"Common Sense" by Thomas Paine
Manos Mathew
English 206
Prof D.S.
"Common Sense" is an argumentative essay written by Thomas Paine. This essay was distributed as pamphlets during the early beginnings of the American Revolution to incite and make the Americans aware of the British control of the freedom of American citizens.
Written in 1776 by Anonymous, Paine tried to explain to the Americans why they should come together in unity and revolt against the tyrannical power of Great Britain. Paine uses an argumentative style of writing in his work. He tries to establish a point by providing sufficient evidence to support it. Paine goes further in supporting his argument by explaining both sides of the argument. In other words, he not only tries to appeal to those Americans that want independence, but also with those that want to reconcile with Great Britain. "I have heard it asserted by some, that as America has flourished under her former connection with Great Britain, the same connection is necessary towards her future happiness, and will always have the same effect. Nothing can be more fallacious than this kind of argument. We may as well assert that because a child has thrived upon milk, that it is never to have meat...."(Baym 694). Paine states that there are some Americans' that feel that America has flourished as a country, and in order to continue to flourish we (referring to the Americans) must not revolt but we have to continue to have Britain's control over us. However since we have flourished because of their control, it doesn't mean that we can't flourish on our own. One can see that Paine is attempting to address any counterarguments that may be posed against the point he is trying to establish. By addressing these counterarguments he can try to show those who want to reconcile with Great Britain that his point of view is right.
Besides from addressing any counterarguments that would have diminished his point, Paine also tried to establish his point by creating a type of mood that
English 206
Prof D.S.
"Common Sense" is an argumentative essay written by Thomas Paine. This essay was distributed as pamphlets during the early beginnings of the American Revolution to incite and make the Americans aware of the British control of the freedom of American citizens.
Written in 1776 by Anonymous, Paine tried to explain to the Americans why they should come together in unity and revolt against the tyrannical power of Great Britain. Paine uses an argumentative style of writing in his work. He tries to establish a point by providing sufficient evidence to support it. Paine goes further in supporting his argument by explaining both sides of the argument. In other words, he not only tries to appeal to those Americans that want independence, but also with those that want to reconcile with Great Britain. "I have heard it asserted by some, that as America has flourished under her former connection with Great Britain, the same connection is necessary towards her future happiness, and will always have the same effect. Nothing can be more fallacious than this kind of argument. We may as well assert that because a child has thrived upon milk, that it is never to have meat...."(Baym 694). Paine states that there are some Americans' that feel that America has flourished as a country, and in order to continue to flourish we (referring to the Americans) must not revolt but we have to continue to have Britain's control over us. However since we have flourished because of their control, it doesn't mean that we can't flourish on our own. One can see that Paine is attempting to address any counterarguments that may be posed against the point he is trying to establish. By addressing these counterarguments he can try to show those who want to reconcile with Great Britain that his point of view is right.
Besides from addressing any counterarguments that would have diminished his point, Paine also tried to establish his point by creating a type of mood that