How Did Thomas Paine Affect The Declaration Of Independence

The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson and Common Sense by Thomas Paine are documents that have played significant roles in the subject of independence of America and those that without them the American history would be totally different. Which had the greater effect of the revolutionary America? Common Sense by Thomas Paine had a greater effect on revolutionary America compared to The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson. The main reason as to why Common Sense was had a greater effect is that the author provided the audience with reasons as to why they should fight for their independence. Some of the reasons provided included political, economical a well as social.The persuasion had a greater effect on the Americans and prepared them on what they should achieve compared to The Declaration for independence in which the author did not (Paine, 1776).
Are these documents still effective today? These documents are still very effective today. To begin with, the Declaration of Independence still reminds the American citizens that they still have the chance and the mandate to make new rules and laws that would govern them today as the world is very dynamic. According to this document, America is defined by specific ideas that make it equal to other countries ‘“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all
men are created equal.”
Common sense is also still very effective today as it is a representative work of a pioneer who once adopted a neutral ground in acting contrary to tyrannical governance. Modern-day activists can draw examples from Thomas Paine (Paine, 1776).
Comparison of documents
Similarities
Both documents focus on independence.
The Declaration of Independence is a document in which the author sought to provide an explanation as to why the thirteen colonies were so much pressed to get their independence from the Great Britain. The document, therefore, is an explanation to the different kinds of laws that the Americans citizens could make as they fight for their independence. On the other hand, Common Sense by Thomas Paine is a document that acted as an inspiration to the Americans who resided in the thirteen colonies to fight for their independence from the Great Britain (United States, Jefferson, & Fink,
2002).
Secondly, both Declaration of Independence and Common Sense can be described as forms of social contract. A social contract may be described as the model that provides an explanation to any question relating to legitimacy authority and whose origin can be traced to the age of enlightenment. With reference to these documents, governments do not seem to have the power to decide how they should govern the citizens. Instead, governments should have the consent of its citizens. The citizens have the mandate to replace any form of government that they feel does not serve them. Both documents are against the dependence on Great Britain government to which the citizens gave up their freedom in exchange for basic rights protection but which has at the same time been violated. The legitimacy of the government was a significant idea in Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence when he argued that in the state of nature men are equal and, therefore, should not submit to tyrannical governments like that of Great Britain. According to this document, the Americans have the right to freedom ‘“endowed… with certain unalienable rights” such as “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. Similarly, Common Sense by Thomas Paine brings out his document in the form of a social contract by arguing that at creation, all men are equal and that there should be no distinction set between the kings (the government) and the subjects. Thomas was alluding to Great Britain and, therefore, calling for the separation of United States from Great Britain so that the America can become an independent state.
Differences
There are also major differences that exist between The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson and Common Sense by Thomas Paine. One of the key differences is brought out in the presentation of ideas in their documents. With reference to Jefferson’s document, he at once begins the listing of the various grievances he intends to put across right away after the introduction. This presentation is an indication that the American citizens are much aware and updated on the happenings in their country and that it is the high time that they staged a revolt against the tyrannical Great Britain government. On the other hand, Thomas Paine adopts a different approach in which he indirectly takes the time to inform the citizens on what has been happening in their country. Through this, he prepares the readers to fight for their independence. The implication of Paine’s approach is that the Americans were not aware of what was happening and if they were, they were very hesitant to take action (Paine, 1776).
Secondly, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense is more persuasive in nature compared to Jefferson’s document. The persuasive nature of Paine’s document comes out in that he provides the various reasons such as economic reason that an independent Americans would enjoy without having to depend on Great Brittan. Through this, he is persuading the audience in order to understand the situation but leaves them to choose what to do after that. On the contrary, Jefferson’s The Declaration of Independence provides the reasons why the colonies should fight for their independence without first persuading them.