Comparison Of Common Sense And Thoreau's Declaration Of Independence

From the onset, the United States produced great thinkers who have encouraged resistance against illegitimate authority and inspired generations of American leaders to take action. American born philosophers including Jefferson, Thoreau, Melville, and Douglas, in addition to immigrant thinkers among others Thomas Pain, exposed tyranny, despotism, abuse of authority, and paved the way for the American people to fight for their natural rights. At times, the need for resistance came in the form of detachment from the despotic and tyrannical abuses of the mother land. Other times, minorities stood up and fought for their rights to equality, as exampled by the fight against the grotesque institution of slavery –– which subjugated the Negro by law, to women’s fight for the franchise. These thinkers inspired revolt against irrational authority with the theme of resistance, by ringing the bell of freedom against the oppressor. With writings such as Pain’s Common Sense, Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence, and Thoreau’s Civil …show more content…
With his vicious attack on the British crown, the great philosopher and immigrant, argues in favor of American Independence from England based on four assumptions about politics and society. These assumptions are as follows: hereditary monarchy is over, people are born citizens and not subjects, people are born with the same equal rights, and the role of government should be limited. Through his literature, Pain appeals to American’s religious beliefs by using biblical stories as a reference. He describes the Jewish people’s plea for a king, when they called on God and he unhappily complied. However, the king became corrupt and despotic and guided them into wars for his own interest. As such, since the British crown became abusive and despotic, Pain justifies the separation from the crown due to their own