Common Sense Essay Example
Alannah Y.
History 131
March 18, 2013
Common Sense Essay
Many Americans today have a meager common memory of the American Revolution and Thomas Paine’s contribution to the success of American Independence. Most Americans believe that almost all colonists in the 18th century were committed to seeking freedom from British Rule, but that is far from truth. Many inhabitants were ill informed, and even fearful, of the benefits that independence would provide for the continental nation. Thomas Paine was passionate about independence and through his morals and principles he created Common Sense to reshape the philosophy of the colonists and to define a new American identity. Although many patriots had found Common Sense disturbing and democratic, it was more of a substantial political pamphlet, because the historical events that had influenced Paine to develop the propaganda revealed the idea of equality and biblical authority, the truth of reconciliation, and Americas military potential. Thomas Paine wanted to “offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense”.
The Battle of Lexington and Concord was one of many events that encouraged Paine to write Common Sense, because the positive declaration that the battle had displayed. An excerpt from Out of Many, by John Mack Faragher, on the Battle of Lexington and Concord elucidates that the battle marked the beginning of the American Revolution. The patriots sacrificed their lives to make clear to the British that they will commit themselves to fight for their rights. The Battle of Concord was the first time that the British had ever retreated and this in turn gave the colonists hope and courage to defend their society from further British control. Thomas Paine concluded that the battle had opened the opportunity for colonists to fight for rights, but independence was not yet acknowledged. Paine thought if they had the audacity to stand against the British then it should be aimed at pursuing
History 131
March 18, 2013
Common Sense Essay
Many Americans today have a meager common memory of the American Revolution and Thomas Paine’s contribution to the success of American Independence. Most Americans believe that almost all colonists in the 18th century were committed to seeking freedom from British Rule, but that is far from truth. Many inhabitants were ill informed, and even fearful, of the benefits that independence would provide for the continental nation. Thomas Paine was passionate about independence and through his morals and principles he created Common Sense to reshape the philosophy of the colonists and to define a new American identity. Although many patriots had found Common Sense disturbing and democratic, it was more of a substantial political pamphlet, because the historical events that had influenced Paine to develop the propaganda revealed the idea of equality and biblical authority, the truth of reconciliation, and Americas military potential. Thomas Paine wanted to “offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense”.
The Battle of Lexington and Concord was one of many events that encouraged Paine to write Common Sense, because the positive declaration that the battle had displayed. An excerpt from Out of Many, by John Mack Faragher, on the Battle of Lexington and Concord elucidates that the battle marked the beginning of the American Revolution. The patriots sacrificed their lives to make clear to the British that they will commit themselves to fight for their rights. The Battle of Concord was the first time that the British had ever retreated and this in turn gave the colonists hope and courage to defend their society from further British control. Thomas Paine concluded that the battle had opened the opportunity for colonists to fight for rights, but independence was not yet acknowledged. Paine thought if they had the audacity to stand against the British then it should be aimed at pursuing