Thomas Paine, a political activist, theorist, and a philosopher in his pamphlet "common sense" inspired people to protest and fight for independence from the Great Britain. Common sense explained why they needed independence and the advantages independence would bring to the people of America. It also presented them with an argument for freedom just in the right time when independence was a vital issue. It communicated in a manner that ordinary people understood, shunning philosophical references used by other writers, and referring to the Bible to speak to the people. Thus, it was seen as the most incendiary and most accepted booklet of the whole radical era (Paine, 2013).
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, and the Declaration of Independence, conflicts with the Selections of the Federalist, in a number of ways. First, in the pamphlet Common Sense, Thomas Paine explains that Britain’s motive was interest and not attachment (Paine, 2013). He understood that the Great Britain merely protected the colonies since they wanted to establish trade among other nations. Subsequently, he adds that it would be harmful to continue staying under the command of Britain since if they waged war on a certain country, then trade involving that country and America would come to a close. Further, he showed Britain’s refusal to finding the middle ground because they wanted to rule regardless. He supports this argument by explaining that if Britain sustained its rule, the king would formulate the laws thus denying the colonists a say in crucial matters. This portrayed The Great Britain as a country so arrogant and heartless in Paine’s view. He described Britain as “barbarians that murdered Americans and strived to rule over them, like a God” (Paine, 2013). Paine thus saw it as detrimental to be part of Britain since it would drag them into very uncalled for European wars. This would in effect keep America from international trade which they excelled in.
Paine argued that it was quite absurd for a mere island to control a whole continent. He believed America was not a British nation and thus should not have been composed of people and influences from Europe. It was not justifiable for Paine to be ruled by Britain, and that America could have its sovereignty and run its activities on its own. It even gets worse with Britain being the “mother country” of America. Paine argued that this made her actions even more horrendous since it’s not in the nature for mothers to harm their children so brutally. They expected Britain to be protective rather than exploitative, to raise rather than derail America’s growth. He saw the distance between Britain and America as making governing of Britain unwieldy. “I guess no child would desire to be away from their mothers and expect to receive optimum motherly care.” (Paine, 2013). With this far distance, if some wrong needed to be petitioned in the parliament it would take eons before the colonies were given a response. This indeed slowed down the development of America.
Common sense elucidates that the “new world” (America), was discovered curtly before its reformation. It adds that the community referred to as puritans had the belief that God wanted them to inherit a safe haven away from the British persecution (Paine, 2013). Thus, he believed that indeed, British ruled America and other colonies for selfish interests, and were insensitive to the best interests of the colonists.
In the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson, the present king’s history about Great Britain is a recurrent case of usurpations and injuries, aimed at the establishment of total tyranny over the colonist states (Muscio, 2002). This paints a picture of the Great Britain establishing a colony in America. “America is not a part of Britain and is not obliged to be subservient to the laws of The Great Britain. It shows a selfish nation establishing a colony outside their jurisdiction.”
In justifying the above, many examples are provided about the king’s wrongful acts to its nation. They include among others: the King’s refusal to assent to laws that serves nearly everyone’s wholesome needs, and is essential for the public good (Muscio, 2002); Paine’s point however, conflicts in such a manner that a petition would take eons to be considered due to the distance between Britain and America. The distance as explained by Paine would make the process take more than a year before they get a feedback but he does not however talk of refusal to listen to the petitions and grant their demands, though he finds this as making the governing of America Unwieldy.
The King’s pretention to render independent the military; making it superior to the civil power, uses his union with others to subject his people to a jurisdiction strange to their constitutions and that is unaccepted by their law (Maier, 1998). Paine talks about a mother being brutal to her children, bringing a common sentiment by both. He highlights how a mother should treat her child and how horrendous The Great Britain related to America yet it was the mother country. This also brings out the selfish nature of the Great Britain and the King in the declaration of independence.
“The King robbed them their seas, destroyed their coasts, burnt down their cities, and destroyed their lives” (Maier, 1998). This compares well with Paine’s point of what The Great Britain does to America during the colonial regime. According to Paine, The Great Britain imposed numerous taxes on their colonies. Paine describes Britain as barbarian and heartless. This is evident since the Great Britain merely protects the colonies because they wanted to establish trade with other nations. It clearly shows how selfish Great Britain was, and so was explained in the King’s history in the declaration of independence.
Finally, the King makes numerous requests that only result in conflict. This is similar in Common Sense by Paine. He describes The Great Britain as refusing to find a middle ground since she wants to rule. This shows how both highlighted the war loving rule that was, not sensitive to what would befall his people. Both texts show Britain as war-loving and selfish in its demands, unwilling to soften its stand or negotiate
Selection of federalists, on the other hand, shows the fears of the anti- federalists over the powers of the federal judiciary. This is because it consisted of unelected and politically shielded judges (Wills, 2002). Since England served at the pleasure of the King, it would then create a multi-tire political patronage since no one had no control on their conduct. This led to abuse of office which further resulted in other vices like; non-use of office, and refusal to remove an office. Its efficacy on the colonies was assumed and not debated. This was created to wield powers for the king to rule.
These distinct papers give a picture of a selfish nation that is corrupt and unjust. The king uses his powers to browbeat the people by making laws that don’t consider the interests of his colonies. He also uses a multi-tire political patronage as a tool to exploit and rule. This shows the rot in the justice system of a nation, a nation holding the advancement of another backwards for her self-gain. A ruler-ship that makes laws to browbeat its people, and create an unjust political system.
It is evident that both Common Sense, the Declaration of Independence, and Selection of federalists, presented different instances but granted that Great Britain was not committed to treating America in a just manner, and therefore prompted their urge to separate and be freed from Britain so as to exist as an independent nation. However, Americans couldn’t just break their ties with Britain easily. Despite being subjected to all these hardships, most of them still believed that they were supposed to love England (Wills, 2002). Others feared, especially with regards to how British employed Irish rebels. Therefore, England’s Monarch was to be revered, but the terrible injustices could not be forgotten; they were there to stay. Americans got divided, and independence arguments took center stage of discussions. As it grew, so did Thomas Paine, and he becomes even more relevant, he provided the extra push.
In conclusion, common sense, the declaration for independence, as well as Selection of federalists, have all given a picture of a nation so unjust. A nation of selfish rulers that create political systems to achieve self-gains and not having the interest of its people at heart. Despite some conflicting aspects at a point, they all paint an image of an unjust society. Common sense, declaration of independence, and Selection of federalists, inspired the American people in their tough battle against the British rule. They inspired American soldiers and citizens to see the crisis and come alive to the idea that America was not a British Nation. They made Americans understand that no mother mistreats their child, and being part of Britain would only drag them into unnecessary wars they wouldn’t want to fight. They made it apparent that America could not be ruled using British laws and that imposing the British rule upon them would not benefit them, but be of importance to Britain alone. These three texts served to liberate Americans from the Great Britain and thus led to founding of America.
Works Cited
Wills, Garry. Inventing America: Jefferson's Declaration of Independence. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co, 2002. Print.
Paine, Thomas. Common Sense. Lanham: Start Publishing LLC, 2013. Web.
Muscio, Inga. Cunt: A Declaration of Independence. Seattle: Seal Press [u.a., 2002. Print.
Maier, Pauline. American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence. New York: Vintage Books, 1998. Web.
