Thomas Paine's Common Sense "III"

"III. Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs" from Thomas Paine's Common Sense

In this article Thomas Paine gives his argument and reasoning for why America should separate from England. He even goes far enough to say that it is so obvious that America should separate that it is common sense, and that anyone who disaggrees, either is ignorant of or refuses to use this common sense. Paine justifies his claim of common sense by stating that Britain abuses and causes the colonies more harm than good. Paine then continues the much of the rest of his argument stating "false aids" of Britain and showing how these aids are actually harming America. The first of these statements begins the idea that because America has thrived under Britian, it does not need to change rule. Paine states this as false saying that American economy is independent from British rule and American economy will thrive as long as it has a European market. Paine continues with his next point on the idea of British protection. Paine argues against British protection saying that the British protected America from its enemies, for its own interest and not for the interest of the colonies. Paine continues this point talking about how Britian pulled America into its conflicts, and forced Americans into fighting people whom they had no conflicts with. Paine continues talking about the idea that Britian is the "parent country" of America. He soon disproves the idea that Britian is the "parent country" by stating the fact that most Americans came from Europe as a whole and not just England. By this logic of where Americans came from, Europe is America's "parent country" and not just England. Paine continues disproving the advantage of England's "parent status," by discussing that the reason most people came to America was to run away from the fears of Europe. Colonists came to America to get away from the oppression of Europe, not to aid and support Europe. Paine finishes his argument against England's "parenthood" by stating that even if America was a perfect descendent country of England than it has as much loyalty to England and England does to France, because England was conquered by France some time ago where the majority of Englishmen are now decended from. Paine continues his argument by discussing the direct "injuries" Britian had caused Boston which he described the inhabitants as being forced into oppression. Paine describes their oppression as inescapable and without hope. Paine concludes this section of his argument by describing how priviledged the colonists are and by passing judgement on both the colonists who have not had much trouble (whom he says has no reason to judge those who have have these troubles) and those who have faced troubles and still continued in buisness with the same "dishonest" men as before (he claims these people to be dishonorable and unworthy of being named anything respectable).

Thomas Paine's writings seem to reflect back on Immanuel Kant's idea of oppressors to Enlightenment. According to Paine, England desires America believe a set of lies so that it can bring about oppresion through these same lies. That is the reason for this section of Thomas Paine's Common Sense, not only to support America's revolution, but also to show Americans the fallacies that they have been deceived of. Paine's Common Sense shows Americans how Britian has deceived and oppressed it both by physical and intellectual manners. Just as Kant's writings call ignorant men into the action of Enlightenment, Paine calls ignorant Americans into action against the oppressive British Empire. To bring these sources into further connection, America is under oppression of which it is both unaware of and must free itself from. By its ignorance America continues in its bondage and must be brought to full knowledge of its bonds before it can free itself. Finally America will be a far greater and more "Enlightened" country once it removes its bonds and sets itself free.

One could ask this question in response: Thomas Paine writes that British wars are bad for America, but they win Americans land and wealth, so are they really bad?

The oppresion and means that resulted from the war outweight all wealth gained from these wars. Also, especially in the French and Indian War, the British withheld captured land and wealth from Americans.