Common Sense By Thomas Paine Analysis

In the book “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine, he explains about how the American colonies were brutally affected by the rule of British government. He argues about the American independence from the British. He starts by differentiating the government and the society. According to Thomas Paine, the main role of the government is to protect “the life, liberty and pursuits of happiness” of the people. If the government fails to do so, the people have the right to overthrow the government. He is completely unsatisfied by the rule of British government and he says that they are trying to oppress the American colonies.
According to Thomas Paine, “society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil.”
Government is necessary in a society. In order to run a stable economy, a government is important. But sometimes the government oppress the economy by their rules and regulations. People won’t obtain their rights and freedom that they deserve. Then we see ourselves in a state of imprisonment. According to Paine, society should not have a government. Society should work by their own with no barriers, by enjoying all the freedom and justice. Government should only be in action when society goes out of control. The sole purpose of the government is to stabilize the economy and protect the people from evil without taking away any of their rights.
Thomas Paine believes in the authoritativeness of American Independence.
He believe that man is born to a “sate of equality.” Everyone should have equal rights and freedom. Nobody is in a higher authority than one another. But under the British government, people are born to state of inequality. Society is divided into two; the king and the subjects. He says that “palaces of kings are built on the ruins of the bowers of paradise.” In front of British government, American colonies are their subjects. We have to bow down in front of them which makes us more inferior. Paine says that there are no king in the world. He used reference from the bible stating how Jews wanted a king and how they are considered sinful by the God. According to the Bible, there should only be one ruler; the God. Paine says that man is not supposed to have any other person like the king, who is ruling over them or making decision for them. He cited biblical evidence to explain the fact that the idea of having a king is sinful. He also disagrees to the act of hereditary monarchy. He states that man is born to a state of equality. So no family can inaugurate power forever. Hereditary succession will lead to civil war within the society and the ruler won’t know the interest of the fellow citizen. This will lead to discomfort and distress of the people. Sovereignty of the king and hereditary succession will only led to a bad authority which don’t give any rights to the
people.
He argues the importance of American independence referring to a statement, “a baby has flourished on milk, and it should never eat meat.” British had been using America for so long for their trade. British took the raw materials from the American colonies and sell their finished products in America in high prices. British was preserving America for their commercial and economic goods. And also he states that it is impossible for a small island like Britain to rule over a big continent like America which makes it harder for Britain to govern these colonies.
Thomas Paine’s pamphlet not only give reasons for American independence but also gives the encouragement for doing that. He motives the people by saying that “from Britain we can expect nothing but ruin. If she is admitted to the government of America again, this continent will not be worth living in.” He describes the reality to the people so that independence can happen soon.
Paine announce that since America have many young bloods who are also dreaming about the American independence, it is the time now. Presently people have the same awareness of independence. If the independence happens later, then population will again increase which will lead to disunity between the people. Currently Americans are battling against tax laws. Paine suggest that we should focus on the whole American independence rather than focusing on specific laws. And the huge population will make it easier for building an army like Great Britain. If the result is the American independence then the war debts can be easily be settled. Due to high natural resource in the continent, it is much easier to make an army and protect the American coast.
In the book “The Common Sense” by Thomas Paine, he explains the different reasons why American colonies should seek for independence from Britain. This pamphlet made many people to be aware about the war that’s happening and the reasons behind it. Common sense had played an important role in the American independence. He urges that until the day when America gets the independence from the Britain, the whole American continent will feel like “the continent will feel itself like a man who continues putting off some unpleasant business from day to day, yet knows it must be done, hates to set about it, wishes it over, and is continually haunted with the thoughts of its necessity."