Common Sense by Thomas Paine

For many years Thomas Paine was the epitome of American histories greatest drawback. In American history there is always that one detail that doesn't make it into popular curriculum. Whether it is the point of view from the loosing side of a war, to the secret dalliances of a popular politician, to the truth of times social opinion- the American student is taught only so much. The most proper, popular material makes it in; along with any major facts too commonly known to ignore. Anything else is liable to fall to the wayside without enough support from historians or academia. There is always room for the improvement of materials taught; so said, it would seem there is much more to know about Thomas Paine then is currently taught.

Within the last twenty years there has been a resurgence of interest in both Thomas Paine and his work. The new social consciousness is more in tune with his writings, and his underdog status appeals to many. His blunt style of speech has earned him admiration in many corners; in fact one of President Ronald Regan's more clever speech writers took to adding excerpts from Paines' writings into the President's major addresses. Paine has lately been heralded as “Americas' first modern intellectual”, and is the subject of numerous books which have come out within the last four years.

In Common Sense, by Thomas Paine writes that America cannot recon ciliate with Great Britain. Paine gives many examples in this document of why America cannot reconsolidate with Great Britain. One of them is there is no advantages to being connected to Great Britain; only disadvantages can come out of the connection and the second idea is British government must sooner or later end.

In the first point about the connection with the British, Paine states that America can benefit much more if it was not connected to the British for many reasons. One of them is trade with other European countries will decline or even go to ruins because if Europe breaks out into a war other countries will not trade with America because of the connection with the British. Second is the fact that the British does not protect us unless it's in there interest or benefit to do so. Paine states that when the British fought off Spain and France, it was to protect Great Britain's interest not Americas. He states this because if America was not benefiting Great Britain with trade and money or anything else; the British would not protect America. Paine's third point is the fact that Britain is a monster. In this point he states that England brings tyranny to America because of the persecutions of emigrants that came to America in the first place and that Britain still pursues the descendants of the first emigrants.

In Thomas Paine's second point he states that the British form of government cannot keep peace within America anytime longer. Paine gives two points to support his idea of ...