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Thomas Paine's Rights Of Man Anywhere In The World

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Not a Utopia Throughout its existence America has been called a country of Equality, Liberty, Rights for All, Democracy and of course Opportunity. In our infancy people of all origins flocked to America in hopes of obtaining these ideals. Even today many still hope to relocate in order to have their chance at a slice of the American dream. But is this image of America projected largely by our own citizens but also many others around the globe at all accurate or just blind patriotism and admiration? Thomas Paine believed America to be a utopia of sorts; a place of “cordial unison” where the “poor are not oppressed,” and there are no “riots and tumults”. Unfortunately, you would be pressed to find the image of perfection that he implies in his book Rights of Man anywhere in the world, and certainly not in modern America. One specific quote from Paine’s’ passage I don’t believe holds true today would be “there, the poor are not oppressed, the rich are …show more content…

I’ve already mentioned the Occupy Wall Street movement that lead to many upset working class citizens camping out in protest but there’s much more where that came from. The Black Lives Matter movement is something that just about every American has an opinion on. Whether you agree with the protesters or think they’re being ridiculous; you can’t argue that they haven’t caused an uproar. Just this summer there were plenty of protests and controversy over whether or not the confederate flag should be removed from government buildings. For many the flag is a reminder of slavery but others argue it’s just a way to show southern pride. The controversy grew to the point that a flag in front of a government building was taken down by a protester. Polarizing issues like these are constantly arising in our country leading to riots and

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Paine sees the government sort of bad, and doesn't see our government as divinely ordained or otherwise extremely valuable. Paine thinks that, governments can only be measured by effectiveness, and their ability to improve society without being cruel. Thomas Paine doesn't believe that anyone has a right to govern other people, which means he thinks that the king should no longer rule the colonies. According to Paine's view on government makes the revolutionary movement much more appetizing by rejecting the presumption that the king has some lawful authority over the colonies. He also says that the only question that really matters, is whether the colonists' living conditions would be more better, if they governed upon themselves, rather

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961 Words | 4 Pages

Thomas Paine and The Promise of America By Harvey J. Kaye It is the position of the creator that Paine was basically the main surly understood radical democrat in America, trade those perspectives to both England and France in the 1790s, and has propelled those trying to counter the powers of mistreatment from that point forward. Despite the fact that Paine was a latecomer to the progressive cause in the states, having arrived just in November, 1774, there is little question that his handout “Judgment Kills” 1776, was a break with an example of alert that many followed as to partition with England. His abrasion of the English government including the King.

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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

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70 Words | 1 Pages

Do you think Thomas Paine was the one who thought out the common sense. Well he actually didn 't others like John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Ben franklin also came up with some ideas. The common sense persuaded many to fight for independence. More than 120,000 copies were made even thought it was hard to print because of the treason going on.. Its was a bestseller.

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304 Words | 2 Pages

Furthermore, he claims that “it is impossible to establish any thing that combines principle with opinions and practice, which the progress of circumstances … will not in some measure derange, or render obsolete (Paine, 594),” and that it is the duty of every man to discuss and point out the defect of such laws (Paine, 545). Paine argues that it is important that government be open to improvement, and that “it is best to provide the means of regulating them as they occur (Paine, 594).” Without improvement the circumstances of each generation are not being accommodated which can dramatically weaken the ability for a government to successfully execute its main function. He believed that “no one man is capable, without the aid of society, of

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1004 Words | 5 Pages

Right after the revolutionary war broke out, Thomas Paine published Common Sense to support independence. On the opposition, the loyalist, James Chalmers, published Plain Truth to argue the benefit of remaining as British colonies. Thomas Paine first used the example of Mr. Pelham saying “They may last my time” to illustrate the point that people should pursuit profit in a longer term. In his opinion, the relationship with England, though made the colonies thrive, will not work in the future. It is just like as the baby growing up, it needs to eat meat, instead of still drinking milk.

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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

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179 Words | 1 Pages

Paine argues “what possible obligation, then, can exist between [those who have died and those not yet born] - what rule or principle can be laid down that of two nonentities, the one out of existence and the other not in, and who never can meet in this world, the one should control the other to the end of time?” Paine is adamantly against the notion that the dead, and those not yet born, should play any role in politics as they do not exist, and do not need to be accommodated. He further supports this claim on page 438 when he states that: The vanity and presumption of governing beyond the grave, is the most ridiculous and insolent of all tyrannies. Man has no property in man; neither has any generation a property in the generations which

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1632 Words | 7 Pages

He has already shown his distaste of having a monarch who has all the powers of God and that it’s a sin against the true God for having someone this powerful. The religious arguments appealed to many people in this time of history because the majority of the population are religious and have a bible in their home even if they cannot read it themselves. He brings up that religion and politics need to be separated so we don’t have a tyrant who thinks of himself as God. Anyone with this much power will be seduced by it and begin to think that they are untouchable and maybe even a God themselves. Paine is clearly upset about this mix between religion and politics and brings in very compelling arguments against this

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654 Words | 3 Pages

This essay will be discussing and analyzing the document: Common Sense by Thomas Paine. Thomas Paine was an American founding father and very influential in the the enlightenment movement that started in 1714. Thomas Paine wrote common sense so people would begin thinking and discussing the way the British had been treating the colonies in the recent years. Paine believed that King George and the British parliament were tyrannical and that the colonies should do something about it. Common Sense appealed to many of the colonists because of the plain language Thomas Paine used.

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754 Words | 4 Pages

Who is Thomas Paine? He was an intellectual, a revolutionary, and a supporter of American independence, who was born in England. He believed that there is a country where only peace and harmony existed. The country he was talking about was America. Paine saw America as a utopia where people from different ethnic backgrounds are treated equally.

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513 Words | 3 Pages

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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864 Words | 4 Pages

Today’s America simply does not reflect Paine’s assessment of “unison” and a “government [that is] just.” Now that’s not to say that there has not been tremendous

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670 Words | 3 Pages

Thomas Paine states in his book Rights of Man, that he characterizes America as a diverse, equally and governmentally just nation. Paine made these observations during the revolutionary period of America, and the characteristics that America is a diverse nation and that it has a government who acts justly hold true today. Paine however would be disappointed with how the poor are oppressed and the rich are privileged (unequally just). America was built on the diversity of many different peoples ranging from Chinese to Spanish to English and other Old World countries as the discovery of the New World shocked the world in 1492. Throughout history, especially during Paine’s period of inhabitants, America has been seen as the “Melting Pot,” and continues to exhibit this to this day.

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649 Words | 3 Pages

Paine, Thomas, and Sidney Hook. Common Sense: The Rights of Man, and Other Essential Writings of Thomas Paine. New York: Penguin, 1984. Print. Annotated Bibliography Collins, Paul.

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