Preview

How Did Thomas Paine Contribute To The Declaration Of Independence

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
501 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Did Thomas Paine Contribute To The Declaration Of Independence
Thomas Paine was a man of deep impetuous passion for politics and most importantly for the separation from England. He wrote the biggest selling pamphlet of the time, in 1776 - ‘Common Sense’. In this pamphlet he informed the public of the unfair treatment of the British empire and of their call to action for a self-governing society. Thomas believed that man should not only fight to terminate heavy taxes, but for independence from the tyrant King of the Motherland. Paine greatly espouses the need to detach the New World from the Old World, recognize that the King was a ruthless tyrant and establish a republic.
Apart from England there existed thirteen colonies that were established in the New World. Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and lastly Georgia, were all the first thirteen colonies. These colonies were all founded for different purposes. For example; Virginia was founded for the main purpose of finding gold, Maryland was founded by Lord Baltimore for religious freedom and New Jersey for farming and trade. This land was a world of its own. It made sense to leave everything it had in the hands of the people, because they were …show more content…
With all this in mind, England needed to repair itself financially and decided to heavily tax the colonial people. This was very aggravating to most of man in the colonies. First came the Sugar Act, then Stamp Act, and finally the Quartering Act; taxing almost anything they needed, which ignited the belief that there be “NO TAXATION WITOUT REPRESENTATION”. It was unfair what England was doing, and there needed to be an end to this, but if they don’t stop appeasing they will never bring an end to the Monster
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

    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

    Similarities Between Thomas Paine And Patrick Henry
    • 413 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Similarities Between Thomas Paine And Patrick Henry

    Thomas Paine was an excellent writer. When he wrote things, he was very straight-forward, and it was hard to dispute his points because he was so to the point in his writings. His straight-forwardness can be seen in what is most likely his most famous work, “Common Sense”. In his writing, “Common Sense” Paine argues for the people. He writes that there is a society, and a government. The society is made up of the people. Whereas government is made to protect what the people have, which is life, liberty, and property. Government is a necessary evil, since it was essentially…

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

    Common Sense Summary Thomas Paine
    • 535 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Common Sense Summary Thomas Paine

    “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine was a very important document at the start of the American Revolution. Paine’s 48 page pamphlet was published on January 10th, 1776 and explained why the thirteen colonies should break off from England. In the first section, Paine explains that as society begins to flourish, a government is more necessary to prevent the “natural evil” he saw in man. The second section of this document points out that all men are equal and that the idea that kings and queens are more superior than everyone else is a false one. Paine then describes some problems that monarchies have caused in past times. He also argues against the constitutional monarchy, an idea promoted by John Locke. Paine says that the limits given in a “mixed state” are not enough.…

    • 535 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Thomas Paine Influenced The American Revolution
    • 640 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Thomas Paine Influenced The American Revolution

    Thomas Paine helped to inspire the American Revolution. In “Common Sense”, published in January 1776, Thomas Paine said that the Colonists should aim for complete independence from Britain. Among the arguments he used were that Britain governed the Americans for its own benefit, not theirs, and that, in any case, the distance between the two nations made governing from England very inefficient. The pamphlet sold in its thousands and was very influential. It helped to turn a local uprising into a War of Independence and Thomas Paine was given the title ‘Father of the American Revolution. Another work of Paine’s that is crucial to the revolution is “The Crisis.” argues American independence, of course, but begins with theoretical thoughts on…

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

    Dbq Enlightenment Analysis
    • 1007 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Dbq Enlightenment Analysis

    In his book “Common Sense” (Document 3) he points out was that America isn’t like Britain and how it can stay different from Britain. America doesn’t have a king that solely rules over it, we have laws that help to govern us. With the absence of a king it creates a different government from Britain. Thomas Paine also points out his view on freedom. He goes with the enlightenment thinkers in saying that freedom is good, if we didn’t have freedom bad things would come. He points out that freedom was the main cause of Americans wanting to start the revolution. If people then went through all that trouble to get their freedom the government should uphold that main and arguably the most important revolutionary principle. He uses his views and writings to influence the government and create a basis for them to rule off…

    • 1007 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Thomas Paine's Common Sense
    • 120 Words
    • 1 Page

    Thomas Paine's Common Sense

    "Common sense" was one of the most important pieces of literature in early America because it was extremely influential to many people throughout al of the American colonies. The colonist came to America to escape religious boundaries, so they could worship God freely. Thomas Paine uses this to his advantage by using scriptural quotes, pathos, to convinces his audience that it is common sense for the colonists to break completely with Great Britain. He says that a monarchy is terrible, and to have a king is not only an unsuccessful way to rule a nation, but it is also a sin. Paine undermines the king in his writing by using rhetorical devices to help destroy America's loyalty to the…

    • 120 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Advantages And Disadvantages Of Thomas Paine
    • 362 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Advantages And Disadvantages Of Thomas Paine

    Paine stressed the logic of America's independence, emphasizing defects in number of ways being connected with and dependent on Great Britain. Paine makes the argument that the colonies doesn't need Britain economically. He states our corn will fetch its price in any market in Europe and our imported goods must be paid for buy them where we will. But yet, the colonies injuries and disadvantages are sustain by being connected with Great Britain due to European wars and quarrels. (For the Record, p. 108) Being connected with Great Britain, America will gain nothing, and will continue to fight with financial burdens relations with the British impose on some citizens is monumental. Thomas Paine is an important historical figure which gives him…

    • 362 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    The Effects of Thomas Paine's Common Sense
    • 1633 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The Effects of Thomas Paine's Common Sense

    How important was it for America to gain its independence from England? Thomas Paine, an English radicalist, thought that it was extremely important. Important enough to write a pamphlet on why American Colonist should have independence. At the time, 1776, many Americans felt the same way about Paine's view on independence, but never took any action on it. Common Sense was published in 1776 as a way to engage people in certain political issues at hand. It was written by Thomas Paine to show that a break with England was only inevitable but justified. In Common Sense, Paine tries to convince people that the time for debate was over and that it was now time for American Colonists to raise arms against England. Paine tries to use a style of presenting this information that will not only convince but inspire or motivate American Colonists and raise up against the king.…

    • 1633 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Thomas Paine's Common Sense Summary
    • 856 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Thomas Paine's Common Sense Summary

    In Common Sense, Thomas Paine argues for American independence. His argument begins with more general, theoretical reflections about government and religion, then progresses to the specifics of the colonial situation. Paine begins by differentiating between government and society. Society, is everything constructive and good that people join together to accomplish. Government, on the other hand, is an institution whose sole purpose is to protect us from our own corruption. Government has its origins in the evil of man and is therefore a necessary evil at best. Paine says that government's only purpose is to protect life, liberty and property, and that a government should be judged just on the basis of the extent to which it accomplishes this goal. Paine then considers an imagined scenario in which a small group of people has been placed on an island, and cut off from the rest of society. In time, these people develop ties with one another, and lawmaking becomes inevitable. Paine says the people will be much happier if they are responsible for the creation of the laws that rule them. Paine argues that such a system of representation is also better for the American colonists. Having expressed his disagreement with British reign in America, Paine continues to launch a general attack on the British system of government. Paine says the British system is too complex and abundant with contradictions, and that the monarchy is granted far too much power. The British system pretends to offer a reasonable system of checks and balances, but contrarily, it does not.…

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

    Essay On Thomas Paine
    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Essay On Thomas Paine

    In the late eighteenth century, a man named Thomas Paine was the first to publish a convincing argument for becoming independent from Britain in his pamphlet Common Sense. Paine was one of many forward thinkers of his time, but unlike the others who only considered being independent, he was the one to get colonists to think…

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

    Similarities Between The Declaration Of Independence And Thomas Paine
    • 783 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Similarities Between The Declaration Of Independence And Thomas Paine

    There have been many notable Thomeece in the short life of the United States of America. The list includes greats such as Thomas Edison, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Thomas the Tank Engine. Sharing a common name, they have differentiated themselves in their fields, changing the world as they see fit. Although many have had great impacts on the United States of America, two Thomeece stand out among the rest: Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine, authors of The Declaration of Independence and The Crisis No.1, respectively. The Declaration of Independence, written in order to inform the British of the United States’ secession from their rule, gave the colonists a logical explanation for fighting against the enemy. On the other hand, The Crisis No.1…

    • 783 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    13 Colonies
    • 494 Words
    • 2 Pages

    13 Colonies

    16th century England was not interested in exploration and colonization, but for the most part, English colonies in North America were more for bussiness and in search of gold . It did provide extra land for Englands growing population and for those who seeked more religious freedom. Englands colonization in the new world led to the Thirteen Colonies made up of the New England Colonies, The Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies each having seperate religious beliefs, laws, and goverments.…

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

    The Introduction Of Thomas Paine's Common Sense
    • 210 Words
    • 1 Page

    The Introduction Of Thomas Paine's Common Sense

    The introduction of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense sets up the scene for a pamphlet filled with calls for an unique American identity. In it, Paine argues against the tyrannical reign of the British king and urges for the formation of a new country. He explains how since the colonists are so accustomed to the this absolute rule, they do not understand it’s vast injustices. Fighting back and declaring a country, without that tyranny, would be revolutionary. It would not only free the colonists, but provide a source of inspiration for citizens around the world.…

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

    Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
    • 821 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Thomas Paine’s Common Sense

    Thomas Paine was born in Britain, on January 29, 1737. Paine's formal education lasted only until the age of thirteen since after that he began working for his father. In Common Sense, Thomas Paine is setting forth his arguments in favor of American independence. His main argument is about government, religion and on specifics of the colonial situation. The main point that Thomas Paine make is that colonies should declare independence; independence is preferable to reconciliation because it is simpler and independence is the only bond that can keep the colonies together. Paine is letting know about his religious toleration and that he believes in God. Paine says that the colonies have little to gain from remaining attached to Britain. Commerce can be better conducted with the rest of Europe, but only after America becomes independent. Paine also asserts that if the colonies remain attached to Britain, the same problems that have arisen in the past will arise in the future. Paine argues that it is necessary to seek independence now, as to do otherwise would only briefly cover up problems that will surely reemerge. Also, Paine discusses how people will be much happier if they are responsible for the creation of the laws that rule them. The British government system is to complex and rife with contradictions, and that the monarchy is granted far too much power. The British system pretends to offer a reasonable system of checks and balances, but in fact, it does not.…

    • 821 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More