With no army but a few brave men the colonist took a stand against England. Almost a year into the war the Americans were struggling and the war was not going well. England was a massive powerhouse and had an army that was well trained and fit for battle. The Americans on the other hand were just starting to form their own country and their army consisted of farmers and small militia. The Americans were losing and many began to lose faith in this nobel cause. However, thanks to man named Thomas Paine this all changed.
Paine was born in England but came to colonies a year before the war began. He did not have much of a formal education but he learned to read and write. When he arrived in American he argued that the colonist should not simply revolt against against taxation. But rather, they should completely separate themselves from England so that they could have complete freedom. He expanded upon these ideas when he wrote a pamphlet called Common Sense.
In Common Sense, Paine argued that there are natural rights that each person is born with and that these rights cannot be taken away. These words that Paine wrote were simple yet profound and both the educated and non-education could understand them.
Paine used a vituperation argument to attack the English's monarchy and logically stated that all men are born equal and that no man has the right to establish his family as presiding over others. And even if a person was deserving of certain honors, his children were not deserving and that this person had no right to pass these honors on.
The American soldiers were tired and many were considering leaving the continental army. The before the battle began, General Washington had Paine read this section of his pamphlet out loud to his soldiers.
"These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."
These words were so emotional and inspiring that the soldiers stayed. Later that night, they crossed the Delaware river and were victorious in battle. This was a turning point in the war and much of this credit should be given to Paine. His words helped found our nation and he helped inspire those to soldiers to endure on.
In Common Sense, Paine argued that there are natural rights that each person is born with and that these rights cannot be taken away. These words that Paine wrote were simple yet profound and both the educated and non-education could understand them.
Paine used a vituperation argument to attack the English's monarchy and logically stated that all men are born equal and that no man has the right to establish his family as presiding over others. And even if a person was deserving of certain honors, his children were not deserving and that this person had no right to pass these honors on.
The American soldiers were tired and many were considering leaving the continental army. The before the battle began, General Washington had Paine read this section of his pamphlet out loud to his soldiers.
"These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."
These words were so emotional and inspiring that the soldiers stayed. Later that night, they crossed the Delaware river and were victorious in battle. This was a turning point in the war and much of this credit should be given to Paine. His words helped found our nation and he helped inspire those to soldiers to endure on.
Reading this document, I was inspired myself! He is a very powerful writer and his words made a huge impact on the Revolution. In school, my teacher tried to convince us that it was this very document that inspired the American troupes to keep fighting and ultimately helped us win the war. What if that were true? What if a single document could really change events like that? Interesting!
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