...period of colonization, colonists were unwillingly subjugated to the regulations of British Parliament. Their individual rights were limited and, their way of living was tailored to satisfy the needs and desires of Great Britain. Unfortunately, colonists were uneducated to comprehend how they were living in a society where their voices were unaccounted for and their rights were deprived of. Nevertheless, a reputable political activist, known as Thomas Paine, saw it as his responsibility to dismantle the tyrannical practices of Great Britain which they called a government. In his noteworthy pamphlet, “Common Sense”, Paine attempted to persuade his readers, which were the colonists, to rebel against British rule and become an independent nation on its own. Paine’s pamphlet was discernibly used as a platform to disclose the vile actions of English rule and how receding from Great Britain will tremendously benefit the future of America....
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...States of America. Were the colonist justified to seek independence? The British taxed them with acts, didn’t listen to the colonies in the British government and also England is a small country that's 4,417 miles away. The colonist were justified in becoming Patriots and seeking independence from Britain. Parliament taxed the colonies with many acts, some of them even make the colonist lose their privacy and natural rights. During the stamp act the Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser put a skull and crossbones where you have to put the stamp. The stamp that you needed was supposed to go on...
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...Thomas Paine was an influential man who achieved many accomplishments throughout his life. He was born in England as the only child to Joseph and Frances Paine. He struggled as a young adult and was unemployed at the age of 36 until it was time for him to take up challenges having the help of Benjamin Franklin emigrate in America taking him to an interesting turn in his life(Foner). Thomas Paine is a prominent man who enlightened people through his writing, modify many United State citizens by his inspiring pamphlet “Common Sense”, and the change he was made in the United States because of his accomplishments. Thomas Paine wanted to show the common man why they should be independent of Britain. Paine wanted to reveal the corruption of the British monarchy and how the king was martinet. “in America, Paine believed there was a chance of righting the balance and bringing the ordinary citizen into power , if only the country could be made to see the necessity...
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...Common Sense, Thomas Paine’s expression of the pre-revolutionary America, these ideas were helped Americans finally reach their tipping point to seek independence from Great Britain. Thomas Paine pointed out all of the practical reasons why England had mistreated Americans, and why Americans could when freedom in a war for independence. Paine, a loyal patriot and one of the drafters of the Declaration of Independence, put himself at risk by publishing his ideas, and could have been tried for treason in British courts. Thomas Paine began his pamphlet with his ideas of what a real democratic does and does not look like. Paine believed that society and government must be able to go hand in hand, and depend on each other in order to maintain a...
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...1. Why does Paine write Common Sense anonymously and how does he think his work will be remembered? "In the following sheets, the author hath studiously avoided every thing which is personal among ourselves. Compliments as well as censure to individuals make no part thereof. The wise and the worthy need not the triumph of a pamphlet; and those whose sentiments are injudicious or unfriendly, will cease of themselves, unless too much pains is bestowed upon their conversion." (Thomas Paine) So, basically as much as the book means for the colonists, Paine wanted to be on a rather neutral ground. He had no need for the glory that brought forth by a pamphlet (which is the whole Common Sense) nor he wanted to go against those who would certainly punish him for what his work brought forth. He himself clearly said that only those who got too hurt emotionally by sins they made would spare him for what he wrote. (aiming at the authorities who used violence to suppress the colonists) It is merely a guess from my part but I think what he meant was that he should not be the one the sacrifice but instead the colonists who were being suppressed at the time. He did not want them to rely on anyone but themselves to save their own life. Thus, he probably thought that his work would remain as something written by basically no one at all but merely created by the people' passions for freedom. On other words, the work was only there to raise the spirit of colonist to fight for their own lives and...
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...Thomas Paine did not believe that mercantilism was a fair economic system. Paine went against the mercantilist notion that America could only function with a connection to Great Britain. In Common Sense (CS), Paine wrote that he wanted free trade with all nations, not just Great Britain. The Trade and Navigation Acts restricted free trade with all nations which went against Paine’s beliefs. Paine was anti-mercantilist, and did not believe government should have a strong role in regards to trade. Paine did believe that the colonies should have representation in the Parliament. Paine wrote the CS which influenced many people to fight for their independence and fight for their representation in the Parliament. In CS, Paine fights for American independence. In his argument, Paine began by comparing both government and society and gave his opinions and views on both. According to Paine, society is everything constructive that people join together to accomplish. Whereas government, is an institution whose only purpose is to protect us from our own misconduct. Paine believed that the people would be much happier if they were responsible for their own creation laws and rules. Paine argued that this type of system of representation would benefit the American colonists. He wanted a...
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...Revolution, American Independence, and the creation of the Constitutional Republic of the United States America (Bailyn 26-27). Influenced by those of the European Enlightenment, such as John Locke and Isaac Newton, and fueled by the colonist’s growing frustrations with the English Crown, the literary soil of the New World was a fertile garden. From this newly enriched land sprung both flowers of poetry and the nutritious fruits of the realistic pen that were deeply inspired by the American Enlightenment. The literature of the Enlightenment period was powerful indeed, as it motivated people to think and to take action. Two superlative examples of American Literature and the influences of the Enlightenment Era are Philip Freneau’s poetry and Thomas Paine’s prose. The influence of enlightenment ideas is in the works of both of these important literary figures. Philip Freneau was the poet of the American Revolution (Bowen 213). From Freneau’s naturalistic poetry, such as “The Wild Honeysuckle, we can see the Enlightenment idea that nature is a revelation of God that holds instructions for mankind. “The Wild Honeysuckle" was America's first major poetic account on the themes of life and death. The poem begins by discussing the types of death that a flower might encounter; “No roving foot shall crush thee here, / No busy hand provoke a tear” (Freneau 5-6) Freneau considers nature to be an altruistic being that cares for a flower as a gardener. Even with the best of care from Nature,...
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...hold a greater significance? How often do we reflect on the gravity that our words carry? How often are we influenced by the words of others? How often do we make decisions based on what other people say? The use of words can indeed have a tremendous impact on our beliefs, attitudes, and worldviews. This has certainly been the case throughout history. In the United States, a few texts have been particularly effective in dramatically reshaping public opinion. Among these are Common Sense by Thomas Paine and Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Texts like these drastically changed the hearts and minds of many Americans, demonstrating the incredible impact that words can have on a group of people. Although Paine was born to a poor family, and although he received limited schooling, in 1776 he abruptly rose from obscurity to become one of the crucial figures of the American Revolution. After immigrating to America in 1774, Paine settled in Philadelphia, where he began a career as a journalist. Soon, America was engaged in a revolution with Great Britain. Although there was significant anti-British sentiment in America at the time, there was hesitation among colonists as to whether they should go to war with Great Britain. Although Paine was relatively unknown, his enormously influential Common Sense ignited the colonies, helping jumpstart the American Revolution. Paine’s purpose in writing Common Sense was to motivate the uncommitted colonists into fighting the war against...
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...the old English colonies. Thomas Paine was English born but had an American soul. His influence and ideas had a large impact on him as a person and our country. His influence did not only affect history but is still in use today. As stated in Common Sense, the American colonies would be better off as a society instead of a government. Society meaning, a group of actual colonist coming together to follow a set of rules without crime or victimizing. The government can often be pushy and not allow civilians of society to speak or think for themselves. The British government in a way, suffocated the colonies from being individuals and ruling themselves. Thomas Paine stated in his book that the government was like a King. He talked about religions choosing a king to rule over them instead of having their own people and God make their decisions. This is how government started to form. He states that God is unhappy with the decision, but provides their King anyway. Thomas Paine was born in Norfolk, England in 1737. He was born as a Quaker (“A Biography of Thomas Paine”). A Quaker is a person who follows a group of religious followers and servers. This group was often found persuading equal rights especially when slavery and women’s’ rights were an issue (“History of Quakers”). Thomas was born under Britain rule, but during this time the groups of Quakers were becoming stronger. Thomas stood up to his government and moved to American in 1774. Thomas was unsuccessful in England...
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...Events That Led To Independence 04 July 1776 is the day American Colonist signed declaring their independence from Great Britain. They were letting the world know that American Colonies were done being abused by an oppressive and tyrannical government. The British Crown took this as an act of treason and would hang the British Crown before acting on these measures. The American people thought that they should be able to send their own people to Britain's Parliament or at least vote for Britain's lawmakers. They were denied this right and the American people became strongly independent and wanted to do things for themselves. American people didn't want people an ocean away telling them how to live their lives. Let’s get down to what the British Crown was enforcing on the America’s in no real order. The French and Indian war ended with a large debt. From the British point of view, it was only right to have the American colonist pay a large sum of the debt for their defense. The combination of the harsh taxes and the lack of an American voice in Parliament gave rise to the famous phrase "taxation without representation." In 1764 the Sugar Act was enacted to raise revenue through a tax on sugar and molasses. This tax has been on the books since the 1730’s but smuggling and the lacking in enforcement did not bother them. The Sugar Act reduced the rate of tax on molasses from six pence to three pence per gallon, while Grenville took measures that the duty be strictly enforced...
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...The American colonist sought to gain more land to be able to settle and to grow financially and have a good standard of living. Into the 1750s, the colonist were able to obtain more land that the British helped them win. Although these colonist were able to obtain this land they were not satisfied with the British and wanted to obtain their freedom. The colonist began to have a stronger urge of freedom as the British began to abuse their powers in the colonies. The constant taxation acts being placed on the colonist led them to revolt against the British and declared war as they desired to obtain their liberty. “Through the military intelligence that the colonist had they were able to win their victory from the British July 4, 1776.”1 Although...
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...Thomas Jefferson was who authored extraordinary words and it was there words that changed a nation. Jefferson’s ability to write made him prominent author of write the Declaration of Independence, (among other significant works). Jefferson’s writings reflected on the rights of mankind and what rights a government must offer its people. His use of words to fight for Human rights makes him one of the greatest American Hero’s. Thomas Jefferson’s writings on basic human rights caused a radical shift in American Colonist thoughts and these stunning ideas would influence the Americans to break away from Great Britain. “As a boy, Thomas Jefferson’s was shy and often tongue-tied…Preferred the company of books to that of most people.” (Wilmore, 1) These were words to describe the young Jefferson; his childhood would prove to be a key in shaping the man, who through his words would change a nation. Jefferson was born on April 13th 1743, in Shadwell Virginia. During his childhood he would spend 15 hours each day reading and writing, this would prove to make his writing skills at a high level (1). As he grew into an adult he would study law in his home of Virginia at the William and Mary College at Williamsburg (Bottorff, 15). During this time he would become a member of the Whig party and would advocate for the rights and liberties of mankind (Peterson, 1). It was in his childhood and as turned into an adult which he learned how to write and how to express his political views through words...
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...The Declaration of Independence can be divided into four main parts. The first part is an introduction that states the purpose of the document, which was to explain why the American people were declaring independence from the government of Great Britain. The second part is a theory of good government and individual rights generally accepted by Americans from the 1770s until today. In this theory, all individuals are equal in their possession of certain immutable rights. These rights are not granted by the government. Rather, they are inherent to human nature. Therefore, the first purpose of a good government is to secure or protect these rights. Further, a good government is based on the consent of the governed -- the people -- who are the sole source of the government's authority. If their government persistently violates this theory of good government, then the people have the right to overthrow it. The third part of the document is a list of grievances against King George III, who was singled out to represent the actions of the British government. These grievances are examples of actions that violated the criteria for good government stated in the second part of the Declaration of Independence. These grievances, therefore, justify separation from the King's bad government and establishment of a good government to replace it. The fourth and final part of the document is an unqualified assertion of sovereignty by the United States of America. It proclaims the determination of...
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...of water in the history of the United States impacted the everyday life of the various inhabitants presents during the vast period from early 16 century to the 1790's. Before the colonist and settlers ever migrated to this region, the natives who were the Indians were able to grow a few crops and conduct regular fishing as part of their diet. Upon the arrival of the white people, they were able to trade with them in exchange for their products like kitchenware and clothes. They were able to live sustainably because they understood the climate and the weather pattern having lived here for longer. Without their help, the immigrants would found the land very tough to inhabit and possibly they might have turn back away discouraged. Water is essential in every part of the human life, for example, cooking, cleaning, growth of crops and animal rearing. As it shapes individual livelihood, so does it shape families and communities. The white people who had experienced civilization centuries earlier were able to expel forcefully the natives and begin massively controlling the land all the way from the coast to the inland. The presence of good harbors and ports contributed to the influx of foreigners while the good productive land and adequate rainfall provided an incentive to stay. This essay will examine how the early settlers and subsequent generations utilized this resource in individual capacity to the community across various aspects of life, that is, economic, social and political...
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...(7%), Pennsylvania-Dutch (6%) 3. What sorts of contributions did the Scots-Irish bring? (see “Makers” section too) They were westward pioneers, and helped make trails for people to follow. 4. What was the Paxton Boys uprising? A group...
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