Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine: America’s Catalyst
The most powerful reform happening in the 18th century was the reform of thought; the way Americans thought was swiftly transforming to become more independent with underlying ideals of freedom. As America was still ruled by Monarchial Britain these ideals were discouraged so as not to upset the powerful king, but there were still people who were willing to expose their ideals to the whole country in order to try to shift the nation's view, Thomas Paine was one of these individuals. The influence of Thomas Paine’s treasonous thoughts towards Britain on the American people was essential to developing aspects of the Declaration of Independence and the vigorous spirit of the American Revolution.
The Declaration of Independence seems to start off as a compliment to the Common Sense in its introduction, with the ideas of independence and freedom dominating the document. Thomas Paine, in his Common Sense, refers to Britain’s rule as a “long and violent abuse of power” and firmly believes in “calling the right of it in question”. He suggests that the American people shouldn’t be satisfied with the way England’s running affairs just because they seemed justified, because the truth was, the justification was an illusion which needed to be challenged. The Declaration of Independence seems to say the exact same thing, granted in a different way, but the concept is quite similar, Thomas Jefferson states the need to “dissolve the political bands which have connected” America with England and the requirement to “assume” our “equal station to which the laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitled them”. Jefferson also believes this alliance with England ought to end, because America had a right to govern herself without the interference of a separate and governing power. The shared views of these two great personalities portrays the necessities of a nation to become independent, such as severing ties with the mother country without which, this... [continues]

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