"Common Sense" by Thomas Paine

"Common Sense"

     The book or pamphlet Common Sense was written by a great man and a great revolutionary named Thomas Paine. Thomas argued forcefully for American Revolution. Paine was an artesan and a tax collector. He was tarred and feathered. Everyone in the colonies knew about his book and he could say everything he wanted to say. Many of his ideas appeared in the declaration of Indpendence.

     He begins by arguing the difference between government and society. Society, in his opinion, is everything constructive and good that people join together to accomplish. Government is an institution whose only purpose is to protect us from our own vices. He also said that the goals of government are to protect life, liberty and property. Paine says the people will be much happier if they are responsible for the creation of the laws that rule them. Paine then attacks the British system of government. Paine says the British system is too complex and full with contradictions, and that the monarchy has too much power.

     Paine argues about how everyone was born equal but there were the kings who had a distinctions with the normal people. He tells the story about the first king who was a Jew and how God didn't like it. Paine presents pages of biblical evidence detailing God's wrath at the idea of the Jews having a king. He says that the monarchy comes from a sin and God will condemn it. 

     Paine says that the colonies have little to gain from being attached to Britain. Commerce can be made with the rest of Europe, but only if America becomes independent. He proposed a form of government 

his recommendation is for a representative democracy that gives roughly equal weight to each of the colonies. He thought America can be independent and didn't need the help of British. They could trade with whom they wanted and they could have war with whom they wanted. That little Pamphlet help for the revolution of a whole country.

Thomas Paine - Common Sense http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfkBy4HV0lM

Lexington and Conquere

Lexington and Concord
 

 

Britain's General Gage had a secret plan. In April 19, 1775, he would send out troops of British soldiers quartered in Boston. Their destinations were Lexington, where they would capture Colonial leaders Sam Adams and John Hancock. Then they would go to Concord, where they would seize their weapons. But spies and friends of the Americans spread word of Gage's plan. A series of horseback riders men such as Paul Revere, William Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott galloped off to warn the countryside. They informed that the British troops were coming.

Word spread from town to town. The militias prepared to confront the British and help their neighbors in Lexington and Concord. The colonial militias had originally been organized to defend settlers from civil unrest and attacks by French or Native Americans. Selected members of the militia were called minutemen. They could be ready to fight in a minute's time. When the advance guard of nearly 240 British soldiers arrived in Lexington, they found about 70 minutemen formed waiting for them. Both sides watched each other warily, not knowing what to expect. Suddenly, a bullet buzzed through the air, It was "the shot heard round the world."

The numerically superior British killed seven Americans on Lexington. Then the British marched off to Concord with new regiments who had joined them. But American militias arriving at Concord prevented the British advance. As the British retreated toward Boston, new waves of Colonial militia intercepted them. Shooting from behind fences and trees, the militias inflicted over 125 casualties, including several officers. The ferocity of the encounter was a surprise for both sides. The first bloodshed at Lexington and Concord, marked the crossing of a threshold, and the momentum from these events pushed both sides farther apart. Following the battles, neither the British nor the Americans knew what to expect next.

 

 

 

The Second Continental Congress

The Second Continental Congress

     On May 10, 1775, the members of the Second Continental met at the State House in Philadelphia. They were several new people in this congress were John Hancock from Massachusetts, Thomas Jefferson of Virginia,and Benjamin Franklin from Pennsylvania.

     The Second Continental Congress decided to create a Continental Army. This congress put as leader George Washington of Virginia to be the supreme commander, who chose to serve without any payment. Also The Congress authorized the printing of money.




     Although the majority of the delegates were not seeking independence from Britain. That same Congress in July they approved the Olive Branch Petition. They pleaded to King George to attempt a peaceful resolution and they declared their loyalty to the king. The King refused to receive this petition. Americans now felt less and less English and were beginning to feel what they were 'Americans'.

     The need of independence grew higher and higher everytime. The men in Philadelphia were wanted for treason. They had a lot of courage and continued fighting and hoping everything ended well. For that reason in the summer of 1776 it brought something it changed many things through out the world and mostly the Americas in that time. They did a formal declaration of independence.