An American Crisis No. 1
Critical Response
Name:
IN YOUR OWN WORDS, answer the following questions
1. If you were a colonist who had remained loyal to the British, how would you respond?
2. In the first paragraph, how does Paine say the “summer soldier” and the “sunshine patriot” will
react to the American crisis? Why?
3. In that same paragraph, with what ideas does Paine justify the struggle of revolution?
4. In the third paragraph, what anecdote, or story, does Paine tell?
5. What point is Paine making by relating the anecdote?
6. Name two emotions to which Paine appeals in this text.
7. Does Paine appeal more to emotion, or reason? Support your answer with examples from the
text.