Thomas Paine - Common Sense

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Thomas Paine ‘s Common Sense

The life, work and worldview of Thomas Payne, his most significant discoveries in the socio-political sphere. The pamphlet entitled "Common Sense" was published in January 1776. The pamphlet described the humiliating situation of American colonists who were, mercilessly criticized by the policy of the metropolis concerning its colonies and the "crowned villains," leading this metropolis. Payne's “Common Sense”, as it uniquely united all the main ideas that reflected the question of an early separation from England. The creation of their independent democratic republic was proposed as the only alternative to humiliation. "The debate period is over. Weapons as a last resort should resolve the dispute," the pamphlet ended.

The response was amazing. A wave of patriotism swept the colonists, who suddenly realized that they were Americans. All hesitating was swept away by an avalanche of patriotic feelings and a thirst for independence. Doubters and "loyalists," fearing widespread anger, hid their feelings deeper. The rebellious colonies declared themselves independent republics, and on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted, proclaiming the creation of the United States of America. The author of the Declaration was Thomas Jefferson, a man of the same cut as Thomas Payne.

First of all, they named two main reasons for the frenzied popularity of "Common Sense." The first is his auspicious time of publication, when the colonies, according to them, were ripe for separation. The second reason was maybe the axiomatic nature of the arguments precisely formulated by Payne.

Moreover, Payne appealed to his audience at three levels: rational, emotional, and ethical. As for the reasonable level, we can agree with Goldberg, who saw Payne's program as the basis for people's desire for profit. He wrote that "Payne invariably specifically indicates what benefits the various sectors of society derive from the plan he proposes”(Goldberg 29).

At the emotional level, the educator, from the point of view of American historians, appealed to feelings of parental love and affection (demanding that the colonists now take care of the future of the continent, without shifting this burden onto the shoulders of their children), as well as to the fears of any person (by painting pictures of them burned property and relatives killed). "Common Sense" presented the idea of "Declaration of Independence" was substantiated. Thomas Payne cited the main points of the future document, in his opinion. Absolutely in the same logical sequence, literally point by point, they are presented in the officially adopted Declaration of Independence.

However, the most important was the ethical level, for which Payne should have created an impression of himself (after all, he was not yet known to anyone in America; moreover, we already said that the first edition of his pamphlet was anonymous) as a good guy. He should have proved that the motive for writing this pamphlet was only the happiness of its readers. To do this, the enlightener, firstly, tried to create the image of a devout Christian to please the reverent Puritans (while Payne himself was a deist). Secondly, realizing what he writes for the colonists, whose Puritan ethics convinced that everyone should achieve everything with their labor, he tried once again to emphasize that the king was not doing anything. At the same time, Payne created an impression of typical philistine, as according to Wilson and Ricketson, smart, but not intellectual. Moreover, thirdly, he emphasized that his only desire was for everyone to be good friends, neighbors, and citizens of their country. As for the elite of the American colonies, although a lot of laudatory remarks by the American Democrats about pamphlets can be cited.

Work cited

Goldberg, David Joseph. Discontented America: The United States in the 1920s. JHU Press,

1999.29