The Significance Of "Common Sense" By Thomas Paine

It is universally acknowledged that words weigh much more than cannons, as it has the greatest ability in changing the destiny of nations, no matter the situation. Some men couldn’t be blinded to their suffering; they had to stand for themselves and their people and refused to let their voices be tamed. Their sole refuge to speak up was putting words on paper, so the whole nation can read all about it. In such a case, Thomas Paine was not an exception; he too stood up in the face of oppression and wrote the famous Pamphlet “Common sense” to defend his people’s affair with Independence.

Notably, Thomas Paine an England-born, philosopher, politician, and writer of essays and pamphlets. Published anonymously “Common Sense” in 1776, that was the stimulus that propelled the Americans to obtain liberty from British rule. Paine utilized Common Sense as a path to bring to light to the colonists just what Britain was doing to the colonies and what was halting them from achieving and realizing.

Thomas Paine felt that writing such a publication is a must because he was tired of the British rule on the colonies, and to get America to rebel against Britain and become a detached country. For he was motivated by his refusal of the British monarchy as it was depriving people of their rights and oppressing the public, also that the king was not very qualified to rule. He portrayed that the colonies are not well treated and often wronged by the ineffective system, as well as the colonist’s property is not secure due to the court’s power which he viewed as rotten, fickle, and malignant. This left the people of the colonies suffering and always encountering some provoking events which would leave them in chaos, adding to it that Britain treated the 13 colonies in very distinct ways, both across various regions and within the same colonies, having no strong form of government made life under the rule unstable and always spiraling down for the British empire itself was never a steady empire, and they were unhappy because of that.

While in the midst of anarchic, the idea of independence emerged as the only way for the colonies to be salvaged, a belief that America needs to line its destiny, a free one. He insisted on the fact that the colonies have the resources and all the right to rule themselves instead of being ruled by a country half away across the globe. And having a government of their own is a natural right. America isn’t by no mean safe under British rule, they share nothing in common and has no legitimate claim to their allegiance. They couldn’t bear the burden whenever Britain gets into a war, and America gets into it too as if north America was a platform for wars, in this point, he went back to 1763 (seven years war _ the French Indian war) to remind them with the sufferance they had at this period.

The main purpose of Common Sense was not so much particularly to incite support for revolution as it was to convince colonists that the point at which reconciliation was still an option is no more valid. His argument is structured not as revolution versus reconciliation, but instead as revolution versus submission. The basis for this argument is tightly linked to the fact that America and England are separate countries, existing on two separate continents. As long as the belt around America remained loosely buckled it would be at risk of massive submission.

He tackled the subsequent pointing of pro-revolutionary colonists as traitors to the crown by King George III and made it appears evident to representatives at the Continental Congress that the situation has arrived at a critical juncture, where there are two possible results: revolution and independence or a resignation to the complete submission to England.

Paine recognized this as well and set forth with the strength to convince the readership of the country to give up any remaining dreams and hopes they might have of still being able to negotiate and discuss reconciliation with the King that would not just put an end to the pressures already in place, but establish afresh created road toward more systemic autonomy. In other words, he knew what will happen if America reconciles with Britain. Paine argues that even if the colonists agree with Britain, the issues that have developed between the colonies and the king will undoubtedly repeat themselves. New taxes will be imposed and parliament will interfere with colonial life, for the structure of Britain's government, was corrupt and unjust, and will inevitably lead the British to continue mistreating the colonies.

There was a facile see-through of the outcomes: Within unity lies strength, if the colonists did not unite in large majorities to stand for revolution rather than reconciliation, the future will going to be in dire straits. It was a simple equation: form a new nation with a valid government, no longer bounded by the King of England.

Furthermore, to convey his message properly Paine used a straightforward writing style. He avoided flowery prose and dense metaphors, and wrote and reasoned in a style that common people understood. He structured Common Sense as if it was a speech, and relied on Biblical references to make his case to the people.

He referred to Noah in a situation similar to the present hath not happened since the days of Noah until now ’ where he assembled their case of eagerness to form their nation where Americans can live in a land empty of wickedness and corruption to that of the Prophet Noah. Also, he noted that no one on earth is a bigger offense to God than England’s King, as he pretends to be God himself, when he has done nothing to serve religion, by saying: “The king and his worthless adherents are got at their old game of dividing the Continent, and there are not wanting among us, Printers, who will be busy in spreading falsehoods’. Although Thomas Paine was not himself conventionally religious, masterfully knew how to use his audience's beliefs as a way to motivate them , and he for example argues that the British have done things that would make God disfavor them in : ‘Besides , the taking up arms , merely to enforce the repeal of a pecuniary law , seems as unwarrantable by the divine law ’. So, these religious imagery and ideas where to persuade the colonists to support the Revolution.

Ultimately, Paine's short and to the point pamphlet affected the colonists in ways only felt by a people persecuted by tyranny. His summon for independence impacted each one from the Founding Fathers to the common folk. It influenced people from all ranges of life to jump off the fence and become Patriots, to agree by all means to separation, and to gladly receive the coming fight for freedom. Paine was not himself alone bringing on the strive for independence; it was a community effort and attempts of massive proportions.

Common Sense was a thoughtful, reflective influential piece, brought his ideas to a large audience, swaying the else undecided public position to the view that independence from the British was necessary.