Thomas Paine's Common Sense

Thomas Paine, who was a political writer, was a well known Revolutionary figure. He wrote many pamphlets and letters, including Common Sense, The Rights of Man, and The Age of Reason. Common Sense was a pamphlet written during the before stage of the American Revolution against Britain. During this time, there was controversy whether to fight the British off and become their own nation, or whether to just stay part of the British empire. This pamphlet strongly represented Thomas Paine's view of fighting off their oppressors, the British. In this pamphlet, Paine offered his views and gave examples to back his ideas up.

One of the ideas in his pamphlet is that government should not be based around a king, but that it should be based by and around the people. It is not the king that makes the people happy; it is the people themselves who make each other happy through their own government. "And as this frequent interchange will establish a common interest with every part of the community, they will mutually and naturally support each other, and on this (not on the unmeaning name of king) depends the strength of government, and the happiness of the governed" (Paine). This was one of the basic ideas that was a foundation for the democratic government that is now The United States of America. Parts of Thomas Paine's pamphlet, Common Sense, have ideas in them that are part of the Declaration of Independence. "MANKIND being originally equals in the order of creation" (Paine) is an idea stated in the Declaration of Independence. This just shows that the Declaration of Independence was not something thought off the top of the head by only one person; it was something that represented the thoughts at the time by multiple people, which I find very interesting.

The other thing that I find interesting in Thomas Paine's Common Sense is the truth behind his statements of the King of England. His ideas of the king and the king's duty and life are true, rather than just exaggerated statements of an angry radical. "But it is not so much the absurdity as the evil of hereditary succession which concerns mankind. Did it ensure a race of good and wise men it would have the seal of divine authority, but as it opens a door to the foolish, the wicked; and the improper, it hath in it the nature of oppression" (Paine). Paine says that hereditary succession would be a good thing, if it ensured a good ruler, but it does not always do so, so it is a bad thing. Paine also says in his pamphlet that a major problem with hereditary succession is that it is possible that a successor is not as wise or great as his father or mother in ruling. Many times this is true, that a great king leaves a younger, foolish, and unprepared prince in his stead, who does not follow the ways of his father and puts a nation in danger. The truth behind Paine's comments is what makes the pamphlet believable and logical. Plus, Paine's tone of voice through out his writing makes the pamphlet, Common Sense, come alive and become not just another boring complaint but a strong, passionate petition against the British Empire. His word phrases, examples, historical facts, and analogies help his work come alive with a strong purpose.

Works Cited

Paine, Thomas. "Common Sense." Common Sense (1971). Archiving Early America. Archiving Early America, 2010. Web. 17 Oct. 2010. .