ipl-logo

Common Sense By Thomas Paine: Requesting Independence From England

671 Words3 Pages

Thomas Paine: “Common Sense” Thomas Paine has written “Common Sense” in favor of requesting independence from England. He speaks up for the public and for others who cannot raise their voices to express their feelings. However, with this article, Paine challenges the British government and the royal monarchy.
I think Thomas Paine is such a brave man because he has written “Common Sense” by addressing the British government with powerful words. Paine is not looking for a war but instead for peace from the British. In addition, I think Paine uses his words because that is the only and the best way to get under the British government’s skin in measure to get what he is looking for, which is independence from it.
Paine functions in the military which is good …show more content…

In addition, Paine also sends a message to let the colonists know that they can achieve great accomplishments if they come all together as one. Referring to Britain, Pain writes, “she did not protect us from our enemies on our accounts” (549). As previously stated, Paine is looking for peace and independence from the British government; I do not think he feels safe and protected under the British civilization. Being colonized by the government is never an advantage. Based on Paine’s words: “the phrase parent or mother country hath been Jesuitical adopted” (550). According to the article, I think Paine feels like he is being used by the power of the British government. As a reader, I think Paine has good critical optimism because he is always finding a way to defend his country which means a lot to him. This article represents the value of the country and the voice of the public: “Much hath been said of the united strength of Britain and the Colonies” (551).

Show More
Related
281 Words | 2 Pages

Paine persuades the colonists by his use of bias words throughout his argument. An example of this is shown on page 237 in the second paragraph when he is refuting the claim that Britain is the parent country and describing the relationship between Britain and the colonies. When he initially starts this paragraph, he uses the word “parent” to describe Britain, which invokes the thoughts of a motherly relationship. He then contrasts this by describing Britain as being lower than a “brute”. When he contrasts the ideas of a person who is warm, loving, and caring to a person who is brutal, insensitive, and crude, he is causing feelings of distrust towards Britain and their sincerity.

Read More
1307 Words | 6 Pages

Tories, just like the Patriots, were also outspoken in their beliefs and existed among the colonists. Here, Paine urges the colonists to define what a Tory truly is, which sets up for Paine to later define them as cowards. By asking this question, he pushes the mindset that Tories are selfish, spiritless people, and his viewpoint incites anger and detestment in other colonists against these “traitors”. In reference the British King and his armies, Paine questions, “... But if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property, and kills or threatens to kill me, or those that are in it, and to ‘bind me in all cases whatsoever,’ to his absolute will, am I to suffer it?”

Read More
769 Words | 4 Pages

He describes why they fight, and how much effort they put into the fight, which in purpose is to try to persuade the minds of the colonists. In his text, he states, “Twice we marched back to meet the enemy, and remained out til dark. The sign of fear was not seen in our camp” (Pain 5). This proves that the description of their bravery and their dedication was placed to convince the colonists to join the fight and earn their freedom. The way Paine describes how they retreated only to go back and fight is a clear sign of their dedication to the good fight and how the colonists were to join it and not be the ones who sat there in history and did nothing.

Read More
958 Words | 4 Pages

He tells a story of a man he saw in the man’s doorway, holding his young child. The man said “If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.” This use of rhetorical strategy through anecdotes shows not only that Paine has personally been connected with the peace he wants to fight for, but that Paine has also seen many others who want this same tranquility worth fighting for. This anecdote is also a great way to show the fatherly duty that comes with fighting for your country. It 's not just the country you are fighting for, but everyone in it as

Read More
1899 Words | 8 Pages

Paine writes, “Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to tax) but to “bind us in all cases whatsoever.” During this time, Britain had the world’s best Navy, an expert army, as well as an entire empire to back them which certainly made their demands more likely to be met. It is clear that with this excerpt Paine was trying to invoke a passionate response from the American people to get them to rise up as one united unit against British tyranny. The author writes, “[...] he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like

Read More
1069 Words | 5 Pages

(110) Furthermore, he moves ahead to support the revolution in the colonies and says that Americans have been steady to the point that they no longer need support from Britain. Additionally, he uses some kind of phrases that move people’s emotions. According to Paine, “How possible that a small island, means Britain, thousand miles away takes control over a

Read More
560 Words | 3 Pages

He truly believes that Great Britain will have an extremely difficult time controlling the colonies for any long period of time. Specifically, Paine states that “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered”. He uses plenty of figurative language, such as similes and metaphors, to make his speech as thought provoking as possible. Although, Paine obviously tries to make the speech as understandable as possible so any common man or woman can interpret

Read More
460 Words | 2 Pages

Paine states this in many ways he believes that the Americans would be just as strong or even better off if they didn't have the influence of the british. Saying, “America would have flourished as much, and probably much more, had no European power had any thing to do with her”. Paine realizes that Americans are coming together over their hatred for Britain making the country stronger. He also talks about how the British to refuse to negotiate anymore, “a new method of thinking hath arisen. All plans, proposals, &c. prior to the nineteenth of April, I. E. to the commencement of hostilities, are like the almanacks of the last year;...

Read More
594 Words | 3 Pages

Main reasons for Paine’s willingness to travel had been due to the convincing done by Ben Franklin, who at the time may have been the most important person to the colonies and British relations. Ben Franklin told Paine there would be many opportunities for him to become a successful journalist if he came over to the colonies, and that indeed had been the case for Paine. Paine’s most effective persuasive techniques was probably his use in logos, by showing the colonists what harm would be done by the British if they continued to lay back and let them run their land. Doing so greatly feared the colonists which in turn left to the revolutionary war. It had been very important to the colonial people fighting against the British to have a valiant cause, so that they would continue fighting and not give up.

Read More
887 Words | 4 Pages

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

Read More
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.

Read More
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.”

Read More
523 Words | 3 Pages

In the pamphlet, Common Sense, Thomas Paine expresses his ideas and thoughts of American independence from Britain and encourages the colonists to think on their own and to strive to keep their rights. Paine conveys his ideas about the British political institutions, how the constitution is not structured well, and the disadvantages/problems of a monarchy. He also wrote about religion and its importance, and how it was being overshadowed by British rule. It is not unusual for a government to have flaws, but according to Thomas Paine, Britain's government was very faulty and complex during and before the 1700s. Britain has a constitutional monarchy and its legislative power was very inapt.

Read More
691 Words | 3 Pages

He gives the appeal that we must not be afraid and in the end we will have great triumph. Paine also uses imagery relate the devil with the current king of Britain. “The king of Britain can look up to heaven for help against us: a common murderer, a highwayman, or a housebreaker, has as good a pretense as he…” He is painting a picture in the soldiers’ minds of how cruel the king has been to the colonies and should give them even more spirit to go and

Read More
910 Words | 4 Pages

The “trouble” that Paine mentions is the oppressive British government which he hopes to drive out. Paine advocates the fight for freedom so that future generations can

Read More

More about Common Sense By Thomas Paine: Requesting Independence From England

Related Topics

Open Document