COMMON SENSE Thomas Paine：常识，托马斯佩恩.ppt

COMMON SENSEThomas Paine January 10, 1776 Rallying, Influencing, Motivating. Thomas Paine Born in Great Britain, January 29, 1737 Self-taught Immigrated to America 1774 Involved in American political life “I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense,” Argued strongly for COMPLETE American Independence, not just freedom from British taxation What was “Common Sense?” Revolutionary war pamphlet English, 48 pages First published anonymously January 10, 1776 Sold 500,000 copies in first year 25 editions Precursor to the Declaration of Independence, which was written six months later How did Common Sense succeed in inspiring so much revolutionary feeling? Used forceful everyday language, influencing workers to attack the idea that the British King should rule the American Colonies American independence would be a victory for humans everywhere Words convinced many Americans that the cause of independence was a just one Played a central role in rallying public opinion; convinced many who were unsure of the purpose of the war ‘The sun never shined on a greater cause of worth, tis not the concern of a day, a year or an age. Prosperity will be affected, even to the end of time’ – Paine. “There is something very absurd in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island,” “We may as well assert that because a child has thrived upon milk, that it is never to have meat.”  -Paine Chapter I. ‘Of the Origin and Design of Government in general, with concise Remarks on the English Constitution.’ Introduces idea that there is a difference between Government and Society  “Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one…”-Paine Chapter 2 - ‘Of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession’ Paine argues that all men are born equal and there should be no distinction between kings and subjects. ‘In England a king hath little mor