Declaration Of Independence And Common Sense: A Comparative Analysis

The two documents that stirred up controversy during 1776 were The Declaration of Independence and Common Sense. These documents started to put the pressure against the government and it eventually led to the thirteen colonies gaining independence from Britain and the creation of a democratic society. In order for these documents to have the effect that they had on society it was crucial that the message be properly delivered. As much as these documents were connected and seem to help elevate the other, there were multiple similarities and different motives behind each document. An example of a contradicting statement was Thomas Jefferson who opposed slavery and advocated against it did not insist on abolishing it which seemed to contradict the document that he was writing. Even though both of these documents help shape the foundation of America there are many differences and similarities between The Declaration of Independence and Thomas Paine’s Common Sense.
On January 29, 1737, Thomas Paine was born in Thetford, England. His father, a Quaker, had great expectations and a plethora of visions
The first example would be that both of these documents are essentially a call to action in order to create independence and a democratic society. In addition to the Declaration of Independence and excerpts from Paine’s writings, the readings include the Declarations of the Stamp Act Congress and of the First Continental Congress, setting out the grievances of the American colonists. ("Module 3: Thomas Paine’s Common Sense and Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence") These documents both assume a form of social contract in which the government has the power to govern accordingly but also their sole purpose is to serve the people and can be removed if the people feel as if they are being misrepresented. The similarities of both of these documents worked together in order to achieve freedom from