Reasons For The Declaration Of Independence By Thomas Paine

Common Sense is a pamphlet by Thomas Paine, who has claimed the title of being The Father of the American Revolution. This pamphlet was written in a way common people could understand and it was often passed around at taverns. This pamphlet outlined reasons why the colonies should separate from Britain. Some of the reasons stated were because the British monarchy at the time had too much power, there was room for expansion in America but it could only be done without being attached to Britain, and because Britain was in so much debt at the time that it would have been difficult to surpass it. A majority of British colonists agreed with Thomas Paine so much so that there was a Revolutionary War. Many events led up to the Revolutionary War but

After the French and Indian War the colonies had to provide new revenues to Britain in the form of taxes to pay for the war (Revolutionary Boston-Stamp). To help gain more money, Britain created numerous acts such as, The Sugar Act of 1764, The Currency Act of 1764, The Stamp Act of 1765, and The Tea Act of 1773. All of these acts were created after the French and Indian War, and in their own way were intended to help Great Britain gain more money. Thomas Paine declared in Common Sense “Britain is oppressed with debt...America is without debt.” (For the Record 111). This quote illustrates in a great way that America would be simply better off financially without Britain. Without being attached to Britain, there would not be any taxes that would be going straight to Britain and the colonies would have a better chance at getting loans from other countries because they did not have debt already. Even though the colonists were paying taxes to the British, they were not treated like citizens, and did not receive any of the positive benefits of paying those taxes which led to the Revolutionary

Trade has always been an important aspect to insure survival. At the time Britain was inherently forcing the colonies to attain certain things such as paper and glass from Britain, and no where else. Even though this might not have been helping the colonies, it was another way Britain could earn money. As declared in John Dickinson’s Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania it was not until the Stamp Act that the British Parliament thought “of imposing duties in America for the purpose of raising a revenue.” Before that time it seemed as if all Britain was doing was using their legal authority to regulate trade in the colonies that were a part of Great Britain, which makes sense (For the Record 103). But shortly after the French and Indian War ended, Britain imposed the Stamp Act. Another trade related reason that caused the American Revolution is mentioned in Common Sense: Britain was surrounded by other Kingdoms which would make it easy for other power to go to war with them. If this would have ever happened, trade in America would be ruined. It would be extremely difficult to survive if one could not import necessities from another. The trade related rules imposed on the colonies were one sided to only benefit the