Summary Of Common Sense By Thomas Paine

Group 1, Question A Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” reflects the American nation’s desire for liberation not just from another country but liberation from oppressing thoughts. Such oppressing thoughts stems from the overwhelming relationship between Great Britain and the United States. Paine points out many topics that those at the time would be hesitant to admit and does so in a way to promote rationality and independence. This is exemplified when Paine starts off by stating that “[he] offer[s] nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense…” (1) which was an uncommon perception during his time. His bluntness towards the power that Great Britain continues to have over the United States characterizes Enlightenment thinking, as he points out that although
For example, Haynes describes that “[he] became visible as a force in Congregational circles from his pulpit in Rutland, Vermont” (87) while Abigail Adams explains the strife she has to deal with at home, explaining to John Adams that “[she] finds as much as [she] can do to manufacture cloathing for [her] family which would else be Naked” (3). The interesting aspects of both “Liberty Further Extended” and Abigail Adam’s letter is how they came to be recognized – which did not come easy. This contrasts the notion that all Caucasian men of this time period were recognized and respected without necessarily having to put in effort while women and African-American men had to endure the hardest and often dangerous work in order to be recognized – which often times was not positive recognition. This recognition is a commonality between the two as both Haynes and Abigail Adams evidently demonstrate and showcase all that they have done to serve their country or otherwise be useful to the Caucasian man but are ultimately written off as less important