The Declaration of Independence and the Work of Thomas Paine: Common Sense

The Declaration of Independence

And the work of Thomas Paine: Common Sense

The pamphlet Common Sense, made by Thomas Paine, was invaluable to informing the people of how they owed no loyalty to Britain. I am also a strong believer that this document indirectly helped lead to one of the key parts leading to the American Revolution, The Declaration of Independence.

Thomas Paine had failed in other lines of work as a corseter, seaman, and tax officer. He then met Benjamin Franklin who helped him immigrate to Philadelphia, where his journalism career began.

He wrote the pamphlet Common Sense, which was a very strong defense of American Independence from Britain. Without his passionate, convincing words we may never have had as many colonists with a patriotic state of mind.

I'm sad to say that after this great contribution to his country he returned to England, engaging in other mishaps. He was incarcerated for not endorsing the execution of King Louis XVI. While in jail he became an atheist and wrote "The Age of Reason" which became the first section of the deist-atheist text. At least he helped influenced the American Revolution, and that's what I think we should remember him by.

As for the Declaration of Independence, I believe that his words influenced the representatives of the states, as well as the average American. On July 4th 1776 the thirteen states unanimously passed the Declaration of Independence, which was written by Thomas Jefferson. He was chosen because of his well-known skill of legible writing. It was not that the ideas shown of the document those of his own, but the shared ideas of many representatives, who would later on proof-check Thomas' work to make sure no crucial ideas were left out.

In the Declaration of Independence rights that still exist today are first installed. Such as the all important notion that we have no legal ties to Britain. That King Louis continuously treated the colonist poorly with innumerable counts of uncivilized behavior. Also the natural rights section that states all men are created equal, and certain unalienable rights that all humans are entitled to. I think it's in short what America is all about.