Preview

Thomas Paine Rights Of Man Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
593 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Thomas Paine Rights Of Man Analysis
In Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man, America is viewed as a place of great diversity and prosperity. America seems to be a haven in 1791, filled with people from all cultures living their lives without a care in the world. It seems to be a description of what America was created for and what it was envisioned to be like. But would this description fit the United States 225 years later? The truth is no, Paine’s characterization of America in 1791 would not hold true today, as we have excessive taxes, certain treatment for social classes, and never ending riots. One of the lovely and picturesque details that Paine paints is that “taxes are few.” Today, taxes are some of the biggest issues we have. Everything you will ever buy has a tax on it. There …show more content…
We are a country deep in hate and turmoil due to anti-Islamic protests, Black Lives Matter, anti-police protests, and homophobia. We have mosques being burned to the ground in fear of ISIS. Innocent Muslims being emotionally and physically attacked for their religion. African Americans and Police officers are being shot because of prejudices and stereotypes held against one another. These shooting have also given rise to protests that often escalate dangerously, causing harm to the people and property around them. There are people majorly offended by marriage equality and they take their anger out on those who it benefits. A nightclub was lit up like a christmas tree because it was a known gay bar. There are even protests erupting over our new president-elect. In short, everything that happens today engender riots and tumolts. Thomas Paine does paint an ideal setting for the citizens of the United States, but sadly that is no longer the case. I suppose there should be some differences from America today and America in 1791. Since that time in history, we have grown in size and population. It is expected for a few things to be different. But overall, Paine’s characterization of America in 1791 is completely different from a description of America

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    He stated, “But where, says some, is the King of America? I’ll tell you. Friend, he reigns above and doth not make havoc of mankind like the Royal Brute of Britain” (Paine 20). Paine’s words exemplify the revolution that he…

    • 159 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Common Sense written by Thomas Paine is a book that helped unify America while emancipating from Britain during the late 1700s. In his book Paine expresses his ideas of religion, government, freedom and society. Very quickly Paine engages the audience with a strict definition separating society from government; these were two concepts often confused at this time. Paine describes an idea of societal definition consisting of a unified people bonded in their pursuit of happiness. Paine also looks at and defines government as a necessary evil “Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable…

    • 855 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thomas Paine (1937-1809) was 72 years of age when he passed, he was born in England and was an influential 18th-century author. He was an English writer not only of essays but pamphlets too, among them included, “Common Sense,” which was one of his most influential pieces, “Rights of Man,” a piece where he defended the French Revolution; and “The Age of Reason,” regarding his place of religion in society. Thomas Paine brought his ideas to a huge audience, confusing the public opinions and views of the people in Britain. His writings didn’t only influence the British, but also influenced the American Revolution and helped open way for the Declaration of Independence.…

    • 602 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    At the beginning of class, we learnt about “why we learn History?” and one of the reasons is to understand our society today. I believe freedom is a basic human right and every citizen should fight for it. Every government should respect it and not take it away. Thomas Paine’s argument is convincing because he wrote “The American Crisis” with confidence about his position. He sounded positive and courageous and willing to face whatever comes his way for freedom and liberty in America. Overall the document is very interesting and informative. It open my mind and allows me to see how American became a free…

    • 106 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    What Paine sees as the global significance of the American struggle for independence is human rights. Human rights here is also included the right to be free from monarchy that also means to be free from British empire. Paine insisted that, as “a membership in the British empire, was a burden to the colonies, not a benefit.” Paine believe that if we were free from British empire, “the colonies could for the first time trade freely with the entire world and insulate themselves from involvement in the endless imperial wars of Europe”(Foner 153).…

    • 287 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Olympe de Gouge argued that women should have equal rights and should have an active role in the revolution. She believed that women should have access to education, that women had the right to participate in the government, and that women should have equal rights as men did. The Declaration of the Rights of Man left out the rights and role of women, and it became a hot debate topic as many revolutionaries demanded that laws on women should be reconsidered. Mary Wollstonecraft wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Women after the education of women. She believed that women should have education, as it was a symbol of equality towards women and the movement of individuality.…

    • 450 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Paine claims that the only end for a government or any kind of political association is to serve the people. This service that the government gives the people is national security, and protection of liberty, property and against any oppression. According to Paine, these are the only roles that a government should take. I thought that this particular point by Paine was especially interesting given today's modern thought by some that we need a bigger government that has more control of things. When the founding fathers formed this country, they intentionally made the government as small as possible so as not to infringe on human…

    • 494 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thomas Paine described America as a land where every difficulty retires due to the Americans “simply” constructing their government on the principles of a society and the rights of man. Paine was partially correct. He was right when talking about the men in power at the time of construction of our government and those similar to. White men were in power at the birth of this nation are makeup of most of those in power today. On a daily basis, Americans have their rights violated while others take advantage of those not as fortunate as them, like the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Experiments.…

    • 778 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thomas Paine was a well known supporter of American Independence in England. America consists of the variety of religions, races, languages, and cultures. It can be concluded that it is essentially difficult for individuals to essentially assimilate and form a sense of unity. It has the ability to cause disruptions among each other as a result from the interactions of the differences. Paine presents his argument in, Rights of Man that a simple establishment of government will ultimately diminish the issues and furthermore create an equal justification. It is critical that the government overall creates unification between individuals and enforces appropriate laws; however, Paine’s characterizations does not hold accountability in portraying…

    • 126 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Each day society is becoming more and more violent after Donald Trump was then president elected now 45th president of the United States, people went crazy and felt fervor. However, right now, Trump is not the problem, it is the people turning on each other creating hate and negativity. Trump has debilitated people from what they are/was fearing then promising he can “Make America Great Again” even though it was never bad, to begin with. Recently, the Violence Protests Donald Trump on his Inauguration day, January 20, 2017, with over 200 people arrested. “Black-clad activists among hundreds of demonstrators protesting Donald Trump's swearing-in, clashed with police a few blocks from the White House, in an outburst of violence rare for an…

    • 122 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    histroy

    • 357 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Paine presented multiple arguments in his pamphlet, Common Sense. One of his arguments that stood out to me the most is that regarding the monarchy and hereditary succession. Paine describes how nobody chooses to live poorly and cannot choose the status of their descendants and the importance and idea of equality. He describes the difference between Kinds and subjects as being unnecessary and unethical. Everyone is equal at creation. People of the colonies could relate to this on a religious aspect as well, because the Bible supports his statements. Paine supported the beliefs of freedom of property to all men and freedom on religion. Paine also discussed America and the relationship with Great-Britain. Paine stated that America had become dependent on Great-Brittan and that success and happiness should not be reliant on another country. He wrote that Great-Britain had nobody’s interest in mind but their own. Paine also pointed out the unnecessary quarrels with other countries such as France and Spain, due to the fact that we were involved with Great-Britain and pictured them as the parent country. He introduced the idea of having each colony be independent and have representatives chosen by the people.…

    • 357 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The historical documents of the eighteenth century are examples of the literary movement of Neo-Classicism and its characteristics which are evidenced in this century’s writer's’ works. These characteristics are sometimes found in abundant quantities or limited amounts in each of this period’s documents: logic / reason, symmetry / balance, and lucidity / clarity. Each document of this historical period was influenced by the Neoclassical characteristics which were considered significant in the rhetorical and compositional expression of that age. So, too, did each of the writers’ documents present a unique study about the author’s intentions for his creating his work. In Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense, the author's idea of personal equality,…

    • 1716 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Written in 1776 by Anonymous, Paine tried to explain to the Americans why they should come together in unity and revolt against the tyrannical power of Great Britain. Paine uses an argumentative style of writing in his work. He tries to establish a point by providing sufficient evidence to support it. Paine goes further in supporting his argument by explaining both sides of the argument. In other words, he not only tries to appeal to those Americans that want independence, but also with those that want to reconcile with Great Britain. "I have heard it asserted by some, that as America has flourished under her former connection with Great Britain, the same connection is necessary towards her future happiness, and will always have the same effect. Nothing can be more fallacious than this kind of argument. We may as well assert that because a child has thrived upon milk, that it is never to have meat...."(Baym 694). Paine states that there are some Americans' that feel that America has flourished as a country, and in order to continue to flourish we (referring to the Americans) must not revolt but we have to continue to have Britain's control over us. However since we have flourished because of their control, it doesn't mean that we can't flourish on our own. One can see that Paine is attempting to address any counterarguments that may be posed against the point he is trying to establish. By addressing these counterarguments he can try to show those who want to reconcile with Great Britain that his point of view is right.…

    • 973 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When Thomas Paine wrote the Rights of Man in 1791 America was just beginning as a country. Around the world people viewed the United States as an inspiration. They had successfully overthrown a corrupt and controlling government and was thriving politically and economically. Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man expresses his great admiration of American politics and the social sphere. However, in the last 200 years America’s policies have changed tremendously.…

    • 651 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Part one: The author imagines himself an Englishman who has come to settle in America (in 1783). Through the eyes of this English settler, the author describes what he would see upon coming to America and how different it would be from Europe. Unlike in Europe, America has a far smaller gap between rich and poor and titles, based on class and honor, (such as prince, duke or lord) are non-existent. For the most part the people living in America are farmers and live in comfortable but modest houses. It is clear from the author’s words that he thinks America is great place to live.…

    • 316 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays