Synthesis of Thomas Paine\'s Common Sense

Homelessness in the United States

Common Sense by Thomas Paine

The political situation in the colonies of America were more than ready to receive the pamphlet entitled Common Sense by Thomas Paine. Paine's writing provided a nation confused about their future and issues surrounding it, with a needed spur towards action and clarity of thought. The ambivalence of the time from the end of 1775 results from equally strong but opposing forces in the collective consciousness of the American mind during this time.

On the one hand, there was the urge towards autonomy and independence, while on the other a fundamental dependence on the British still reigned. Exacerbating the confusion within people's minds was the political upheaval manifest in the war breaking out in Massachusetts during April, as well as the Second Continental Congress. Further battles against the British were fought in New England and the South (Foner 79).

Furthermore there was the opposition within Congress itself, reflecting the duality of public opinion. The debate was between opposition to the mother country and those favoring reconciliation. Making things worse was the British refusal to accept the Olive Branch Petition approved by them during the previous July. While this strengthened the urge towards independence, other forces still opposed it. British power for example conspired with the tradition of obedience to British rule, and the American benefit of British protection. Finally there was the fear of political change within the colonies, as opposed to the stability offered by British rule.

When compared to conditions in the mother country, social, political, economic and cultural conditions in America reflected the pioneering spirit of the new country. Paine draws an image of an England that has become corrupted by systems that are outdated, and yet that refuse to make way for new systems that work better. Furthermore there was in England an atmosphere of established rules of culture, society and thinking. Indeed, pioneering thought during this time was not encouraged.

America on the other hand held vast potential in terms of politics and all other aspects of human life. New thoughts on politics and science were encouraged rather than berated by systems long outdated. There was no form of hereditary government, and the population was open to new systems that could make their country work. Gradually Americans were moving towards greater autonomy for themselves. This autonomy was perhaps most strikingly reflected by Paine in his argument of physical separation. America was not physically part of England in any way, and the continent was much larger in comparison to the mother country (Foner 80).

Common Sense, reflecting the pioneering spirit of the autonomous American not only in subject matter, but also in writing style, was received readily by many Americans hungering for freedom and independence. While most people then received the pamphlet in overwhelming favor, Paine did have critics. John Adams for example was embittered by the fact that Paine's ideas were those he himself had voiced for many months with little effect. Furthermore both Adams and other traditionalist readers were somewhat scandalized by Paine's use of simple and understandable language. It is this very language however that made Paine so popular with his readers.

The central brilliance of Paine's argument was making the points that Adams was making, but relating them as a single argument to the life of a general American. These ideas were then also made much more digestible and indeed appealing to the average American, winning for Paine runaway readership figures.

In Common Sense Paine argues against the institution of monarchy as it is held in England. The basis for his argument is against the hereditary nature of this institution. By being born into the monarchy one is trained since birth to live in luxury and impose the British rule without being part of the needs of society. The monarchy and its associate governmental paradigms exist to serve only itself, and not its subordinates. Paine uses taxation as an example of this. By means of taxation, the monarchy lives in luxury and leisure without contributing anything to the society from which these riches emerge. This even further removes them from the needs of those who support them.

Human nature, and specifically the American nature, maintains Paine, strives for independence. Paine diagnoses the American situation in terms of his fairly positive view of human nature. According to Paine, human beings are basically good, although their imperfect morality does require governing. This however can be done to a minimal degree with only some encouragement. The government should protect the interests of its citizens rather than regulate their lives. This is true individual independence. Any government should then arise naturally from a society recognizing the need to govern itself. The purpose of this government should then be to protect the individual's right to property and religious freedom.

In terms of religion, Paine argues against the Catholic Church and for a religious paradigm closer to Protestantism. The hierarchy within the Catholic Church is close to the monarchy paradigm, from which Paine wishes American to be entirely independent. In this way both church and law in the new country should serve the citizens of that country, as opposed to the ruling elite.

Paine thus presents his arguments for natural rights in an atmosphere that is ready to receive this. The American citizens have moved from their initial dependence upon the mother country to a more mature wish for independence. This wish found a voice in the writings of Thomas Paine. Thus the paradigm suggesting that reconciliation with Britain would be preferable is eradicated not only with Paine's arguments, but also with Britain's timely refusal to accept the Olive Branch Petition. Paine thus provides the American psyche with the exact impetus required to affect change.

The change involves the inevitable split between the colonies and Britain, as a result of the changing American spirit. The new country requires a new paradigm that is based upon systems honoring the philosophical right not only to property, but also to liberty in which to enjoy all that science, society and religion can offer.

Gender and race appear to prove problematic for Paine, as he fails to adequately deal with the slavery issue, as well as with the problems surrounding Native Americans. Paine's achievement is nonetheless remarkable, in that it provided the Americans with a focus of what was to become the American paradigm of freedom and independence.

In terms of his philosophy of human nature, Paine's assessment was that birthright should not be a prerequisite for whatever occupation is reached in adult life. Each person should have an equal chance to succeed according to "talent and merit." This is closely linked to Paine's view of himself as a "theorist of equality and critic of privilege." Throughout his writing, Paine is strongly opposed to any privilege awarded by no merits other than birthright. Hence his opposition to the English king and his monarchy.