Paine did not write Common Sense to provide reasoning and justification for the unfair taxation of the colonies. The work’s purpose was to introduce and provide an argument for the idea of completely separating from the British Empire. Also important is that, throughout the article, Paine bases these arguments in basic reasoning, or common sense, hence the name, probably so the common people could more easily understand the points he is trying to make. For example, there was a standard portion of the work that Paine spent on simply addressing claims against a revolution, such as, the argument that it was wrong to rebel against Britain because it was the “parent country.” To this claim Paine states, ever so passionately, “Then even more shame
