Plain Truth By James Chalmers Analysis

In 1776, two politicians wrote two different views about separating from England. Some may see separating from England as a terrible idea, while others see it as a better opportunity. Separating from England was a big decision and not taken lightly. Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense, wanted to separate from England. In his pamphlet he explains why America should become its own nation and how successful America would be if separated. While there were many who agreed with Paine, many also disagreed. James Chalmers, author of Plain Truth, argued Common Sense. He stated that America should stay united with England because it will fail and eventually crumble. The two differences caused conflict among the colonies, but which man had a better …show more content…
Chalmers points out all of Paine's fantasies about America. Chalmers states, “In the English Provinces, exclusive of negroe and other slaves, we have one hundred and sixty thousand, or one hundred and seventy thousand men capable of bearing arms.”(Chalmers). Chalmers is explaining the amount of men that are able to be in America's “army” if they were to be a separate country. He continues, “If we deduct the people called Quakers, Anabaptists, and other religionists averse to arms; a considerable part of the emigrants, and those having a grateful predilection… we shall certainly reduce the first number to sixty or seventy thousand men”(Chalmers). Furthermore, he is stating that taking out all of the people who cannot and will not fight make their numbers drop drastically. As the colonist read this pamphlet, they start to get angry. They are fed up with England and everything parliament has done to their country. Chalmers explained, “... by aiding those provinces to independence? If independent, aggrandized by infinite numbers from every part of Europe, this continent…”(Chalmers). He exclaiming, America is made up of people from all over Europe. English people make up and rule these