Common Sense: With the Whole Appendix: the Address to the Quakers: Also, the Large AdditionsThis famous pamphlet - published anonymously in 1776 because of its seditious content - by the British political radical Thomas Paine (1737-1809) laid out his pioneering ideas for American independence, and earned him the title of 'Father of the American Revolution'. The Declaration of Independence, written chiefly by Thomas Jefferson and famously promulgated later that year, was influenced by Paine's arguments in this work: that America was too large to be governed by a country as small as Britain - which, he claimed, was ruling America only for its own financial gain - and that the colonies had now achieved the financial and military capacity to break free. Criticising the British monarchical system, with a single figure at its pinnacle, Paine called instead for a government that promoted security, liberty and equality for its people. Over half a million copies of this highly influential document were sold in America in its first year. |
Contents
Section 1 | 1 |
Section 2 | 79 |
Section 3 | 80 |
Section 4 | 80 |
Section 5 | 81 |
Section 6 | 89 |
Section 7 | 120 |
Section 8 | 121 |
Section 9 | 151 |
Section 10 | 153 |
Section 11 | 164 |
Common terms and phrases
able abſolute affection againſt America appear arms authority becauſe become body Britain Britiſh buſineſs called caſe cauſe Colonies common connection conſtitution Continent court crown dangerous debt dependance different doctrine enemies England equal Europe firſt force friends give hands happened hath houſe human independance intereſt King land laſt laws leaſt leave leſs liberty lives Lord mankind manner matters means meaſures ment monarchy moſt muſt nature navy neceſſary never offer ourſelves party peace political preſent principles proper protect purpoſe reaſon reconciliation remains ruin ſame ſay ſecurity ſee ſet ſhall ſhe ſhould ſome ſtate ſubject ſuch ſuffer tell themſelves theſe thing thoſe thought thouſand tion trade true unto virtue vols Wherefore whole whoſe wiſh worth