Thomas Paine Common Sense

Common sense is a book that was originally published anonymously in 1776 by Thomas Paine. It was Thomas saying that we really need to break away from Britain and start an independent republican government. He goes on in the book to really just attacks the kingship and the aristocratic institutions then goes back to urge his adopted country to (def leopard) get the rock outta there so to speak. Proven so in this quote “Society is produced by our wants and government by wickedness; the former promotes by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher”. Fun fact his pamphlet was the first to speak to a mass audience and also went
through fifty-six editions within a year and its assertive style embodied the democratic spirit he definitely was an advocate for and single handedly converted thousands of citizens to the American cause. But there are those who would consider this book a so called period piece but at the core of this book is a profound political philosophy were every opinion is considered and argued forcefully. I even believe it was napoleon said there should be a statue of Paine in every city. Paine sparked revolutionary thoughts in Americans and even outlined why a revolution was completely to quote Mr. Paine “common sense” he wrote this in such a way were everyone could understand and relate to in their own right. Paine states that the government is a necessary evil and unavoidable in society. An argument that pops up a lot is that a continent so large should not be ruled by something as small as a king another was that England is so far away from the continent that it would take a very long time for any decisions to ever be made and sent to America. I mean could you imagine that during a war not knowing if its ok to take a town over or to pull out yet just waiting to hear from England when it turns out it was ok to take that town but now your troops are all dead because you have to send your decision by ship between two continents at low tide. Americans didn’t want to break their ties with Britain to put into perspective it’s like that girl who can get out of a bad relationship. The Americans are the girl in the scenario of course. A student of history should be familiar with how Britain treated the Irish rebels back in the day. Yet there were still those terrible injustices that the colonist’s couldn’t forget so Americans became divided against one another. And as the talk of independence grew we started to see the forest for the trees and rise up against Great Britain.
Yet there is a lot to be learned by the beliefs of Mr. Paine for one this man was not a Christian and when Dr. Manley asked Mr. Paine "if he wished to believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God," and he describes Mr. Paine's answer as animated. He says that lying on his back he used some action and with much emphasis, replied, "I have no wish to believe on that subject”. So yeah not a Christin in the least. So for this belief he was badgered the founding fathers but they could only do so much I mean this is truly a great man and the people that picked on him went on to say things like “without the pen of Paine, the sword of Washington would have been wielded in vain”. ~ John Adams. So you’re kind of left wondering how they really felt about Thomas Paine do they like him or not you really can argue both sides which also tells us about the country at that time about their level of tolerance with Paine so to some up here religion is a really big deal at this time in America. We hate that he`s not a Christian but thank god he wrote common sense, he is vain beyond all belief but let’s give him a
statue. This is a man that has done wonders for both his European and American homes and amazing things for the cause of liberty he provided that little something to extra to fuel the fire. “A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason.”- Thomas Paine common sense) just about a dam perfect way to describe that bad relationship I mentioned before. Thomas called for an establishment of a republic he was commended for this by (insert massive name drop) Thomas Jefferson and john Adams. Although there were those who criticized Paine for his religion like (wait for it) sir ben franklin who wrote Paine this letter saying about Paine’s work “I have read your manuscript with some attention. By the argument it contains against a particular Providence, though you allow a general Providence, you strike at the foundations of all religion. For without the belief of a Providence, that takes cognizance of, guards, and guides, and may favor particular persons, there is no motive to worship a Deity, to fear his displeasure, or to pray for his protection. I will not enter into any discussion of your principles, though you seem to desire it. At present I shall only give you my opinion, that, though your reasoning’s are subtle and may prevail with some readers, you will not succeed so as to change the general sentiments of mankind on that subject, and the consequence of printing this piece will be, a great deal of odium drawn upon yourself, mischief to you, and no benefit to others. He that spits against the wind, spits in his own face.” – ben franklin in a letter to Thomas Paine. So while being bashed for his views on religion still came to write a book that would start a war and save everyone from British rule.