COMMON SENSE
Thomas Paine
January 10, 1776
Learning Target: I can describe the major arguments made in
Thomas Paine’s pamphlet, Common Sense.
Who was Thomas Paine?
•  Born in Britain,
January 29 1737
•  Self taught
•  Immigrated to
America 1774
•  Involved in American
political life
“I offer nothing
more than simple
facts, plain
arguments, and
common sense,”
Argued strongly for
COMPLETE American
Independence, Not just
freedom from British Taxation
•  Revolutionary war pamphlet
•  English, 48 pages
•  First Published anonymously January 10, 1776
•  Printed & sold by R. Bell, Third street
Philadelphia
•  Sold 500,000 copies in first year & 25 editions
•  Precursor to the Declaration of Independence,
which was written six months later.
Paine’s PAIN.
•  It was absurd for an island to rule a continent.
•  America was not a British nation
•  Britain the "mother country" should take better care of it’s
‘child’, the colonies.
•  Being a part of Britain would drag America into unnecessary
European wars,
•  The distance made English rule ineffective
•  Puritans believed that God wanted to give them a safe
haven from the persecution of British rule.
•  Britain ruled the colonies for its own benefit, and would not
let the colonies have a say
‘How did Common Sense
succeed in inspiring so much
revolutionary feeling?’
•  Used forceful everyday language, influencing
members of all social classes to attack the idea
that the British King should rule the American
Colonies
•  Argued:
–  that American independence would be a victory for
humans everywhere
–  that the cause of independence was a just one.
•  Swayed public opinion, convinced many who
were unsure of the purpose of the war
Chapter I. ‘Of the Origin and Design of
Government in general, with concise
Remarks on the English Constitution.’
•  Introduces idea that there is a
difference between Government and
Society.
•  “Society in every state is a blessing,
but government even in its best state
is but a necessary evil; in its worst
state an intolerable one…”
- T. Paine
Chapter 2 - ‘Of Monarchy and
Hereditary Succession’
•  Paine argues that all men are born equal and
there should be no distinction between kings and
subjects.
•  ‘In England a king hath little more to do than to
make war and give away places; […]A pretty
business indeed for a man to be allowed eight
hundred thousand sterling a year for, and
worshipped into the bargain! Of more worth is one
honest man to society and in the sight of God,
than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived.
-Thomas Paine
Chapter 3 - ‘Thoughts on the
present State of American Affairs.’
•  Examines hostilities between American
Colonies and Britain.
•  Argues for independence.
•  Continental Charter "should come from
some intermediate body between the
Congress and the people… [we must
ensure] freedom and property to all men,
and… the free exercise of religion.”
Chapter 4 – ‘On the Present Ability
of America, with some
Miscellaneous Reflections.’,
•  Paine's optimistic view of America's
military potential.
•  “It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our
great strength lies; yet our present
numbers are sufficient to repel th force of
all the world”
•  T. Paine