Thursday, October 25, 2007
Tom Paine's Common Sense
Paine advocates that America is indepedent and "will never be happy until she gets rid of her foreign dominion" (from Crisis Number 1). Using "Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs," explain the ways that America is independent and self-sufficient; then explain why America needs to be independent.
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Paine writes throughout "thoughts on the Present Sate of American Affairs" how America should become independent and why the Americans should break fre from England. America has started an industry that can run without the help of the British. The industry will even run better without the British because the British are limiting trade. The British only allow America to trade with England when it would sell for an equal or higher price elsewhere in the world if the Americans were allowed to sell directly to these other countries. At this time in history England has many enemies. These are not direct enemies of the Americans, but since they are under British control, these countries are considered enemies. If the Americans were to break free from England, they could be allies with these countries and therefore have better trade and protection. America needs to become independent so that they can for a government and a society that relates to them and is run by Americans. The Americans need to make laws and taxes that relate to the needs of America and not those of England. England had been imposing so many taxes on the Americans, not for the money to be used to help America, but to pay off the debts that the British had from many things such as the French and Indian War. These taxes were made to only benefit the British. The only reason why the Britsh are protecting the Americans is so that they can make money off them. Overall there is an amazing number of reasons as to why the Americans should become independent.
America in the 1700s was independant because they were rulled by governers and had industry that allowed the colonies to have an income and make money. Although, the king had the "final say" about anything that happened in the colonies, the governers in the colonies still had much control.
However, Paine says that America needs to be independant because he states that Britain was not interested in America for the good of the new colonies, but so that the the mother country could have all the rewards and benefits from the colonies. Britain taxed the colonies to pay for her own wars and debts, ones that didn't involve the American colonies at all. Paine also shows that Britain used the colonies to fight her wars and involved American in conflicts that she otherwise would not be in when he states that, "her motive was interest not attachment...she did not protect us from our enemies on our account, but from her enemies on her own account." Paine goes on to say that Britain is not the only parent country of America, but that all of Europe is and that it is injust to have Britain be the sole ruler over America. Paine wants America to be run by Americans since only they know what is going on in their country. It is very difficult for Britain, a small island in Europe, to rule a huge territory across and ocean and do it efficiently. Paine says that it is okay for a country to take over a small, unprotected island, but to take over an entire continent is absurd. Overall, it only made sense for the United States to become an independant country, it was basically their only chance.
Great Britain is more of a burden on America than a help. America is self sufficient, its economy is stable, trade is very strong, food and other products are well provided. Britain only serves to infringe on our trade by taxing and regulating it at there discretion. They also cause difficulties in trading due to there many enemies in Europe who will not trade with the colonies of its enemy. The British offer no real advantages to our society. They only cause problems. Without them looming over us like an abusive parent our economy would flourish and trade would expand even more. Independence is the only logical option to come to.
America is independent and self-sufficient because when it does rely on other countries, only negativity results. The only advantage America gained by being connected with Great Britan was protection (because they had no army/navy), which ended up being more of a disadvantage. Being connected to Britain meant being involved in Britain politics, European wars/quarrels, involved in fights with nations we had no grudge or problem with and often ruined our trade with Europe. Great Britain wasn't even helping America to be friendly or helpful, but only helped us when it was beneficial for them. America being independent, would mean better trade with whom ever we want, less wars/fights and much less taxes. Great Britan taxed America enormously (for their benefit) when in reality Great Britan would only defend us for their sake. America could afford to be independent because we already had trade with Europe (corn)and a stable econonmy.America needed to be independent because nothing but independence can keep peace. America needed to form their own government so they could be in charge or their own taxes and lifestyle.
America is self sufficient because it has governers to lead its states and to keep control. Also America can create it own income from its nerw industry and factory systems. America needed to be free so it could govern itself the way its people wanted to be governed and not the way British parlament wanted it to be governed. Also the conditions of America while governed by Britan where terrible. This was becuase the people that were governing America didn't even in live in it to see how poor the conditions were while Britain was in control. But America was ready to govern the country on there own when they finally got leaders to lead and an industry to create an income.
America is independent and self-sufficient because it has a government that keeps everything functioning properly. We have a stable supply of goods and we have govenerers in each of the states that conrol themselves. We have changed our ways of how our government works since Britain controlled us. America is self-sufficient because we dont have to use other countries in order to successfully live. We may rely on them for sources but they do not tell us how to run our government. America needs to be independent in order to live how we want to. We left Britain to get away from their controlling ways, and started our own lifestyle in America.
I think that Paine is reffering to Britain's rule over America.However, America was totally capable of being a free, independent and self-governed country. Also I think that what he means is that because America has everything we need to function on our own, like government, military, and other aspects of society, we should be able to break away from britain and become a free and independent Country. I think he is saying that once we do that, we will be a successful country.
Paine talks strongly about how America needs to be more independent and how the country needs to be able to function on there own. With American people becoming independent there society or community and there government are able to function and run peacefully. England was using America for money by taxes. The Britsh protected the American's only to gain power and money from them. The Britsh have many reason's to help America, mainly for money. America should become independent to stay functioning and a country.
I believe at first america was way for england to increase there global control. Thus making america an economic tool to increase englands trade routes and benefit the homeland. but with out a strong connection back to england america wanted change. America should become independent because they need a form of government that can relate to "americas" way of life, not a way of life according to britian. Americans believed the tax baurrdens england placed on the were unrtrealistic and unnessasery. America has matured and in hteir eyes needed to be treated as mature and independent.
Throughout this section of "Common Sense," Paine describes how America can survive on their own with no help or ties with other foreign countries. Even though there are not a lot of people in America at this time, the way they show unity is what gives them the strength and ability to be independent. Paine goes on to describe all the natural resources that America can provide to them. He says that they can build ships, which equals power, that will be able to defend themselves without having to import products from other countries. With the ships or resources they don't need, they can make a profit from it by selling it to other countries who don't have it. With the resources they have, they should be able to protect themselves without any other country getting involved to settle things. America can fight forever if they have to. This ties in with the independence. Also, they want to appear as a threat to other countries so their peace will be threatened instead of America's. The resources and unity of America is what will allow them to be independent successfully.
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