search

Thomas Paine's Common Sense: Colonialist Viewpoint

Essay details

Please note! This essay has been submitted by a student.

Most people in America don’t think much of the government system or the way it works. Very few people question the way our system works, and one of those people is Thomas Paine. Thomas Paine is a respected author and pamphleteer, most well known for his pamphlet called Common Sense. It sold about 120,000 copies within the first few months alone and intrigued many people’s thoughts to think about this big picture on government and society. In Common Sense, Paine argues about the specifics in government using religion to discuss his opinions as it would speak to the common man. His arguments truly make the reader think an entirely different way about the way the government is set up. The pamphlet is an important part of American HIstory because it has an in-depth explanation of various events that occurred in our history, from an unusual point of view. Thomas’s point of view writing begs us to ask questions that we’ve never thought of before about the structure of America.

Essay due? We'll write it for you!

Any subject

Min. 3-hour delivery

Pay if satisfied

Get your price

Various historical events that occurred led Thomas to his dislikings of the government today. Thomas Paine’s Common Sense references some of the tyranny that happens in these different events previous from 1776. First off, Paine was born and raised in Thetford, United Kingdom where he met his woman whom he married and were soon expecting a child. Sadly, his wife and child both died during childbirth leaving him alone and desperate. He was laid off his job about twelve years later because the latest copy of his article only sold 4,000 copies. Shortly after being fired, Paine took advice from Benjamin Franklin who told him to move to the states in hopes of new opportunities. That’s when Paine came to America on November 30, 1774 taking his first job as an editor for the Pennsylvania Magazine. Here, he wrote many articles that were published as anonymous or under a fake name he created. His stories were greatly recognized and one of his biggest hit off the bat was titled “African Slavery in America”. This article showed some insight into what he thought of the revolution going on at the time. Paine also wrote that humans are humans who should have equal rights, which rallied up some readers in the time of the revolution, with the slavery going on. Afterward, the battle of Lexington and Concord took place and without a doubt, Paine had some critical feedback on this as well. He argued that America should be fully independent of Great Britain. With this thought in mind, he expands it onto the 50-page pamphlet known as Common Sense. It’s a mixture of insight and explanation. He explains the purpose of government and gives a detailed explanation for those who don’t understand how it works. He then gives his opinionated advice on how to deal with tyranny in America.

In Paine’s pamphlet, he wrote what was needed to be done to gain freedom and independence from Britain. It was written for the common man to understand the objective therefore, Paine wrote the pamphlet omitting Latin terms but instead using biblical references because people understood that more than they would political terms. The arguments Paine uses start as general arguments about government and society, then bounds off to specifics about colonial. One thing he says is that society is everything good that impacts people to do good, and the government has a purpose to protect us from ourselves or our evil. He then goes on to state that the government’s sole purpose is to protect life, liberty, and property. From here Paine proceeds onward to talk about, all in all, the thoughts of government and inherited progression. Man, Pain contends, was naturally introduced to a condition of balance, and the differentiation that has emerged among rulers and subjects is an unnatural one. From the outset, Paine says, the world was without lords, yet the antiquated Jews chose they needed a ruler. This incensed God, yet he enabled them to have one. Paine presents pages of scriptural proof specifying God's anger at the possibility of the Jews having a ruler. The end Paine ranges is that the act of government begins from wrongdoing, and is an organization that the Bible and God censure. Paine calls inherited progression an odious practice. He says that regardless of whether individuals were to have a lord, that doesn't legitimize that King's youngster going about as a future ruler. Moreover, inherited progression has carried with it endless disasters, for example, bumbling rulers, debasement, and common war. Having abstained from the starter hypothetical issues, Paine sets in to examine the subtleties of the American circumstance. In light of the contention that America has prospered under British standard, and in this manner should remain under the ruler, Paine says that such a contention neglects to understand that America has developed and never again needs Britain's assistance. Some state that Britain has ensured America, and along these lines merits faithfulness, yet Paine reacts that Britain has just looked out for America to verify its very own monetary prosperity. Paine includes that most as of late, rather than looking out for the settlements, the British have been assaulting them, and are in this manner undeserving of American unwaveringly. Paine says that the provinces have little to pick up from staying connected to Britain. Trade can be better led with the remainder of Europe, yet simply after America winds up autonomous. Paine additionally states that if the provinces stay appended to Britain, similar issues that have emerged in the past will emerge later on. Paine contends that it is important to look for freedom currently, as to do generally would just quickly conceal issues that will most likely reappear. Paine even proposes the type of government that the autonomous settlements ought to receive. His proposal is for a delegate vote based system that gives a generally equivalent load to every one of the provinces. Paine clarifies why the present time is a decent time to break free of Britain. Fundamentally, Paine centers around the present size of the provinces, and on their present abilities. He displays a stock of the British Navy and gives estimations uncovering how America could manufacture a naval force of tantamount size. Paine prescribes this as a method for guaranteeing America's security and flourishing in exchange. Paine additionally contends that America is adequately little to be joined at this point. If time somehow managed to pass, and the number of inhabitants in the settlements to develop, a similar sentiment of solidarity would not be available. Paine includes that if the Americans revolt now, they can utilize the immense fields of unfamiliar land toward the West to square away a portion of the obligation they will cause. Paine says that as a settlement of Britain, America needs decency on the worldwide scene. They are seen essentially as radicals, and can't frame generous collusions with different countries. To flourish in the long haul, the settlements should be autonomous. He also says that, by pronouncing autonomy, America will have the option to request the assistance of different nations in its battle for an opportunity. For these reasons, Paine says it is basic and pressing that the provinces pronounce freedom.

To many Americans in the 18th century, Common Sense provided insight on a huge debate topic. It conflicted with people’s thoughts on what to do about the problem Paine wrote about in his pamphlet, which was that America needed to gain full independence from Great Britain. Colonists specifically found themselves needing to call a full public discussion on this, which is what they did. The pamphlet brought a solution to the table for the people who weren’t amused by the oppressive government ruled by Great Britain. They passed it on to one another in the excitement that America would be independent once and for all. Although his writing didn’t exactly have the Declaration of Independence signed, some people believed that he had something to do with it. Preceding the production of this report, numerous pilgrims were unsure about proclaiming autonomy from Great Britain. While they weren't content with the activities of the British, these individuals didn't know that pronouncing freedom was the proper thing for the homesteaders to do, even though some battling had just happened between the settlers and the British, for example, the battling at Lexington and Concord. This handout persuaded a considerable lot of the unsure pioneers that proclaiming autonomy was to the greatest advantage of the homesteaders. Around half a year after the distribution of Common Sense, the Declaration of Independence was given in July of 1776.

To conclude, Paine’s work has brought many pondering thoughts and created solutions for the questioning colonist. Not many individuals question how our system works, and if not for Paine, Britain might have still been in control. His work not only fascinated numerous individuals but caused them to consider this huge picture of government and society. Throughout his pamphlet, Paine contends about the points of interest in government and uses religion to capture the attention of his readers. His contentions make the peruser think an altogether unique route about how the legislature is set up. The pamphlet is a significant piece of American HIstory since it has a top to bottom clarifications of different occasions that occurred in our previous history, from a unique perspective. Thomas' perspective implores us to pose inquiries that we've never considered before about government structure.  

Get quality help now

MasterLaban

Verified writer

Proficient in: History of The United States, Writers

4.9 (455 reviews)
“He was an absolute wonderful writer and had a great amount of patience with me as well as following all directions very accordingly. ”

+75 relevant experts are online

More Thomas Paine Related Essays

banner clock
Clock is ticking and inspiration doesn't come?
We`ll do boring work for you. No plagiarism guarantee. Deadline from 3 hours.

We use cookies to offer you the best experience. By continuing, we’ll assume you agree with our Cookies policy.