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Common Sense Summary Thomas Paine

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Common Sense Summary Thomas Paine
Common Sense Summary Paper

“Common Sense” by Thomas Paine was a very important document at the start of the American Revolution. Paine’s 48 page pamphlet was published on January 10th, 1776 and explained why the thirteen colonies should break off from England. In the first section, Paine explains that as society begins to flourish, a government is more necessary to prevent the “natural evil” he saw in man. The second section of this document points out that all men are equal and that the idea that kings and queens are more superior than everyone else is a false one. Paine then describes some problems that monarchies have caused in past times. He also argues against the constitutional monarchy, an idea promoted by John Locke. Paine says that the limits given in a “mixed state” are not enough.

In the third section of Common Sense, the author Paine compares Mother England and the Thirteen Colonies, saying that in order for the budding country to be successful, it would be important for them to break free from England while the population was still minimal. Paine suggests that the colonies write the
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Each specific district would have a certain number of delegates for the congress. Paine states that each of the colonies should have at least 30 delegates. There would be at least 400 delegates. This congress of delegates would meet yearly to chose a leader. Each individual colony would get put into a lottery; and vote for the president to be elected. All of the delegates from one colony would get put into the lottery. After each colony was selected once, it would be taken out of all the following lotteries until each of the colonies had been selected. Once every colony had been selected at least once, all of the colonies would be re-entered and the lottery would start over. Choosing the president or creating a new law would require at least 3/5 of the

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