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How Did Thomas Paine Contribute To The Revolutionary War

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Throughout history, there were various motivational authors who tried to persuade their reader to fight. During the Revolutionary era, American authors such as Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, and Phillis Wheatley state their justifications on why the colonists should fight. At the time of the Revolutionary period, American authors significantly influenced the colonists to fight for their independence from Britain by invoking their belief in God, love for family and freedom. After evaluating the works of Revolutionary authors, the belief in God is used to persuade the colonists to engage in war. First of all, the purpose of the Revolutionary war, a conflict between the Americans and the Great Britains, was for America to gain their independence …show more content…

Although Thomas Paine used God as one of his component, he also states the love for family as an influencer in his Crisis. Specifically, he states when the Tories, colonist who remained loyal to Great Britain, was standing with a beautiful child, after freely stating his opinion, he finished his sentence by expressing ‘Well! give me peace in my day’ (Paine 122) instead of expressing ‘If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace’ (Paine 122). Altogether, the father expresses his selfish wish of having peace during his lifetime instead of putting his child’s day before his. The first quote illustrate a father who is only worried about his trouble and life, while the second quote demonstrate a father asking for conflict during his life, so that his child can have peace. In addition, Paine states “is sufficient to awaken every man to duty” (122). The two statements of Paine's explains how the future of your children is worth fighting for and should give the colonist power to resolve the conflict. The idea of family is displayed by putting family before yourself by making the future generation to be peaceful unlike the present day. Clearly, family is a major factor as one of the inspirations for the

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958 Words | 4 Pages

Thomas Paine, a local pamphleteer in the pre-Revolutionary War era, wrote a convincing pamphlet to any colonists who were not already supporting the war for independence from Great Britain. In his argument, Paine uses rhetorical strategy, an emotional aspect, and divine revelation towards the citizens to create a very moving, passionate, and convincing call to arms. The first line, “These are the times that tried men 's souls,” is one of relatability and preparedness for the oncoming difficult times. Paine starts his essay off with a refutation of his argument, stating that although he wants this fight, he knows it will be tough. Paine then challenges the men’s bravery and patriotism to their country by stating the line “The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country.”

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Thomas Paine's most effective rhetorical strategy has to be his incessant allusions to different Biblical elements in order to arouse the idea of independence. One of the best examples of this comes as early as the first paragraph, where he discusses the absurdity of Britain's claim that they have the right to bind all of their citizens in every matter or case. However, Paine retorts with a response of his own, saying, "for so unlimited a power can belong only to God. . . ." (1). Here Paine, knowing that most of his readers are devout, Protestant churchgoers, briefly introduces the notion that Britain is overstepping its authority in such a way that it's almost as if they are trying to play God.

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Thomas Paine was one of the best known political philosopher and pamphleteer back during the 18th century. “Common Sense” was the first published pamphlet that proclaimed the independence of America and one of his most famous piece of work. How did Thomas Paine influence the declaration of independence by writing “Common Sense”? “Common Sense” convinced a great amount of moderates to become patriots, additionally, some loyalist were persuaded by his writing. Also, he was able to express his feelings and wrote in a way that people commonly spoke.

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Now that we have outlined the first two components of Paine’s character, his characteristics and motivations, we must analyze the actions he takes to act on those underlying

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Thomas Paine’s The Crisis does an excellent job of exemplifying the usage of the colonist’s feelings prominently in the content. One of Paine’s purposes in writing such a pamphlet is to convince the colonial Americans that they must not be cowardly by supporting British rule. Throughout his pamphlet, this ideal is displayed in an extremely pronounced manner, with a considerable example in the first paragraph: “The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will… shrink from the service of this country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of every man and woman.” (Paine 331).

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The author begins by invalidating any rally for peace maintained by the loyalty of hereditary succession, saying “The whole history of England disowns the fact” (Paine 21), followed by evidence of the many civil wars fought by the English. By evaluating these facts, the reader is able to clearly see how hereditary succession does the opposite of its purpose: it establishes quarrels and thwarts peace. Paine also considers the belief that the British government is credited with American prosperity, and because of this, Great Britain will always be of necessity to America. Though Paine refutes this immediately comparing the belief to these absurd notions: “…because a child has thrived upon milk, that it is never to have meat, or that the first twenty years of our lives is to become a precedent for the nest twenty” (Paine 25). Paine even disproves the necessity of reconciliation between the colonies and Great Britain with two major points.

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“It is wholly owing to the Constitution of the people, and not to the constitution of the government that the crown is not as oppressive in England as in Turkey.” We should give power to someone who is fair and not self-centered. Paine stated “from the errors of other nations, let us learn wisdom” to advise us to avoid repeating the past in the future from learning about bad past experiences. Paine argued for American’s separation from England by comparing the Kings that Great Britain has had to what a government should be

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Thomas paine’s Common Sense was one of the most influential documents to the American Revolution. This essay also tries to argue that without Paine’s Common Sense the

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He starts by analyzing the past, saying that if any mistakes were made, they “have none to blame but ourselves” (IN TEXT). However, he counters this with the idea that they cannot change the past, but embrace its effects and move on. Next, he appeals to the logic of his Puritan beliefs. Paine says that he believes that “God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction” (IN TEXT). This gives the reader a sturdy base to place their hope, which he later increases by calling the king out for his murderous and unethical actions, and claims that the king has no grounds to seek support or solace from

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Thomas Paine wrote 2 important pieces that changed the course of the war. The first was a pamphlet to encourage people to join the revolution and fight for independence. This pamphlet titled Common sense sold over ½ a million copies in 2 years(Phillips 60). Almost all the money that came from the sales of the pamphlet went directly to congress to support the cost of the war. Another paper written by Paine was the Crisis Papers which was written to boost the morale of Washington 's troops during the retreat of the Jersies(History.com).

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209 Words | 1 Pages

He puts the thought that we are not in control of our family and our country. Thomas Paine hits us right at home, that we have for now. “He” refers to the king as he. “He” will take your family “he” will take you home “he” will bring your kids fear Paine uses his emotional side to put fear in us for our

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691 Words | 3 Pages

In his document, The Crisis, Number 1, Thomas Paine argues that the American colonists should go and fight for the freedom that they want. Thomas Paine supports this cause by explaining to the colonists that they should have that same mind set no matter what it is. Paine’s purpose is to persuade with emotion in order to get the colonists to feel the need to go and fight for the freedom of the developing country against the British. Thomas Paine uses a formal tone to engage with the emotions of the colonists using rhetorical devices. Paine in his writing likes to use a lot of charged words throughout his writing.

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Joseph Gordon Hardin United States History to 1876 October 10, 2015 Religion in American Government After the Revolution The point of the Revolutionary War was to bring about a change to the way America handled itself; exercising its budding rights as a country to make its own ways and laws. Religion in the Revolutionary War was used in such a way to comfort the colonists, make them feel as if war was okay since it was for such an important yet basic right. Priest and church officials alike played a new role, one of encouragement and power to urge the soldiers and the townspeople that the war was approved by God, that it was a necessary evil. Most of the Christians agreed with Jonathan Mayhew, a Boston pastor, that it was their duty to refuse

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425 Words | 2 Pages

Speech of the Great The Revolutionary War a time of conflict and persuasion, trying to change the outcome Partick Henry writes the “Speech to The Virginia Convention”. Right before the Revolutionary War in the year 1775 Patrick Henry wrote a speech to the president to try and persuade to go to war but to do it in the right way. Henry uses ethos to hit the president’s emotion by talking about how in the past British hasn’t always had their side and they could easily play them, he also uses ethos by using analogies on what the outcome could be. It’s important for Patrick Henry to persuade the colonist to go to war because he wants them to realize that British isn’t always going to be on our side.

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It was extremely important for Paine to persuade the colonist to continue the war for American independence. He used pathos by using a parent’s love for their children against them to convince the army to continue on with the war. By way of example, when Paine is talking about a tori and patriotic father “finished with this unfatherly expression ‘Well! Give me peace in my day…’ and a generous parent should have said ‘If there must be trouble let it be in my day; that my child may have peace’ and this single reflection, well applied, is sufficient enough to awaken every man to duty” (Paine 109).

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