An Excerpt from
Common Sense
by Thomas Paine
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IN the following pages I offer nothing more
than simple facts, plain arguments, and common
sense: and have no other preliminaries to settle
with the reader, than that he will divest himself
of prejudice and prepossession, and suffer his
reason and his feelings to determine for
themselves that he will put on, or rather that he
will not put off, the true character of a man, and
generously enlarge his views beyond the present
day.
Volumes have been written on the subject of
the struggle between England and America. Men
of all ranks have embarked in the controversy,
from different motives, and with various designs;
but all have been ineffectual, and the period of
debate is closed. Arms as the last resource decide
the contest; the appeal was the choice of the
King, and the Continent has accepted the
challenge.
As much hath been said of the advantages of
reconciliation, which, like an agreeable dream,
hath passed away and left us as we were, it is but
right that we should examine the contrary side of
the argument, and enquire into some of the many
material injuries which these Colonies sustain,
and always will sustain, by being connected with
and dependent on Great Britain. To examine that
connection and dependence, on the principles of
nature and common sense, to see what we have
to trust to, if separated, and what we are to
expect, if dependent.
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, or that the first twenty years of our
lives is to become a precedent for the next
twenty. But even this is admitting more than is
true; for I answer roundly that America would
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have flourished as much, and probably much
more, had no European power taken any notice
of her. The commerce by which she hath
enriched herself are the necessaries of life, and
will always have a market while eating is the
custom of Europe.
A government of our own is our natural
right: And when a man seriously reflects on
the precariousness of human affairs, he will
become convinced, that it is infinitely wiser
and safer, to form a constitution of our own in
a cool deliberate manner, while we have it in
our power, than to trust such an interesting
event to time and chance. If we omit it now,
some Massanello may hereafter arise, who
laying hold of popular disquietudes, may
collect
together
the
desperate
and
discontented, and by assuming to themselves
the powers of government, may sweep away
the liberties of the continent like a deluge.
Should the government of America return
again into the hands of Britain, the tottering
situation of things, will be a temptation for
some desperate adventurer to try his fortune;
and in such a case, what relief can Britain
give? Ere she could hear the news, the fatal
business might be done; and ourselves
suffering like the wretched Britons under the
oppression of the Conqueror. Ye that oppose
independence now, ye know not what ye do;
ye are opening a door to eternal tyranny, by
keeping vacant the seat of government.
In short, independence is the only bond that
tie and keep us together. We shall then see our
object, and our ears will be legally shut against
the schemes of an intriguing, as well as cruel,
enemy. We shall then, too, be on a proper
footing to treat with Britain; for there is reason
to conclude, that the pride of that court will be
less hurt by treating with the American States
for terms of peace, than with those, whom she
denominates "rebellious subjects," for terms of
accommodation. It is our delaying in that,
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encourages her to hope for conquest, and our
backwardness tends only to prolong the war. As
we have, without any good effect therefrom,
withheld our trade to obtain a redress of our
grievances, let us now try the alternative, by
independently redressing them ourselves, and
then offering to open the trade. The mercantile
and reasonable part of England, will be still with
us; because, peace, with trade, is preferable to
war without it. And if this offer be not accepted,
other courts may be applied to.
On these grounds I rest the matter. And as no
offer hath yet been made to refute the doctrine
contained in … this pamphlet, it is a negative
proof, that either the doctrine cannot be refuted,
or, that the party in favor of it are too numerous
to be opposed. WHEREFORE, instead of gazing
at each other with suspicious or doubtful
curiosity, let each of us hold out to his neighbor
the hearty hand of friendship, and unite in
drawing a line, which, like an act of oblivion,
shall bury in forgetfulness every former
dissension. Let the names of Whig and Tory be
extinct; and let none other be heard among us,
than those of a good citizen, an open and resolute
friend, and a virtuous supporter of the RIGHTS
of MANKIND, and of the FREE AND
INDEPENDENT STATES OF AMERICA.
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2.
A)
B)
C)
D)
As used in line 5, “suffer” most nearly means
A) experience
B) undergo
C) allow
D) endure
In lines 105-114 (“Let….AMERICA”), what is
the most likely reason that the author requests
that the names Whig and Tory be “extinct”?
He wants to change the names to Republicans and
Democrats.
He wants to dismiss names that refer to British
Parliament and establish American political
parties.
He wants the people to see themselves as united
Americans, rather than as members of opposing
political parties.
He wants the people to forget their past with
Britain and begin new lives as Americans.
3. The stance that the author takes is best described
as that of
A) a politician stating the evils of one party against
another
B) an advocate for America to declare its
independence from Great Britain
C) an observer of the difficulties when people have
only a two-party political system
D) a scholar who cautions people of the perils of
history repeating itself
4. The author refers to “arms” (lines 15-17)
primarily to
A) persuade the people that revolution and taking up
arms would be the only way to gain their
independence from England
B) tell the people that revolution was the King’s idea
and that he wanted their arms
C) explain to the people that the contest between
England and America would be settled by a
shooting contest between several of their best
riflemen.
D) to inform the people that the King of the
Continent had accepted a challenge to a shooting
contest
5.
A)
B)
C)
D)
As used in line 16, “arms” most nearly means
limbs extending from the shoulder
a sleeve of a garment
an administrative branch
weapons
6. In lines 64-67 the author suggests that by
opposing independence, the people risk
A) having Great Britain continue to rule them
B) more extreme taxation in the future
C) losing control to a rebel who takes power of the
government
D) not finding a suitable person to fill the seat of
government
7. Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question?
A) Line 50-51 “A government … natural right.”
B) Lines 53-57“…it is infinitely …time and chance.”
C) Lines 64-65 “Should the … hands of Britain,”
D) Lines 65-67 “the tottering …to try his fortune;”
8. Based on the passage, which choice best describes
the relationship between Great Britain and
America?
A) master … servant
B) states … colonies
C) free …enslaved
D) rebellious … independent
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