From The Revolution To The Constitution Analysis
From the Revolution to the Constitution
THE ENLIGHTENMENT ERA
The American constitution is the progeny of aspirations of the people of America and their desire to be attain political independence from the shackles of the British colonial rule. The perceived notion of the armed revolution of 1775 being the catalyst behind the constitution, is misplaced. The idea of a constitutional democracy had its inception in the ‘Age of Enlightenment’ during the seventeenth century.
The influence of the Age of Reason reached its pinnacle in the eighteenth century followed by the age of romanticism during the nineteenth century. The Enlightenment period challenged the existing philosophical beliefs, political ideas, science and communication. It facilitated …show more content…
The pamphlet left a lasting impact on the reader, as highlighted the ill effects of a Monarchy and went to the extent of comparing George III a ‘Royal Brute’ (paine, 1776). The spirit of the text was to arouse the feeling of Independence and the need to break away from the patronising rule of the British Empire. The lucid language of the article gauged the interest of the people, it also managed to portray on paper the wide spread discontent against the colonial rule. Paine declared independence a ‘natural right’ and the only left alternative left with the colonists to break free from the clutches of the …show more content…
He establishes society as a ‘blessing’ on the one hand and government as an ‘evil’ on the other hand. Paine believes that evil instinct of man is the foundation of governments. While criticising the government he lambasts the British system of government for being too complex and contradicting in nature. Paine criticizes Monarchy in general and believes that man was born equal, hence the structure of kingship and subjects is unnatural. He argues that under Britain, the American colonies have not been prosperous and debunks this claim by providing statistics, proving the vested economic and imperial interest in the colonies. It is intriguing to note, his prediction about the prevalence of conducive conditions for bringing together all the thirteen colonies against the British rule before it was too late. (Spark Notes, n.d.). ‘Wherefore, what is it that we want? Why is it that we hesitate? From Britain we can expect nothing but ruin. If she is once admitted to the government of America again, this Continent will not be worth living in’ (paine,
THE ENLIGHTENMENT ERA
The American constitution is the progeny of aspirations of the people of America and their desire to be attain political independence from the shackles of the British colonial rule. The perceived notion of the armed revolution of 1775 being the catalyst behind the constitution, is misplaced. The idea of a constitutional democracy had its inception in the ‘Age of Enlightenment’ during the seventeenth century.
The influence of the Age of Reason reached its pinnacle in the eighteenth century followed by the age of romanticism during the nineteenth century. The Enlightenment period challenged the existing philosophical beliefs, political ideas, science and communication. It facilitated …show more content…
The pamphlet left a lasting impact on the reader, as highlighted the ill effects of a Monarchy and went to the extent of comparing George III a ‘Royal Brute’ (paine, 1776). The spirit of the text was to arouse the feeling of Independence and the need to break away from the patronising rule of the British Empire. The lucid language of the article gauged the interest of the people, it also managed to portray on paper the wide spread discontent against the colonial rule. Paine declared independence a ‘natural right’ and the only left alternative left with the colonists to break free from the clutches of the …show more content…
He establishes society as a ‘blessing’ on the one hand and government as an ‘evil’ on the other hand. Paine believes that evil instinct of man is the foundation of governments. While criticising the government he lambasts the British system of government for being too complex and contradicting in nature. Paine criticizes Monarchy in general and believes that man was born equal, hence the structure of kingship and subjects is unnatural. He argues that under Britain, the American colonies have not been prosperous and debunks this claim by providing statistics, proving the vested economic and imperial interest in the colonies. It is intriguing to note, his prediction about the prevalence of conducive conditions for bringing together all the thirteen colonies against the British rule before it was too late. (Spark Notes, n.d.). ‘Wherefore, what is it that we want? Why is it that we hesitate? From Britain we can expect nothing but ruin. If she is once admitted to the government of America again, this Continent will not be worth living in’ (paine,