Thomas Paine publishes "Common Sense" On January 9, 1776, writer Thomas Paine publishes his pamphlet “Common Sense,” setting forth his arguments in favor of American independence. But it is not so much the absurdity as the evil of hereditary succession which concerns mankind. If you’ve ever tried to read Common Sense by Thomas Paine you know it’s nearly impossible. When the calamities of America required a consultation, there was no method so ready, or at that time so proper, as to appoint persons from the several houses of Assembly for that purpose; and the wisdom with which they have proceeded hath preserved this Continent from ruin. In this extensive quarter of the globe, we forget the narrow limits of three hundred and sixty miles (the extent of England) and carry our friendship on a larger scale; we claim brotherhood with every European Christian, and triumph in the generosity of the sentiment. That the Almighty hath here entered his protest against monarchical government is true, or the scripture is false. The contest for monarchy and succession, between the houses of York and Lancaster, laid England in a scene of blood for many years. Concrete Examples – You’ll get practical advice illustrated with examples of real-world applications or anecdotes. We rate each piece of content on a scale of 1–10 with regard to these two core criteria. As to government matters, ‘tis not in the power of Britain to do this continent justice: the business of it will soon be too weighty and intricate to be managed with any tolerable degree of convenience, by a power so distant from us, and so very ignorant of us; for if they cannot conquer us, they cannot govern us. Nay, any daring fellow, in a brig of fourteen or sixteen guns, might have robbed the whole Continent, and carried off half a million of money. Should an independancy be brought about by the first of those means, we have every opportunity and every encouragement before us, to form the noblest, purest constitution on the face of the earth. Written in plain language everyone can understand it explains the natural relationship between government and people. The conferring members being met, let their business be to frame a Continental Charter, or Charter of the United Colonies; (answering to what is called the Magna Charta of England) fixing the number and manner of choosing Members of Congress, Members of Assembly, with their date of sitting; and drawing the line of business and jurisdiction between them: Always remembering, that our strength is Continental, not Provincial. They distinguish us from the herd of common animals. Secondly, Because the longer it is delayed, the harder it will be to accomplish. Such a power could not be the gift of a wise people, neither can any power, which needs checking, be from God; yet the provision which the constitution makes supposes such a power to exist. And, he explained why. Be part of Team 1776 by making a contribution or a monthly pledge today. First—It is the custom of Nations, when any two are at war, for some other powers, not engaged in the quarrel, to step in as mediators, and bring about the preliminaries of a peace: But while America calls herself the subject of Great Britain, no power, however well disposed she may be, can offer her mediation. The same national misfortune happens when a king worn out with age and infirmity enters the last stage of human weakness. Here’s a few examples to compare the original text to the translated samples. The one forfeits his liberty, the other his head. Antiquity favours the same remark; for the quiet and rural lives of the first Patriarchs have a snappy something in them, which vanishes when we come to the history of Jewish royalty. This contest began in the reign of Henry the Sixth, and was not entirely extinguished till Henry the Seventh, in whom the families were united. Now therefore hearken unto their voice, howbeit, protest solemnly unto them and show them the manner of the King that shall reign over them, i. e. not of any particular King, but the general manner of the Kings of the earth whom Israel was so eagerly copying after. The Republics of Europe are all (and we may say always) in peace. In the next Congress, let a Colony be taken by lot from twelve only, omitting that Colony from which the president was taken in the former Congress, and so proceeding on till the whole thirteen shall have had their proper rotation. However, it matters very little now what the king of England either says or does; he hath wickedly broken through every moral and human obligation, trampled nature and conscience beneath his feet, and by a steady and constitutional spirit of insolence and cruelty procured for himself an universal hatred. AMEN. These ideas are as important today as ever and for that reason, this book is as important as ever. The instance is without a precedent, the case never existed before, and who can tell what may be the event? To say that the Commons is a check upon the King, presupposes two things. See Entic’s “Naval History,” Intro., p. 56. Let each Colony be divided into six, eight, or ten, convenient districts, each district to send a proper number of Delegates to Congress, so that each Colony send at least thirty. Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general Favor; a long Habit of not thinking a Thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right,and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of Custom. If the first king was taken by lot, it establishes a precedent for the next, which excludes hereditary succession. Men who look upon themselves born to reign, and others to obey, soon grow insolent. O! In Philadelphia in early 1776, Thomas Paine (1737-1809) anonymously published a booklet called Common Sense.His impassioned plea for American independence and his anti-government tirade directed at King George III sold 100,000 copies within three months. In England a King hath little more to do than to make war and give away places; which, in plain terms, is to empoverish the nation and set it together by the ears. Society gives up some of its freedom to an entity whose sole role should be to provide “freedom and security” inexpensively and completely. Wherefore if we must hereafter protect ourselves, why not do it for ourselves? Common Sense: Addressed to the Inhabitants of America, on the following Interesting Subjects, viz. No man can assign the least pretence for his fears, on any other grounds, than such as are truly childish and ridiculous, viz., that one colony will be striving for superiority over another. III. To be always running three or four thousand miles with a tale or a petition, waiting four or five months for an answer, which, when obtained, requires five or six more to explain it in, will in a few years be looked upon as folly and childishness. Freedom and security. 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: for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same miseries by a Government, which we might expect in a country without Government, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer. that they might be LIKE unto other nations, i. e. the Heathens, whereas their true glory lay in being as much UNLIKE them as possible. A line of distinction should be drawn between English soldiers taken in battle, and inhabitants of America taken in arms. ‘Tis a matter worthy of observation, that the more a country is peopled, the smaller their armies are. I have frequently amused myself both in public and private companies, with silently remarking the specious errors of those who speak without reflecting. WHEREFORE, instead of gazing at each other with suspicious or doubtful curiosity, let each of us hold out to his neighbor the hearty hand of friendship, and unite in drawing a line, which, like an act of oblivion, shall bury in forgetfulness every former dissention. The original manuscript is nearly impossible to understand. This new World hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of Europe. The continent would not, by that time, have a general, or even a military officer left; and we, or those who may succeed us, would be as ignorant of martial matters as the ancient Indians: and this single position, closely attended to, will unanswerably prove that the present time is preferable to all others. Paine’s clear, concise writing, intended for the masses, sacrifices no rhetorical grandeur. So Samuel called unto the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel. the liberty of choosing an House of Commons from out of their own body—and it is easy to see that when Republican virtues fails, slavery ensues. And as no offer hath yet been made to refute the doctrine contained in the former editions of this pamphlet, it is a negative proof, that either the doctrine cannot be refuted, or, that the party in favor of it are too numerous to be opposed.

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