Paine's Common Sense And Thomas Jefferson Declaration Of Independence Analysis

Register to read the introduction… This is evident even from the heading of Paine's third chapter, 'Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs.'; The word 'thoughts' can infer that what follows is simply one man's conception on how things are and how they should be; that they may not necessarily reflect the true views of one nation. In fact, Paine says this in his introductory paragraph, by disclaiming that 'perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor'; (693). By this, he obviously means that his word may not speak for all. In contrast, the Declaration of Independence is a bold and assertive document. Jefferson states that 'We hold these truths to be self-evident'; (715) and goes on to list the rights he feels the States are denied by being in allegiance with Britain. By using 'we,'; he implies reference to all the people of the States. In reality, he probably only meant wealthy white men, but the insinuation is that he is the voice of the people. Additionally, to conclude the document, Jefferson does not suggest but announces the separation of the states from Great Britain. This confident tone differs greatly from Paine, who seems to be merely proposing his ideas to people who, by his own admission, may not even be paying much attention. Differences in their tone can also be seen in the whole general makeup of the documents. Whereas Jefferson is clearly proclaiming that the time is now, Paine often suggests that the changes he advises be meant for later on. When speaking of the government of Great Britain, he says it is an authority which 'sooner or later must have an end'; (697). Furthermore, Paine offers great detail on his suggestions, often forming excellent examples of why an independent nation would be far more beneficial than one which is dependent on Great Britain. He gives economic, industrial, and foreign relations reasons for the need to abandon British rule. Jefferson alludes to 'inalienable rights,'; or those rights which forever exist, then simply outlines what Britain has done to provoke this rebellion. This goes back to the earlier label that Paine constructed more of a persuasive essay, clearly backing up his thoughts with specific examples as to why they were relevant. Paine realizes he is convincing whoever will listen what is in the States' best interests. Jefferson knows that his responsibility is to draft a document that proclaims the States breakaway from Great Britain. Both men had to know of the significance of their documents, so this was another factor on their tone. In conclusion, Jefferson and Paine show some similar views and intentions in their respective documents. Both writers argue that the new States would be better off without the ties to Great Britain, and both offer very valid points as to why this should occur. However, the differences can be seen in the writing styles and overall tone of the work. Paine becomes more of a salesman, trying to sell his readers to his thoughts on the government of Great Britain, though not completely becoming a force on the matter. Jefferson maintains a very up-front approach, simply overwhelming his readers with numerous examples and energetic voice, concluding with the 'final word' on the matter. However much the style differs, though, the two documents were equally compelling and served to motivate a nation into fighting for their independence. Bibliography: Jefferson, Thomas. "The Declaration of Independence." 1776 Paine, Thomas. "Common Sense." Electronic Library of Primary Sources: The Americans. CD-ROM. McDougal Littell. Evanston, IL: 1999.