Common Sense, by Thomas Paine. Specifically it

¶ … Common Sense, by Thomas Paine. Specifically it will answer the following question: Were British Imperial policies responsible for the coming of the American Revolution?

COMMON SENSE

Economic forces were probably one of the most important factors in pushing the Americans toward revolution and independence. However, they were certainly not the only factors that led Americans to revolt. There were a variety of factors, as Paine's writing clearly shows. We were on the path to revolution from the moment our ancestors left England to avoid religious persecution, as Paine remembers.

This new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of Europe. Hither have they fled, not from the tender embraces of the mother, but from the cruelty of the monster; and it is so far true of England, that the same tyranny which drove the first emigrants from home, pursues their descendants still Paine 22).

Economic factors, such as taxes and tariffs were simply part of a much larger and more complex picture. As Paine noted, the governed must be happy with their governance for a ruling country to succeed. "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 7). As England wielded more control over the colony, the colonists became more and more dissatisfied, and so, they began to stop supporting the English government - crying out for their own independence. Paine is pointing out with his writing that the government of England was a tyranny, and the people of America should not tolerate this tyranny, it was absurd.

But as the same constitution which gives the commons a power to check the king by withholding the supplies, gives afterwards the king a power to check the commons, by empowering him to reject their other bills; it again supposes that the king is wiser than those whom it has already supposed to be wiser than him. A mere absurdity! (Paine 9).

That America is simply a subject of the King of England is intolerable to Paine, and it was intolerable to many other Americans, too. The society in America had grown away from England, and become quite successful and prosperous on their own. They had developed their own educational and political systems, which worked quite well. They had a balance of professionals and tradesmen to make the country literate and flourishing. Many of the rules and regulations from England were no longer applicable to the colony, and the Americans began to be more and more uncomfortable tied to the mother country's apron strings. When England began to impose more controls in the 1760s, the colonists began to chafe under renewed English regulation. Yet, Paine did not advocate total revolution with his writing, he advocated "national manners" and of course, "common sense."

Yet as the domestic tranquility of a nation, depends greatly on the chastity of what may properly be called NATIONAL MANNERS, it is often better, to pass some things over in silent disdain, than to make use of such new methods of dislike, as might introduce the least innovation, on that guardian of our peace and safety (Paine 47).

These "national manners" were not effective in the end; there were only so many British interventions the country could "pass over in silent disdain." One of Paine's most compelling reasons for breaking with Britain is America's involvement in her world affairs if we continued our alliance with her. This would not only involve us in her wars, no matter where they were, but cause countries who might be our allies to turn against us because of our affiliation with Great Britain. This is an interesting contention, which holds merit, and it is clear this could become a compelling argument toward independence and revolution. He also mentions our distance from England as another reason for taking government into our own hands.

To be always running three or four thousand miles with a tale or a petition, waiting four or five months for an answer, which when obtained requires five or six more to explain it in, will in a few years be looked upon as folly and childishness -- . There was a time when it was proper, and there is a proper time for it to cease (Paine 27).