An Analysis of Common Sense Essay - 1672 Words

As the year 1776 began in the American colonies, tension with King George III’s England was at perhaps an all-time high. Americans were frustrated with the actions of their rulers overseas. Taxes and trade restrictions had been placed on them, and British and mercenary soldiers occupied their towns and cities. There had even been fighting at Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill. As America grew, England’s hold on it tightened, and a few voices began speaking of independence. The loudest and most convincing of these belonged to Thomas Paine, born in England and living in Philadelphia. His pamphlet, Common Sense, expressed the argument for American independence in a way no one had before and had a great influence on the Declaration of†¦show more content†¦It claims all monarchs are despots, cut off from their people and craving for absolute power. â€Å"Male and female are the distinctions of nature,† Paine wrote, â€Å"good and bad the distinctions of heaven; but how a race of men came into the world so exalted above the rest . . . is worth enquiring into† (Paine 9). Government is a necessary evil, a â€Å"badge of lost innocence,† that tends to get in the way of civilized society. Modern civilizations should organize themselves into local, self-governing societies with only representational government, suggested Paine, not an all-powerful monarch. â€Å"Of more worth is one honest man to society, and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived† (Paine 17). Paine went on to speak in more conventional terms about the specific nature of the conflict. He had anticipated that readers would be startled by his conclusions, and defended against possible objections. Uncertainty in the British Empire, some caused by disturbances in America, was bad for commerce. England would continue to drag Americans into European wars that were not their affair, said Paine, and protect them only when beneficial to themselves. Americans would not require their protection; they already had the means to defend their land. Distance and poor communication across the Atlantic made the centers of government remote from the colonists. Common Sense stressed the need for and the power of unity among the AmericanShow MoreRelatedCommon Sense Economics : Analysis959 Words   |  4 PagesThe author in the book Common Sense Economics used several similar principles in parts three and four that were discussed in the book â€Å"How an Economy Grows and Why It Crashes.† In Part III of Common Sense Economics, the fourth element states, â€Å"Unless restricted by constitutional rules, special interest groups will use the democratic political process to fleece taxpayers and consumers.† The author went on to say that with the public’s expense, elected officials typically profit from plans that favorRead MoreAnalysis Of Common Sense By Thomas Paine826 Words   |  4 PagesComm on Sense by Thomas Paine Analysis Initial Reaction The first sentence of the introduction, â€Å"a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right,† (Paine, 1776) is instantly captivating to me by the Paine’s acknowledgement that by not standing up to wrong and injustices when you see or experience it is the same as giving the injustice your seal of approval for the wrongs being done. 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One can clearly see how words and ideas have an impact on people’s thoughts and writing by examining â€Å"The Declaration of Independence† and Thomas Paine’s â€Å"Common Sense.† Basically, the two documents echo principles stated in John Locke’s â€Å"Second Treatise of Government,† and share a style of expressing their feelings on national issues; the authors examine and give reasons for colonial problems with the government and offer a solutionRead MoreAnalysis Of Common Sense By Thomas Paine1699 Words   |  7 PagesIn his 1776 pamphlet, Common Sense, Thomas Paine wrote, â€Å"Not one third of the inhabitants, even of this province, are of English descent. Wherefore I reprobate the phrase of parent or mother country applied to England only, as being false, selfish, narrow and ungenerou s† (Paine, 23-24). After decades of civil and religious persecution in Europe, Puritans among others fled to New England in search of a land where they could live without fear. This influx of individuals that arrived in the coloniesRead MoreAnalysis Of Common Sense By Thomas Paine1026 Words   |  5 Pagesposition in society, with an amount of little to no violence. Since in paragraph three Paine mentions how during the times of when there was no monarchy, there was no war. He includes that the pride of kings â€Å"...throws mankind into confusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Common Sense by Thomas Paine). Which is true, because of the title and placement of being King does develop quite a large ego, that affects their judgement and, actions, spreading confusion in the country conflicting their logic. As for the origin of governmentRead MoreAnalysis Of Thomas Paines Common Sense909 Words   |  4 PagesAfter reading section three of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, there are some coun terpoints that can be presented against the idea of declaring independence from Britain and revolution. Many of the colonists are unhappy with how the British government was treating them and they had valid reasons to be unhappy, but the declaring independence from Britain would not be beneficial to the colonies and its people. In section three of Common Sense, Paine says â€Å"I challenge the warmest of advocate for reconciliationRead MorePrimary Source Analysis Common Sense Essays796 Words   |  4 Pages Primary Source Analysis Thomas Paine Common Sense Context: In result of The Seven Years’ War Britain controlled American trade and territory. In order to pay for the expenses of the war several taxation acts and military presence were implemented such as the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Currency Act, Quartering Act and the presence of British troops at the colonies. Consequently, Americans who thought these actions violated their political and constitutional liberties opposed these policies with