Summary Of Thomas Paine American Crisis

In his inspiring pamphlet series American Crisis, Thomas Paine, a founding father and political activist, aspires to encourage and rally the support of the American colonists. Following the winter of 1776, the Revolution and Philadelphia – the capital of the 13 colonies – were on the verge of collapse. The lack of support and belief in the stability of the Revolutionary movement created a sense of dissatisfaction and distrust within the colonies. The title, American Crisis, alludes to the looming concern of total British control, indefinitely. Paine reaches out to the colonists in a way that portrays him as similar to them, using common English without verbosity, unlike previous statements made by bureaucrats with no commoner relations. Trying

Before citing his anecdote, he condemns every Tory as cowards, saying that “servile, slavish, self-interested fear is the foundation of Toryism. [Tories] can never be brave.” Following these slanderous remarks, Paine supports his claims with a narrative about his encounter with a Tory in a tavern. The Tory walked into the tavern with a young son in his arms and sat near Paine. He then began to speak his mind freely about the future of the colonies, finishing with an expression, exclaiming, “Well! Give me peace in my day.” Paine gives context, remarking that no man in the colonies did not believe in a separation at some point in time. He extends his point that Tories are cowards however, saying, “...a generous parent should have said, ‘If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, [so] that my child may have peace.’” Paine furthers this explanation, saying that this ideology is “sufficient enough to awaken every man to duty.” By adding this anecdote, the feelings of the audience are inflamed, outraged at the fact that Tories believe this about their children. Paine pits the audience against the British in this way, inviting them to consider his opinion; the British and Tories are