Compare And Contrast Thomas Paine And Patrick Henry

Kara Pree

Mrs. Desens

American Literature, 6th hour

22 October 2015

Paine vs Henry

During the Revolutionary War, people were not that willing to get into a war. They needed great writers, such as Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry, to help them get inspired in the war. Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry both delivered writings that inspired people, but were very different. Although both of Henry and Paine used different tactics during their writings, both their writings were influential. One tactic for influencing people in writing is to use guilt tactics. Both Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine used these, but Thomas Paine probably used more. In his writing, Paine writes, “The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from

Paine points out the facts as to why the colonists should fight, and points out, “... but if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property… am I to suffer it?” (Paine 126). Here he talks about if a regular thief were to break into his house, he would try and make the thief get punished for his crimes. If the king were to do these same crimes, why should he not be punished as well? Henry is more frantic in his writing, trying to grab the audience’s attention with many reasons that would spark anger and want them to fight. Henry states in his writing, “The war is inevitable-and let it come! I repeat sir, let it come!” (Henry 110). Patrick Henry makes it seem to the reader that the only solution is to go straight to

Thomas Paine uses clever examples of the king’s wrongs, and Patrick Henry uses many examples to make the colonists feel their anger towards their situation in America. Patrick Henry tells the colonists that they need to fight, no matter what. On the other hand, Paine uses words that makes people feel like they aren’t the only ones who are going to fight. Paine shows this by saying, “... not on this state, or that state, but on every state…” (Paine 126). Both of the speeches they give our very effective. Patrick Henry’s speech inspires the colonists, proving why the king is wrong and they must fight. Henry even states, “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!” (Henry 110). This gives the colonists a feeling of rage and will spark them to join the war and fight. Paine is more logical, giving reasons as to why they should fight in a calm manner. He uses logic, such as “It matters not where you live, or what rank of life you hold, the evil or the blessing will reach you all” (Paine