Revolution Against England example essay topic

Thomas Paine was born in Norfolk, England on January 29, 1737, and would soon become one of the most well known American writers of the American Revolution. Although he did not lead men into battle like General George Washington, his writings during the war greatly helped the revolutionist cause. His works also go beyond the American revolution, he wrote many important works both before and after America's fight for independence. Born in England of a Quaker father and Anglican Mother, he grew up poor, barley able to afford a education and when he was 16 years old he ran away from home. He became a sailor on a privateer, then he worked many jobs in London, including several governmental jobs. During this time Paine took to educating himself, and he espeicaly became interested in Newtonian science.

Also during this time he began to notice the struggles of the lower class in England due to the rich and corruption in English government. Using his pen as his weapon Thomas Paine soon began to fight for the poor in England, writing many works that argued to improve their conditions. He was soon fired from his governmental job and forced to run away to America before being arrested for debt. When in America he moved to Pennsylvania, where he worked as an editor for Pennsylvania Magazine. During his time as an editor he wrote many important works, including "African Slavery in America" which was one of the earliest criticism of the slavery system in America. His liberal stance and writing soon earned him notability and many friends in social circles.

Also during this time trouble was brewing between England and it's colonies, although at first Paine hoped a peaceful solution could be reached. However, after the battle of Bunker Hill Paine began to aide the Revolutionary movement with his writings. At the beginning of the war, a lot of the upper class of America was hesitant of Revolution in America, so Thomas Paine wrote "A Serious Thought", the precursor to Common Sense, which helped convince many that Revolution against England was necessary. During the war he also wrote Common Sense and a series of papers called The American Crisis. All of which was considered to helped the Revolution just as much as Washington's troops. He also served as an ambassador to France during the Revolution, but was forced to leave due to controversy.

Back in America he became a political leader in Pennsylvania through and after the Revolution and continued writing, publishing Public Good during this period. He also made many enemies during this time, and would continue to be plagued by opponents with bitter hatred towards him to the end of his life. In 1787 Paine once again returned to Europe where he spent time in England, with many noted British thinkers such as Edmund Burke. While in Europe he traveled back and forth between England and France, which was undergoing its revolution at the time, which filled Paine with delight. During this time he publish Rights of Men to show his support for the Revolution. He stayed in Europe, both fighting against poverty in England and helping the French Revolution in France.

However he was soon to be found a troublemaker in England and was forced to run away to France before being arrested. But when he got to France he found that the Revolution had strayed off course and become overly violent, and democracy seemed to be losing to dictatorship. He soon started to protest against this and was thrown in jail. During his time in jail he wrote The Age of Reason, which he expressed his religious view of Deism, criticizing organized religion and stressed religious tolerance.

He was soon freed and he headed back to America where he spent the last years of his life with his friends, including Thomas Jefferson and Robert Fulton and continued to write till his death in June 8, 1809. One of the most notable works during his life was Common Sense, which he published anonymously in January of 1776. In it he stirred up support for the American revolution, and it became a bestseller, selling thousands of copies and becoming the Revolution war cry. He begins the paper by explaining the differences between society and government, and states what he believes the limits of a government should be, to correct the wrongs caused by society and no more.

This shows his liberal views and could be shown the be the basic of the Democratic party, who believes in many social programs to fix in the social differences caused by the American society, but fights to an extent for civil liberties, such as the rights of the accused. He continues his work with a well written and well thought out attack on the system of monarchy in England the English Constitution. He accurately points out that the representative monarch is a house split against each other, and that the King has too much power over parliament, and it is not a true system of checks and balances. He continues on, criticizing monarchy and hereditary succession in general, and pointing out parts of the bible that disproves of monarchy. He then goes back into the history on England stating that here where very few good kings. He immensely criticizes William the Conqueror.

He points the many follies of monarchy, that a King is expected to know what is best for the people, but unable to truly experience what life is like for his subjects. He points out that bad qualities can be passed done from king to king do to hereditary succession mush like original sin was passed from Adam to all of mankind, and that a system of Monarchy sometimes allows to young of a person to become King, or a King becomes too old to rule with quality. He also points out that the hereditary system has caused much bloodshed in England. All of his arguments are aptly put and fitting to the title done so with common sense. This part of Common Sense is one of the best arguments against monarchy, using many different approaches to criticizing the system and coming out with a good case against it. In the next part of Common Sense Paine argues for Revolution against England.

He claims that although a peaceful solution would have been better, it is too late for it. It is in this portion where Paine directly tries to drum up support for the Revolution. Although the first part did further his cause by pointing out the follies of monarchy and the British government, it is in this section where Paine directly tries to convince the doubters of the Revolution that it is necessary. He first attack the people who claim that England has benefited the American colony and there relationship is great and should not be split. Paine attacks this with. ".. because a child has thrived upon milk, that it is never to have meat". Using great reasoning skills Paine points our the relationship is not of equals between England and it's colonies, and that England only does what is best for itself in the long run.

Paine continues stating that not only should the American Colonies liberate themselves from England, but also separate themselves from European affairs also. He states that Europe is too firmly entrenched in monarchy systems, which leads to much conflict and violence in Europe, and that America must liberate itself from England and separate itself from Europe in order to avoid the misery caused by Europe's many conflicts. The mood of Common Sense then takes a sudden turn. Paine next moves to the problems and tragedies that have occurred to Americans from England. He turns angry, criticizing those who have not experience such tragedies as not fit to comment on the situation of America and England.

He seem to go from more reason then emotion to more emotion then reason, yet it works well in his arguments. He is seemingly screaming through the page, saying if you have lost family members and undergone much hardship due to England, could "you still shake hands with the murderers?" After this well placed tirade, he wraps up this section of Common Sense by restating his views so far on England and the Revolution and finishes by stating his idea for a central government. Paine states that in this government, "law will be king" rather then "king being law", and he stressed that it will have great religious freedom and tolerance. The next part of Common Sense directly deals with America's ability to fight with England. He at first comes right out and says that America is more then able to defeat the English, or any other nation, in combat, however he stresses that the colonies must stay united if they are to do so. Paine then continues into specifics, especially concerning navel power in which he says America's resources and location makes in a worthy foe to the English Navy.

Paine then raps up Common Sense.