The American Revolution did not satisfy the colonial goals for civil, political, social, and economic rights; however the Constitution did. All the American Revolution did was drive the British out of America. With the British gone the Americans had the ability to strive for civil, political, social, and economic rights, but the Articles of Confederation became an obstacle in their path to their rightful goals. During the American Revolution the American people wrote a lot about what they wanted to accomplish and attain. In Document A, the Declaration of the Causes and Necessities of Taking Up Arms, it is written that the American people feel they have been wronged by England because their rights are restricted and wish for these basic rights to happiness and such.
King George was "the Pharaoh of England" and "the Royal Brute of Great Britain." He touched a nerve in the American countryside. A Real Paine for the British Beside attacks on George III, he called for the establishment of a republic. Even patriot leaders like Thomas Jefferson and John Adams condemned Paine as an extremist on the issue of a post-independence government. Still, Common Sense grew the patriot cause.
Common Sense was written by Thomas Paine in 1776 to encourage American Independence. Paine decided to name the title of his novel Common Sense because he believed it was common sense to terminate America’s relationship with Great Britain. Paine believed there was absolutely no benefit from being in a relationship with Great Britain. Taxes, Laws, and Acts were placed upon American’s to provide relief to the British government and help repay damages that occurred during the French and Indian war. Paine believed in American secession from the British and an independent country of their own.
In this document, Jefferson exemplified the colonies need to declare independence by first stating what a true government’s purpose was, then by giving specific examples of how British rule was unsatisfactory. In the beginning passage to the King, Jefferson defines the purpose of government. “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed” A country cannot be a nation when the government does not fulfill its purpose. The country will be spilt because of the objections with the government. Jefferson also uses multiple literary techniques throughout the Declaration to unify the colonies under a
The colonies however, felt that they fought the war side by side with the British, causing the two groups to have different political ideas. British politics felt that it would be just to impose taxes on the Americans in order to pay off their war debt that had accumulated. Taxes were imposed on nearly everything in the colonies in order for Britain to payoff debt; these taxes simply outraged the colonists which is the start of the conflict between America and Britain. Taxes such as the Stamp Act, which placed a tax on any printed document that was purchased, and the Tea Act, which placed an insane tax on tea in the colonies, and basically cutoff colonists from finding a cheaper price for tea, pushed the colonists overboard, leading them to rebellions. One of these rebellions was the Boston Tea Party, where colonists dressed up as Indians and threw the entire stock of British tea into the Boston Harbor, which was one of America’s first major acts of independence towards Britain.
The people to benefit from this attitude towards diversity were the Northern European ethnic immigrants. This created frustration for people of color as they could emulate how the white behavior but could not get past the issue of color. Melting Pot: in 1908 this perspective came into play. The melting pot perspective is one of which stating that settlers to America need not relinquish their entire racial or ethnic heritage but that all ethnic differences would balance into a dominant American culture. This idea “deemphasized differences and emphasizes instead the need to disregard diversity and accept immigrants as Americans as long as they learned to speak English and became citizens.
Stating this country cannot survive being divided as further evidence on his fight for equality by mentioning Abraham Lincoln. King cites the Constitution by quoting Thomas Jefferson: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal ..." (573). His purpose is to reinforce his argument with quotations from respected people in the political, religious, and philosophic fields. He illustrates the evidence to justify why each of his equals should compel with the authority of the Supreme Court. An important element of this letter is that he achieves his appeal for nonviolent protest and unity.
Starting with the much-revered English Constitution, Paine presents it as outdated and convoluted. Paine’s largest grievance, however, is with the entire concept of an absolute monarchy, claiming it to be against both nature and scripture. In quoting the scriptures, Paine is able to justify pursuing American Independence and the struggle for a Republic by presenting monarchical rule as ungodly. The exaltation and ‘worship’ of one man above others is, in Paine’s opinion, an ‘idolatrous custom of the Heathens’ and in contradiction to the Bible. Paine also states that hereditary succession inevitably opens the door to the foolish and the wicked and so must be oppressive in its
In Common Sense, Thomas Paine argues independence for America. He starts off with very general arguments about religion, government and then focus on specific situations and events in the colonies. Paine states that Britain doesn’t help Colonies to flourish. He argues that the Colonies do not gain much from being with Britain and should break free now. He provides many reasons such as Colonies’ size, capabilities, and relationships with the rest of Europe.
Paine was the first to articulate political injustice in a way that was relatable. In todays over exposed culture, a written manifesto like Common Sense probably couldn’t carry such an impact as it would be one of many. Modern America is so divided by the two political parties. Sensationalized media further segregates Americans from Paine’s view of democracy. Paine explains the British had too much power and with power comes corruption.