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Common Sense
Literature, January 1776
The fighting at Lexington and Concord did not immediately transform American public opinion into supporting independence from Britain. Instead, a great debate was touched off, which took place in the homes, taverns and assemblies of the colonists.
One of the most important elements of this debate was furnished by Thomas Paine, who published the pamphlet Common Sense in January 1776. It is arguably the most successful political essay in American history and may have done for the War for Independence what Uncle Tom’s Cabin did for the Civil War.
Paine made the following points:
Governments, even good ones, are at best necessary evils; they were less desirable the farther the government was from the governed.
Ignoring the lingering loyalty many Americans still felt for the king, he argued ardently for independence. Monarchy was branded an absurd form of government and George III a “Royal Brute.”
It made no sense, in Paine's mind, for a small country like Britain, an island, to rule a continent like America.
Independence would foster peace and prosperity. An independent America could avoid the senseless progression of European wars and grow rich by trading with all countries, not just the mother country.
Presented in a popular form, Common Sense reached a large audience and helped to sway the undecided to support independence.
Common Sense Title: Common Sense Author: Thomas Paine Year Published: 1776 COMMON SENSE by Thomas Paine INTRODUCTION PERHAPS the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit ... http://www.civics-online.org/library/formatted/texts/commonsense.html
True Common Sense I appeal to your true common sense. The following questions will be discussed in this article ( and future articles) and a common sense answer will show just how spurious the rebel logic has become. Taxation without representation? Every citizen ... http://www.americanrevolution.org/loyalist2.html
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