Impact of Common Sense on American Revolution

Common Sense Reaction Paper

In Common Sense, Thomas Paine argued for the independence of America from the English Crown. In doing so, he contributed at least philosophically to the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, which came in 1776 and which stated in no uncertain terms that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights…”[footnoteRef:2] By characterizing Britain as a brutish parent devouring her children—the American colonies—Paine made the case for separation, i.e., independence.[footnoteRef:3] Thanks to Paine and other influential thinkers, Congress passed the Declaration of Independence.[footnoteRef:4] [2: Declaration of Independence, 1776.] [3: Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776, 2.] [4: Independence, web file]

In Common Sense, Thomas Paine argues that the British monarchy is tyrannical and that the colonies should declare independence. He starts by making a case against monarchy in general, asserting that it leads to corruption and oppression. He then goes on to explain how the British monarchy has mistreated the colonists, violating their natural rights and depriving them of their liberty. Ultimately, Paine concludes that the only solution is for the colonies to sever ties with Britain and govern themselves.

The idea of independence is important to Paine because he believes that it is the only way to ensure that people are able to live freely and under just government. He also believes that independence will allow the colonists to create a new society based on reason and equal rights, rather than one based on tradition and hierarchy. In addition, Paine hopes that independence will serve as an example to other countries who are also struggling under tyrannical rule. Overall, his goal in writing Common Sense is to persuade the colonists to declare independence from Britain.

Whether Common Sense is a reliable source of information is a debatable. On the one hand, it presents a historical point of view that Paine held and that many others held. On the other hand, it is not necessarily the case that everything Paine stated in the document was completely objective, true, or based on strong evidence. It has to be remembered that Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was a political pamphlet published in 1776 that advocated for American independence from Great Britain. It was meant to incite and push people to embrace the idea of independence. At the time of its publication, the colonies were engaged in the American Revolutionary War. Paine’s argument was that the colonists had no real allegiance to the British crown and that they would be better off governing themselves. But while Common Sense was widely read and influenced many people’s thinking about the war, it is not considered a reliable source of information today. This is because it can be seen by some historians and scholars as a bit of a highly biased and emotional piece that does not truly present a balanced view of the situation. Not everyone agrees on that matter of course because it is ultimately a matter of perspective. However, it could still be argued that Paine was not an eyewitness to many of the events he wrote about, and so his accounts cannot be verified. Yet, despite its shortcomings, Common Sense remains an important document from the Revolutionary era and can serve as a reliable source in terms of showing what the Revolutionists and Rebels thought at that time.

With all that said, it must be noted that Thomas Paine’s Common Sense is nonetheless considered one of the most important political pamphlets in American history. Published in 1776, at the height of the American Revolution, Common Sense was a scathing indictment of British rule in America. Paine argued that the colonies should break away from Britain and establish an independent republic. His clear and passionate writing helped to rally support for the revolutionary cause and influence the course of the war. Today, Common Sense is still remembered as an influential work that helped to shape the course of the American Revolution.

Common Sense was widely read and helped to shape public opinion in favor of independence. It was influential in the writing of other important works as well. In the months after its publication, several other important works were published that also called for independence. These include the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution. All of these documents were influenced by the ideas put forth in Common Sense, making it one of the most important works in American history.