Preview

Common Sense By Thomas Paine Summary

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
281 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Common Sense By Thomas Paine Summary
Common Sense was a pamphlet published in 1776 by a political philosopher and writer named Thomas Paine who was born on February 9, 1773 in Thetford, England. He voluntarily attended Thetford Grammar School from 1744 to 1779. When he reached the age of 13 he entered into an apprenticeship with his father where they made thick rope stays also called stay ropes which are used on sailing ships. Due to he’s close ties with shipping and the seas Thomas Paine decided to enlist as a privateer, before returning to Britain in 1759. After returning he became a master stay-maker, where he established a shop in Sandwich, Kent. Thomas Paine married Mary Lambert on September 27,1759. His business collapsed not far after that. When Thomas Paine’s wife became pregnant both him and his wife moved to Margate, where she went into labor, which both her and her child passed away. …show more content…
Written in persuasive and clear prose, Thomas Paine marshaled moral and political arguments to encourage many people in the Colonies to fight for egalitarian government. The pamphlet was published anonymously on January 10, 1776, at the beginning of the American Revolution, and became a sensation immediately. The pamplet was sold and distributed widely and read aloud at taverns and meeting places. In proportion to the population of the colonies at that time, which was over 2.5 million, it had the largest sale and circulation of any book or pamphlet published in American history. As of 2006, it remains the all-time best selling American title, and is still in print
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Thomas Paine The Crisis Summary
    • 222 Words
    • 1 Page

    Thomas Paine The Crisis Summary

    Thomas Paine' pamphlet, "The Crisis," was one in all the explanations the colonists were convinced of the necessity to fight against the British. Paine, a British subject, went against this in his writings, that stressed that the link between the British and therefore the Colonists had been thus irreparably broken that "'tis time to half. " Paine saw that the British treatment of the Colonists was the elemental reason that this relationship couldn't be salvaged. His arguments consisted of the various infringements of the colonists' political and economic freedoms at the hands of the British.…

    • 222 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Common Sense Summary By Thomas Paine
    • 435 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Common Sense Summary By Thomas Paine

    Common Sense pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in January 1776. Common Sense was written for the colonist in an effort for a prompt declaration of independence. Paine agues in his writings the cruelties involved in their history and its policy of the British government and constitution. Paine provided convincing details of why the colonies should isolate themselves from Britain, to spark doubt in minds of the colonists so this land could be lead independent from the British rule and allow a new set of laws governed by elected officials.…

    • 435 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    'A Review Of Thomas Paine's Common Sense'
    • 574 Words
    • 3 Pages

    'A Review Of Thomas Paine's Common Sense'

    Thomas Paine had published a book in early 1776 that immediately became popular and widely read. The book was titled, Common Sense. It got the American colonist skeptical of what they were fighting for. Some agreed with the way King George III ruled, others were eager to break away from English Rule.…

    • 574 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    How Did Thomas Paine Make Common Sense A Revolutionary
    • 1318 Words
    • 6 Pages

    How Did Thomas Paine Make Common Sense A Revolutionary

    Common Sense was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776. It was advocating independence from Great Britain to the people of the thirteen colonies. “It captured the imagination of the colonists as had no previous pamphlet” (Paine, page 9). The pamphlet was written clearly and persuasively in the fact of getting the 13 colonies to rebel against King George III and Britain because colonists thought that they should not be ruled by a king across the sea and have all these taxes and rules placed on them. They wanted their own independence. Their own freedom. Paine marshaled moral and political arguments to encourage the common people of the 13 colonies to fight for their own government and their own freedom. At first, people did not think it was a smart idea to go against Britain and betray their mother country. As more and more laws and taxes were placed on the people’s wills and goods, colonists started to become more and more angry and this is when Paine jumped right into the forefront with a pamphlet called “Common…

    • 1318 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Thomas Paine Crisis No. 1
    • 268 Words
    • 1 Page

    Thomas Paine Crisis No. 1

    “Wisdom is not the purchase of the day, and it is no wonder that we should err at the first setting off”…

    • 268 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Common Sense By Thomas Paine Summary
    • 855 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Common Sense By Thomas Paine Summary

    Common Sense written by Thomas Paine is a book that helped unify America while emancipating from Britain during the late 1700s. In his book Paine expresses his ideas of religion, government, freedom and society. Very quickly Paine engages the audience with a strict definition separating society from government; these were two concepts often confused at this time. Paine describes an idea of societal definition consisting of a unified people bonded in their pursuit of happiness. Paine also looks at and defines government as a necessary evil “Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable…

    • 855 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Similarities Between Thomas Paine And Oprah Winfrey
    • 449 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Similarities Between Thomas Paine And Oprah Winfrey

    Founding Father Thomas Paine , England born political philosopher and writer (1727-1809). He helped shape many of the ideas that marked the Age Revolution. In 1776, his high popular “Common Sense” was published and it was the first pamphlet to advocate American Independence. No other figure played a great role in moving the American People from a spirit of rebellion to one of revolution.…

    • 449 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Howard Zinn vs. George Wood
    • 918 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Howard Zinn vs. George Wood

    Another way the social elite and continental congress gained support from the lower class against England was through propaganda. Common Sense, written by Thomas Paine, made the first argument for independence. Thomas Paine wrote in a way so every person could understand and appealed to a vast range of people angered by England. He represented unban artisans who were in favor of a strong central government. It was through Thomas Paine that many colonists sided with independence from England.…

    • 918 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Thomas Paine's Influence On The American Revolution
    • 471 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Thomas Paine's Influence On The American Revolution

    In the 1700s few men had as strong an impact on the political and social issues of that time through their writings as did Thomas Paine. Thomas Paine was born on January 29, 1737, in Thetford, England. He was apprenticed by his father at the age of thirteen, working as a staymaker. Thomas failed out of school and had little education and failed at many of his early life jobs. He later grew to be an English American writer whose ideas would have great influence on the American Revolution and the independence of America.…

    • 471 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Political Philosophy and Paine
    • 1565 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Political Philosophy and Paine

    1. Why do you think Thomas Paine writes Common Sense anonymously? How does he think his work will be remembered? Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense anonymously because the ideas he used in writing the book were contradicting the government at that time. If the government knew that he wrote it then they will take action against him to punish him. He probably thought that his work would remain as something memorable such as it was only there to raise the spirit of the colonist to fight back and to stand up against the government.…

    • 1565 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Analysis Of The Age Of Reason By Thomas Paine
    • 215 Words
    • 1 Page

    Analysis Of The Age Of Reason By Thomas Paine

    Thomas Paine, 18th century author of the popular papers entitled The American Crisis, was a devout Deist who, after the Revolutionary War, was questioned about his religion and so wrote The Age of Reason as a response. In many of his writings, Paine would make his writing appear Christian, but he, however, did not believe that, as he explained in The Age of Reason. In this work, Paine shows his antagonism and distaste of all religions, with Christianity being first and foremost. In his writing The Age of Reason, Thomas Paine revealed his true convictions and opinions on all religions.…

    • 215 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The American Revolution And Common Sense By Thomas Paine
    • 122 Words
    • 1 Page

    The American Revolution And Common Sense By Thomas Paine

    If history has taught us anything, it is that Revolutions typically tend to come in waves, a ripple effect. The American Revolution is known as a key event in human history, one that sparked change and lit the flame of liberty. Awakening the sense of freedom and urging the French, Bavarian, Haitian revolutions in addition to a series of Latin and Spanish-American wars of independence. The American Revolution started the revolutionary movement of the last two hundred years and Common Sense by Thomas Paine sparked the rebellion; therefore, spurring change throughout the globe. Superficially, his work clarifies why the colonies should separate from British rule. When looking deeper, however, there are profound philosophical dialogues of religious…

    • 122 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Definition Of Common Sense By Thomas Paine
    • 341 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Definition Of Common Sense By Thomas Paine

    Thomas Paine a revolutionary leader who wrote the pamphlet “Common Sense” in January 1776 compels his argument for American Independence from Britain. He has written the pamphlet anonymously and argued that citizens, not kings or queens should make the law. It has state that “Americans Independence became a means to move from promising ideas to practical achievements, but only the American army could defeat Britain and defend independence.” Which infers that we must fight for our freedom in order to gain change and the separation from Great Britain itself.…

    • 341 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Thomas Paine Common Sense Analysis
    • 1716 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Thomas Paine Common Sense Analysis

    These two characteristics appeal more to the physical writing of the documents and appeal less to the meaning of the documents. Often times writers will make use of allusions and metaphors to bring light to an idea that may seem complex or somewhat confusing. Biblical allusions were often used because many people of the Enlightenment era were familiar with characters and stories from the Bible. Thomas Paine frequently used allusions to the Bible, and in Common Sense he alluded to Jesus Christ by writing, “Ye that oppose independence now, ye know not what ye do.” People in the colonies knew how Paine’s allusion showed similarity to a popular Bible story (Fredriksen 187). Paine used a common theme for his metaphors throughout Common Sense. He made a connection between the colonies and a child. Although the colonies were young, they would transform like a child transforms into an adolescent and become independent. Paine used these literary devices to help the common man understand his ideas so that more people can support his plans. Looking beyond the elements of Neoclassicism, Thomas Paine’s document Common Sense provided an interesting look at the Revolutionary spirit of the colonists and how he attempted to motivate them to take action against the…

    • 1716 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    histroy
    • 357 Words
    • 2 Pages

    histroy

    Paine presented multiple arguments in his pamphlet, Common Sense. One of his arguments that stood out to me the most is that regarding the monarchy and hereditary succession. Paine describes how nobody chooses to live poorly and cannot choose the status of their descendants and the importance and idea of equality. He describes the difference between Kinds and subjects as being unnecessary and unethical. Everyone is equal at creation. People of the colonies could relate to this on a religious aspect as well, because the Bible supports his statements. Paine supported the beliefs of freedom of property to all men and freedom on religion. Paine also discussed America and the relationship with Great-Britain. Paine stated that America had become dependent on Great-Brittan and that success and happiness should not be reliant on another country. He wrote that Great-Britain had nobody’s interest in mind but their own. Paine also pointed out the unnecessary quarrels with other countries such as France and Spain, due to the fact that we were involved with Great-Britain and pictured them as the parent country. He introduced the idea of having each colony be independent and have representatives chosen by the people.…

    • 357 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More