In the 18th century, growing tension between England and the American colonies led to a desperate need for a solution. America was ready to fight for reconciliation, or in other words, taxation with representation. Paine released his work Common Sense to convince America to change their cause from reconciliation to independence. In this pamphlet, Paine utilizes, word choice, capitalization, and a problem-solution structure to contribute to his overall purpose of convincing America to go to war against England. Paine’s use of word choice, capitalization, and a problem-solution structure helps explain and bring importance to his argument of leaving England permanently. Challenging the idea of the British monarchy and its ability to rule
…show more content…
He describes these problems thoroughly, and then goes on to give a solution. For instance, he analyzes the problem of having a king who makes laws for the entire country and all its colonies. Those laws are for the betterment of himself rather than the betterment of his people, his subjects, his servants. “You shall make no laws but what I please...there shall be no laws but such as I like.” The laws the king made helped him by either extending his wealth or his power. Paine then contrasts this with his solution, the king does not care for his subjects; therefore America should govern itself. “A government of our own is our natural right...it is infinitely wiser and safer, to form a constitution of our own…” He calls the American people to fight against the selfish British king and create a form of government that will provide for the people. He uses the words ‘natural right’ to show that the people have a power just as strong as, or even stronger, than the kings ‘birthright’ to rule the throne. This leaves a positive connotation behind the colonists’ power contrasted with the negative connotation of the king’s power throughout the pamphlet. By giving his readers’ solutions to the problems he exploits, he is giving them a purpose and an idea of how to change these problems. Paine continues this structure of problem- solution, including capitalization to maintain a sense of
He describes these problems thoroughly, and then goes on to give a solution. For instance, he analyzes the problem of having a king who makes laws for the entire country and all its colonies. Those laws are for the betterment of himself rather than the betterment of his people, his subjects, his servants. “You shall make no laws but what I please...there shall be no laws but such as I like.” The laws the king made helped him by either extending his wealth or his power. Paine then contrasts this with his solution, the king does not care for his subjects; therefore America should govern itself. “A government of our own is our natural right...it is infinitely wiser and safer, to form a constitution of our own…” He calls the American people to fight against the selfish British king and create a form of government that will provide for the people. He uses the words ‘natural right’ to show that the people have a power just as strong as, or even stronger, than the kings ‘birthright’ to rule the throne. This leaves a positive connotation behind the colonists’ power contrasted with the negative connotation of the king’s power throughout the pamphlet. By giving his readers’ solutions to the problems he exploits, he is giving them a purpose and an idea of how to change these problems. Paine continues this structure of problem- solution, including capitalization to maintain a sense of