Common Sense -- Thomas Paine

Common Sense -- Thomas Paine

Common Sense was a pamphlet first published anonymously in January 1776, but written by Thomas Paine. Immediately, it was a huge success and actually has the honor of having the largest circulation (and sales) of any historical book about America (Paine intro). In brief, it was a basic, but complete, argument for the American cause to split with Great Britain and set up a new government. It was cleverly constructed to resemble a sermon, and made several Biblical references to buttress the arguments -- making it even more popular with the people. It is divided into four basic sections: Origin and design of government, of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession; Thoughts on Present Day American Affairs; and finally, of the present ability of America.

In Common Sense, Paine postulates the manner in which a government should be realized, and in fact, there are some similarities between the Magna Carta, the actual Declaration of Independence, and the state of Colonial America. The purposes of the two documents, however, were quite different. The Declaration was a legal document, designed to form a new government and provide a template for future leadership and a just law. Common Sense, however, held a different viewpoint; it was designed to persuade a population that a new form and make up of government was not only possible, but quite desirable. The same, moreover, is true for individual rights. Both Common Sense and the U.S. Constitution set the stage by arguing for a set of standards that help govern the electorate. Common Sense argues for a new social experiment, the Constitution embodies that social experiment. In fact, Common Sense made legal, ethical, and moral arguments that would set the stage for the new Republic. In fact, it argued that, "the present time. . . which never happens to a nation but once, [is a] time of forming itself into a government. Most nations have let slip the opportunity, and have been compelled to receive laws from their conquerors (Paine).

Democracy, the republic, voting, the Supreme Court, debate, etc. are no longer foreign concepts -- the great American "experiment" of 1776 still exists, so contemporary readers do not find issues of individual liberty and law to be either controversial or strange. Common Sense was a seminal event in the way the entire framework of the new government, and the Constitution were formed. "In short, Independence is the only BOND that can tie and keep us together" (Paine).