In early America, terms such as liberty, freedom, and independence were used frequently to describe the wishes of the people from the oppression of the British government. A group of voices were needed to proclaim the distaste and aggravation of the colonial public towards the British government. However, to speak against the elite powers of Great Britain was a bold task and many felt to be submissive was the safer course of action. Undoubtedly, not every individual felt that submission was the best course for obtaining freedom. The two writers that expressed a tremendous amount of pride and called people of early America to take action were Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson. Paine wrote an aggressive article that changed the overall attitude of the previous passive colonist to a reactionary group of free-thinkers. That progressive document was known as “Common Sense.” The document was an intense blueprint of the errors that the British government imposed on their fellow countrymen both emotionally and physically. As for Thomas Jefferson, his writing was the first reactionary document that early Americans sent to Britain that demanded equal rights for all citizens. Jefferson’s iconic document was the Declaration of Independence. Both of these documents were one of the first written steps that started the long journey to freedom for America. Both Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson shaped the overall voice of the liberty movement and shaped the individualization of the colonial people during the pre-revolutionary time period with might of the written word. Paine was one of the most influential men during the pre-revolutionary time period and he also epitomized the overall emotional mindset of the colonial people in his writing “Common Sense.” “Common Sense” is one of Paine’s most famous works and explored various ideas of how America needed to organize their priorities to become a successful nation.
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The article also stated that people needed to take action and not overlook the situation with Great Britain. Paine passionately explained his discord with the tyrannical nature of the English government and suggested that violent action might be the only course on the path to liberty. “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.” (Paine 325). “Common Sense” was an article that defined the American Revolution, and fueled the American people to stand for their independence. In David C. Hoffman’s journal article he profoundly stated “Paine can fittingly be called one of the rhetorical leaders of the American Revolution” (Hoffman 374). Ultimately Hoffman believed that Paine played a vital role in the Revolutionary movement through his work “Common Sense.” Paine further explained in his article that America must create a new government that acts in harmonious partnership with all people to insure that the nation thrived and not act in the same tyrannical nature of their oppressors. …show more content…
Paine explained that the cause for American liberty and freedom was a cause that all of mankind strived to find. “The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Many circumstances have, and will arise, which are not local, but universal, and through which the principles of all Lovers of Mankind are affected.” (Paine 325). A sense of self-worth and passion to stand for one’s righteous ideas are some of the core things that Paine was trying to convey to the people. “Common Sense” was the written justification for such righteous ideas, and became the spark that ignited the colonial revolution against the English government. Paine escalated the gravity of his righteous movement by stating that God intended for America and England to be separate. Paine passionately stated, “the weeping voice of nature cries, Tis the time to part. Even the distance at which the Almighty hath placed England and America is a strong and natural proof was never the design of Heaven" (Paine 328). As a result of that statement early Americans, with their strong
The article also stated that people needed to take action and not overlook the situation with Great Britain. Paine passionately explained his discord with the tyrannical nature of the English government and suggested that violent action might be the only course on the path to liberty. “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.” (Paine 325). “Common Sense” was an article that defined the American Revolution, and fueled the American people to stand for their independence. In David C. Hoffman’s journal article he profoundly stated “Paine can fittingly be called one of the rhetorical leaders of the American Revolution” (Hoffman 374). Ultimately Hoffman believed that Paine played a vital role in the Revolutionary movement through his work “Common Sense.” Paine further explained in his article that America must create a new government that acts in harmonious partnership with all people to insure that the nation thrived and not act in the same tyrannical nature of their oppressors. …show more content…
Paine explained that the cause for American liberty and freedom was a cause that all of mankind strived to find. “The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Many circumstances have, and will arise, which are not local, but universal, and through which the principles of all Lovers of Mankind are affected.” (Paine 325). A sense of self-worth and passion to stand for one’s righteous ideas are some of the core things that Paine was trying to convey to the people. “Common Sense” was the written justification for such righteous ideas, and became the spark that ignited the colonial revolution against the English government. Paine escalated the gravity of his righteous movement by stating that God intended for America and England to be separate. Paine passionately stated, “the weeping voice of nature cries, Tis the time to part. Even the distance at which the Almighty hath placed England and America is a strong and natural proof was never the design of Heaven" (Paine 328). As a result of that statement early Americans, with their strong