The renowned pamphlet Common Sense by Thomas Paine is a landmark in the world of persuasive literature. It called upon the American people of all social classes to work and fight towards independence from the British Empire. Paine methodically, yet passionately dismantled the legitimacy of the British monarchy and its actions in the Colonies. With impressive eloquence, he destroyed any basis the British Crown had in Biblical scripture. He used historical examples and simple, yet robust logic to expose the failings of the aristocratic system. Furthermore, he forced the readers into action with the arguments that America will inevitably be ruined if kept under Britain’s control and that the window of opportunity for a successful revolution
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From there, he argued that British control was actively harmful to the colonies and that its illegitimacies were further compounded by willful apathy towards the welfare of the colonists. His final arguments revolved around the urgency of a revolution to break away from Britain and the viability of independence. The attacks on the British government’s legitimacy were both religious and secular; with the arguments that God never approved or encouraged Kings and that the royal tradition of hereditary selection was an illogical system that was impractical and dangerous. He cites the early Jewish civilizations that had no Kings, and instead had a council of elders to lead their society with success. In fact, he goes as far as to argue that a King by definition is an insult to the ultimate authority of God. While the Bible is an ancient text that could be interpreted to support or oppose Paine’s assertions; he uses specific passages to support his points. One such example is, “I will call unto the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain (which then was a punishment, being in the time of wheat harvest) that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great which ye have done in …show more content…
Paine expressed the American colonies’ role as a great economic power that was being hindered by the influence of Britain. The hindering in question is due to, as Paine argues; the prioritization of the interests of the Empire and the British island over the welfare of the colonies. Commerce was America’s strength, yet it was regulated in ways that favored the British economy over the American economy. He makes the case that while America was defended by Britain, other countries that were simply “pawns” of Britain were also protected. Paine describes the relationship between America and Britain as similar to that between Britain and Turkey, “But she has protected us, say some. That she has engrossed us is true, and defended the continent at our expence as well as her own is admitted, and she would have defended Turkey from the same motive, viz. the sake of trade and dominion.” (62) The safety of America was a secondary concern to British interests, putting all Americans in danger. In fact, he raised the possibility that America could be dragged into future wars against other nations for British interests. Another flaw of British control was the distance between America and Britain, making governing America difficult and allowing mistakes made in Parliament to continue for
From there, he argued that British control was actively harmful to the colonies and that its illegitimacies were further compounded by willful apathy towards the welfare of the colonists. His final arguments revolved around the urgency of a revolution to break away from Britain and the viability of independence. The attacks on the British government’s legitimacy were both religious and secular; with the arguments that God never approved or encouraged Kings and that the royal tradition of hereditary selection was an illogical system that was impractical and dangerous. He cites the early Jewish civilizations that had no Kings, and instead had a council of elders to lead their society with success. In fact, he goes as far as to argue that a King by definition is an insult to the ultimate authority of God. While the Bible is an ancient text that could be interpreted to support or oppose Paine’s assertions; he uses specific passages to support his points. One such example is, “I will call unto the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain (which then was a punishment, being in the time of wheat harvest) that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great which ye have done in …show more content…
Paine expressed the American colonies’ role as a great economic power that was being hindered by the influence of Britain. The hindering in question is due to, as Paine argues; the prioritization of the interests of the Empire and the British island over the welfare of the colonies. Commerce was America’s strength, yet it was regulated in ways that favored the British economy over the American economy. He makes the case that while America was defended by Britain, other countries that were simply “pawns” of Britain were also protected. Paine describes the relationship between America and Britain as similar to that between Britain and Turkey, “But she has protected us, say some. That she has engrossed us is true, and defended the continent at our expence as well as her own is admitted, and she would have defended Turkey from the same motive, viz. the sake of trade and dominion.” (62) The safety of America was a secondary concern to British interests, putting all Americans in danger. In fact, he raised the possibility that America could be dragged into future wars against other nations for British interests. Another flaw of British control was the distance between America and Britain, making governing America difficult and allowing mistakes made in Parliament to continue for