he writes, “In the following pages I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments and common sense” (Paine 335). He wanted to make sure that all Americans could understand the idea of independence, and that independence from England could be achieved. Paine also uses a number of aphorisms to introduce his argument. By doing so in “The American Crisis”, he captures the readers, allowing them to understand these small, witty statements on a personal level. For example, Paine writes, “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph” (Paine 345). By using aphorisms, he was able to hint the audience of what is to come throughout his…

    • 716 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Please complete the following chart. You must have at least 8 examples from the text.…

    • 534 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Paine begins the pamphlet “Common Sense” with differentiating between government and society. He argues that society is a “blessing”; on the other hand, government is nothing but a “necessary evil.” Society is everything positive that people join together to accomplish. Government, on the other hand, is only there to protect us from our innate evil. Government has its origins in the evil of man and is therefore considered a necessary evil at its best. If all people acted morally, then government will not be necessary. But since we are all sinful humans, government’s role is essential to protect our life, property and provide security.…

    • 1026 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Man knows no Master save creating HEAVEN, /Or those whom Choice and common Good ordain” (Paine 1). Preceding the first lines of his introduction, Thomas Paine utilizes this quote from James Thompson to set the mood and express the understated meaning of his ground-breaking pamphlet, Common Sense. Published in 1776 during a time of heated tension between Colonial America and Great Britain, Common Sense became an influential force from which the ideologies of the American Revolution manifested. Addressing forthright the issues of the English monarchy and its control on the rights of American colonists, Paine managed to persuade the debating minds of 18th century pioneers to strive for independence. Upon further…

    • 1041 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    These two characteristics appeal more to the physical writing of the documents and appeal less to the meaning of the documents. Often times writers will make use of allusions and metaphors to bring light to an idea that may seem complex or somewhat confusing. Biblical allusions were often used because many people of the Enlightenment era were familiar with characters and stories from the Bible. Thomas Paine frequently used allusions to the Bible, and in Common Sense he alluded to Jesus Christ by writing, “Ye that oppose independence now, ye know not what ye do.” People in the colonies knew how Paine’s allusion showed similarity to a popular Bible story (Fredriksen 187). Paine used a common theme for his metaphors throughout Common Sense. He made a connection between the colonies and a child. Although the colonies were young, they would transform like a child transforms into an adolescent and become independent. Paine used these literary devices to help the common man understand his ideas so that more people can support his plans. Looking beyond the elements of Neoclassicism, Thomas Paine’s document Common Sense provided an interesting look at the Revolutionary spirit of the colonists and how he attempted to motivate them to take action against the…

    • 1716 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    histroy

    • 357 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Paine presented multiple arguments in his pamphlet, Common Sense. One of his arguments that stood out to me the most is that regarding the monarchy and hereditary succession. Paine describes how nobody chooses to live poorly and cannot choose the status of their descendants and the importance and idea of equality. He describes the difference between Kinds and subjects as being unnecessary and unethical. Everyone is equal at creation. People of the colonies could relate to this on a religious aspect as well, because the Bible supports his statements. Paine supported the beliefs of freedom of property to all men and freedom on religion. Paine also discussed America and the relationship with Great-Britain. Paine stated that America had become dependent on Great-Brittan and that success and happiness should not be reliant on another country. He wrote that Great-Britain had nobody’s interest in mind but their own. Paine also pointed out the unnecessary quarrels with other countries such as France and Spain, due to the fact that we were involved with Great-Britain and pictured them as the parent country. He introduced the idea of having each colony be independent and have representatives chosen by the people.…

    • 357 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays