Buy essay on Thomas Paine’s book “Common Sense”

Thomas Paine (January 29, 1737 – June 8, 1809) is a famous Anglo-American journalist that was called “the godfather of the U.S”. He was born and grew up in a provincial English town in a family of religious sects – Quakers. In his early youth he was a pirate, and then started to educate himself, changed many works. Got acquainted with Benjamin Franklin, Paine went to America in 1774. There he soon became known for his articles and pamphlets published in the “Pennsylvania Magazine”. In the pamphlet “Common Sense” Paine, first formulated the call for independence. It was he who first used the name of the new state – the United States of America. Pamphlet “Common Sense” was published in January 1776. Paine calls for independence of American colonies from England and proclaims the creation of the republic in his pamphlet.
One of the most important components, which provided such astounding success, is the new system of polity that was proposed by the author. It is a representative parliamentary republic based on general suffrage, whose activity is regulated by a fixed (written) Constitution, created by specifically convened for that purpose the Constitutional Assembly. The Constitution should include a Bill of Rights, equal for all citizens. The Constitution should be revered with the same respect as the King in monarchical countries is revered.

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The idea to put the administration of the country in the framework of the Law (to subordinate it to the law which, is developed and adopted by delegates were are elected by the people) is the main in the pamphlet “Common Sense”. In America, which, according to the author of the pamphlet, is paving its way to the freedom for all mankind, there should be enacted immediately on behalf of the citizens of all colonies, the two most important state legislative acts: the Declaration of Independence and “The Continental Charter”; he means the writing, fixed constitution. The focus of the Pain’s article is the idea of a fixed constitution and its implementation in the country.
In this pamphlet, Paine tells about the need of promptly development and adoption of a fixed (written) Constitution.
The author of the “Common Sense” foresees the dangers that threaten America, if the fixed constitution won’t be adopted. The first danger pointed by Paine is typical for any state during the period of troubles. Genuine freedom, and the well-being of citizens, directly depend on, who stands at the head of the country: legitimate, elected be people government, military or representatives of the “rabble”.
The pamphlet gives an example of how a some Tommaso Aniello, (or Masaniello, according to other sources), a Neapolitan fisherman fomented disturbances of his compatriots at the marketplace, talking about Spanish oppression, roused people to revolt, and became a king during one day. The author of “Common Sense” asks Americans to deliberate and cold-bloodedly create their own constitution and establish their own government, and not to relying on time or occasion. If Americans loose a chance, there will come some Masaniello, who will lead the civil commotion, unite the desperate and the discontented, seize the power and take away the freedom of the continent (Paine, 46-47).
Another real danger that Paine allocates, is characterized for America of that time. The pamphlet’s author is concerned that the Continental belt is pulled too weakly; and if not to take measures in time, it will be too late to do anything (Paine, 61), no any colony is able to protect itself, but the combined entity can do everything (Paine, 48). Combining the individual colonies is the task of a continental constitution.
“Common Sense” written by Thomas Paine is one of the key texts of the early history of liberal thought, played a prominent role in the American Revolution. Writing about American independence, Paine took his arguments in the difference between society and state, critic of the monarchy and the apology of spontaneous order. The brochure of Paine was sold in hundreds of thousands of copies in a few months and, according to George Washington, it made a revolution in the minds of American colonists.

Work Cited:
Paine, Thomas. Common sense‎. 1942



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