Thomas Paine s Common Sense Essay - 813 Words

Thomas Paine began writing Common Sense in late 1775 under the working title of Plain Truth. With Benjamin Rush, who helped him edit it, publish it, and suggested the final title, Paine developed his ideas into a forty-eight page pamphlet. He published Common Sense anonymously because of its treasonable content. Rush recommended the printer Robert Bell, promising Paine that, where other printers might say no because of the content of the pamphlet, Bell would not hesitate nor delay its printing. Paine and Bell had a falling out, but Bell still felt strongly about printing a second edition. Bell added the phrase Written by an Englishman to his second edition without Paine s permission. Paine had stressed that it was the Doctrine, not the man that was important. Paine wanted to remain anonymous for as long as possible and felt that even such a general phrase as Bell s addition would take attention away from the ideas in his pamphlet. This did not seem to matter; printed by Bell, Common Sense sold almost 100,000 copies in 1776, and according to Paine, 120,000 copies were sold in the first three months. One biographer estimates that 500,000 copies sold in the first year (in both America and Europe – predominantly France and Britain), and another writes that Paine s pamphlet went through twenty-five published editions in the first year alone. Aside from the printed pamphlet itself, there were many handwritten summaries and whole copies circulated. At least one newspaper,Show MoreRelatedThomas Paine s Common Sense941 Words   |  4 Pages  Thomas Paine, born in 1737 in Thetford, England, came to America in 1774 after meeting Benjamin Franklin and receiving a letter of recommendation. Once he reached the colonies, he became the editor of the â€Å"Pennsylvania Magazine† as well as begin his career as a political pamphleteer. Paine became a major voice for political issues through his works including, â€Å"Common Sense† and â€Å"The American Crisis†. Both of which addressed what the colonies were fighting for, a fresh start as a society and politicalRead MoreThomas Paine s Common Sense Essay1659 Words   |  7 PagesPamphlet, Common Sense, written by philosopher Thomas Paine in 1776, provided the insight that would soon play out to be a major role in the beginning of the American Revolution. Thomas Paine helped many of the colonists envision a future of control, unity, and self-reliance. He portrayed the colonists to be victims of Great Britain, the land in which most of the original colonists se ttled away from, and encouraged them to begin the war in which they would fight for their liberty. Common Sense caughtRead MoreThomas Paine s Common Sense1591 Words   |  7 Pagespages of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, he makes it very clear his feelings for the British Government. â€Å"The king is not to be trusted without being looked after†¦,† Paine states (page 6). He is trying to convey that the kind should not be able to make important decisions without someone going back behind him to check and make sure he is not messing anything up. He also goes on to talk about how the common people are wiser and more worthy of confidence than the crown. Expressing that the common peopleRead MoreThomas Paine s Common Sense Essay720 Words   |  3 PagesThomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense was first published in January, 1776. Paine emigrated to America in late 1774, just a few months before the Revolutionary War began. Upon entering America Paine quickly became involved in American politics. He also edited the Pennsylvania Magazine. The war for American Independence can be traced back to 1763 when the French and Indian war occurred. The British won the war, but also had a substantial debt. Thus, they began to heavily tax the American coloniesRead MoreThomas Paine s Common Sense887 Words   |  4 PagesThomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense questions the King’s priorities and why American colonists would stay with him, which gave the American colonists the confidence in themselves to separate from the British. In Thomas Paine’s first page of his pamphlet Common Sense, Paine says â€Å"As a long and violent abuse of power.† Now for years the colonists had believed the King had bad advisers and that basically everyone in Britain but the King was the problem. Paine goes on to state â€Å"The remains of MonarchicalRead MoreThomas Paine s Common Sense1512 Words   |  7 Pageshistorically and culturally-significant pieces of literature, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense has been meticulously analyzed for its effectiveness in eliciting the reaction that Paine himself intended in 1776. At the forefront of Paine’s pamphlet is â€Å"Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs,† notable for its first sentence: â€Å"In the following pages I offer nothing more than simple, facts, plain arguments, and commonsense† (7). Within, Paine â€Å"elaborates† on three main points that strengthen the optionRead MoreThomas Paine s Common Sense795 Words   |  4 PagesThomas Paine’s Common Sense, on the surface, is a call for the dissolution of British monarchial hold on American society. Upon closer inspection of his rhetoric, historical references, and his concept of independence, his audience witnesses more than just an incitement to revolution. Paine is redeveloping the American concept of rights and, thus, redefining its roots. By eliminating British ties in this pamphlet, he creates a â€Å"rights foundation† that relies on discourse and national institutionsRead MoreThomas Paine s Common Sense Pamphlet1719 Words   |  7 Pagesfigure to back their frustrations. Radical journalist and political animal, Thomas Paine, was the first to openly ask for liberty, in the Pennsylvania Magazine. Paine’s ordinary language appealed to the common folk, and allowed them to participate in colonial meetings; Their strength would be dependent on numbers. The published piece gave clear reason for the colonists to fight for their freedom. Thomas Paine’s Common Sense pamphlet asserted purpose to the impending ward on England, and inspired allRead MoreThomas Paine s Common Sense Assignment976 Words   |  4 PagesThomas Paine’s Common Sense Assignment Thomas Paine published Common Sense in January of 1776, and it was a motive that pushed for America to gain freedom from British rule. Paine used Common Sense as a way to explain to the Colonist just what Britain was doing to the colonies and what they were stopping them from achieving. Paine used language that colonist used in everyday life so that it was more appealing to them. Being that it was written in an easy to understand language and stated what theRead MoreAnalysis of Thomas Paine ´s Pamphlet, Common Sense846 Words   |  3 PagesCommon Sense Throughout time, events such as wars and assassinations have occurred that people today can describe as â€Å"a turning point in history†. However, not all turning points in history have to be wars, assassinations, etc. In fact, perhaps everybody acknowledges that Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense is a â€Å"turning point in history† because it inspired the United States Revolutionary War. Common Sense, a pamphlet, can be credited as to inciting the American Colonies to revolt against Great