Thomas Paine Declaration Of Independence Propaganda Analysis

To convey an opinion with the motive of impacting the actions of others the use of propaganda had played a big role throughout history. Thomas Paine’s Common Sense and Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence have been very beneficial documents of propaganda which even lead to great changes in society. In comparing the two documents there are some similarities and differences for example the tone, approach and view of the nation. The way these documents picture the nation and its people contrast with each other quite generally. Through propaganda they are both able to express and make their sentiments known. These two documents portray different illustrations of the nation by individually analyzing the situation or problem, explaining …show more content…
Jefferson backs up most of his arguments by using creditable and direct concepts of others which makes it an influential political document. He did a variation of John Locke’s ideas as stated in his declaration “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” (Jefferson). The Declaration of Independence stands as a symbol of liberty however all Jefferson did was recap philosophy that had been around. With in the declaration lays an argument of Jefferson justifying the intention to end political union with Great Britain. His motive for this document was success as many signed and “pledge to each other (their) Lives, (their) Fortunes, and (their) sacred Honor”, if it were to fail it would mean signing a death warrant (Jefferson). Jefferson promoted arguments for an armed revolution that would not be managed lightly with insight of the consequences. The advice Thomas Jefferson provides in the declaration is that a wise government should allow men to freely regulate their own business and development. He also pushed that what is earned from an individual should not be taken away. The view of the nation that Thomas Jefferson portrayed in the Declaration of Independence is based on the improvement of “valuable matters of human dignity, privacy and self government” (Tsesis). Through this source of propaganda …show more content…
Paine tried to educate Americans about England ruling over the Colonies was “a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong (and giving) it a superficial appearance of being right” (Paine). They both have the connotation of the king of England being a tyrant that abused the power. Although the topics are sort of similar the approaches are different being that Common Sense is written like an opinionated essay and the Declaration of Independence is more of a call to battle. Paine informs his readers in the fact that there is more going on they think and unlike Paine, Jefferson declares that it is the moment to take action of the problems of the nation. Jefferson’s declaration begins by proclaiming, “when in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another” (Jefferson). The style of Jefferson's argument is rough and hard hitting for the people of the nation to take a stand by listing all the wrongdoings of the king and a quest to rebuild. The part that the declaration plays according to Katie Eyer in her article “The Declaration of Independence as Bellwether” is that it “serves as one of the principal points of popular engagement with constitutional meaning” (Eyer). Although The Declaration of Independence asserts the nations position and demands attention