Thomas Paine’s Common Sense is a pamphlet published in January of 1776 that argued for American independence. By the time Common Sense was released the revolutionary war was already underway, because of this it played a pivotal role in pushing Americans to go for complete independence. Being a layman Paine’s audience consisted of the common man, his works served as a conduit to spread the idea of revolution around the colonies. Common Sense went over important and current topics at the time like government, independence, and the relationship between the colonies and England.
Paine saw America as the perfect candidate for Independence, since the country had no debt and lots of resources. Paine believed America could afford to raise a Navy that …show more content…
Paine argued that “Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil” (Thomas Paine), because it only forms out of need to counter human vices. His primary example was the British monarchy, and constitution. Paine pointed out the flaws in the way the English government was set up from the broken checks and balances system to the unjust succession method. As Paine saw it the English constitution was “farcical” (Thomas Paine), because in the end the commoners held no real power “the same constitution which gives the Commons a power to check the King by withholding the supplies, gives afterwards the King a power to check the Commons” (Thomas Paine), rendering them useless. This gave too much power to the King, and the commoners weren’t given fair representation even though they were the majority, laws were often in favor of the rich.
The pamphlet points out the flaws in hereditary succession as well, Paine refers to biblical texts and stories of how Kings were originally elected. His main argument against hereditary succession was because “all men [were] originally equals, no one by birth could have a right to set up his own family in perpetual preference to all others” (Thomas Paine). Paine believes that this type of succession is the source of England’s problems, and the recent civil wars that took place. Paine believes that these kings are unqualified, and are bad leaders for the
Paine saw America as the perfect candidate for Independence, since the country had no debt and lots of resources. Paine believed America could afford to raise a Navy that …show more content…
Paine argued that “Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil” (Thomas Paine), because it only forms out of need to counter human vices. His primary example was the British monarchy, and constitution. Paine pointed out the flaws in the way the English government was set up from the broken checks and balances system to the unjust succession method. As Paine saw it the English constitution was “farcical” (Thomas Paine), because in the end the commoners held no real power “the same constitution which gives the Commons a power to check the King by withholding the supplies, gives afterwards the King a power to check the Commons” (Thomas Paine), rendering them useless. This gave too much power to the King, and the commoners weren’t given fair representation even though they were the majority, laws were often in favor of the rich.
The pamphlet points out the flaws in hereditary succession as well, Paine refers to biblical texts and stories of how Kings were originally elected. His main argument against hereditary succession was because “all men [were] originally equals, no one by birth could have a right to set up his own family in perpetual preference to all others” (Thomas Paine). Paine believes that this type of succession is the source of England’s problems, and the recent civil wars that took place. Paine believes that these kings are unqualified, and are bad leaders for the