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Primary Sources (10): Adams, John. "Thoughts on Government." Letter. 1776. Constitution.org. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.constitution.org/jadams/thoughts.htm>. Constitution.

org provides this reprinting of John Adam's Thoughts on Government. This primary source was written right after the publication of Common Sense, and can thus be seen as a short term effect of the pamphlet. Adams thought very highly of Paine's work, and agreed that separation from Britain was necessary. Adams advocated for republican self-government in this pamphlet, and further encouraged Americans to take action. Because Adams was a greatly respected figure, he helped boost the popularity and credibility of Paine's ideas, and further drive Americans toward revolution and independence. Franklin, Benjamin. "Franklin's Advice to Thomas Paine Regarding the Age of Reason." Letter to Thomas Paine. N.d. A Treasury of Primary Documents. Jon Roland of the Constitution Society, n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2013.

Benjamin Franklin wrote this letter to Thomas Paine to advise him not to publish The Age of Reason. Franklin had been a key supporter in Paines cause, and got him his start by connecting him to a publisher for Common Sense. However, while Franklin had established a friendship with Paine, he was hesitant to see Paine publish yet another radical pamphlet, and could not give him his blessing. This source is useful not because it pertains to the discussion of rights or responsibilities, but because it shows

that even the most avid supporters of Paine had to draw the line somewhere during this time of confusion and chaos. For Paine the sky was the limit, but not many people felt the same way. Amid the oppressive British monarchy, Americans were struggling to hold their own and represent their unalienable rights. However, many were hesitant to embark upon a rebellion and break ties with their longstanding government. This historical context gives insight as to why it was necessary for Paine to be so sensitive and respectful in his writing- a skill which he mastered and achieved successfully despite the warning of close friend Benjamin Franklin. Jefferson, Thomas. "The Declaration of Independence." Letter. 4 July 1776. US History. N.p., n.d. Web. http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm>.

This reprint of the Declaration of Independence is a primary source, consisting simply of the document written unanimously by the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. Thomas Paine helped influence the colonists to create this document and declare their independence from Britain when he wrote Common Sense.

King George III. "A Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition." Address. Proclamation of Rebellion, 1775. 23 Aug. 1775. Britannia Historical Documents. Britannia. Web. To address the increasing hostilities in American colonies regarding British rule, King George III issued this proclamation a few months after the publication of Paine's Common Sense. The King refers to revolutionary writers like Paine as "dangerous and

ill designing men" who are "forgetting the allegiance which they owe to the power that has protected and supported them." This proclamation illustrates the effects of Common Sense. Paine was a key contributor to the separation of America from British control, and King George III's desperation to regain control is evident in this order to suppress rebellion wherever it may be found. This exemplifies the number of colonists shifting to the patriotic cause, and foreshadows the significant long term effects of prorevolutionary pamphlets such as Common Sense. Paine, Thomas. "A Letter to the English People." Letter to The People of England. 1817. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Hathi Trust Digital Library. Web. 29 Sept. 2013. Through this letter written by Paine to the people of England, it can be seen that Paine is not only concerned with an American revolution, but he empathizes with the people of England who are controlled by the corrupt and oppressive government. In historical context, Paine recognizes that there is severe governmental oppression at this time in England, and assumes that the people are feeling lost and hopeless with their current situation. Focusing on cause and effect reasoning, Paine notes that the British monarchy has brought challenges and unnecessary hardships onto its people, and he is compassionate toward these victims. He compares England to America, saying that while America is beginning to flourish and peacefully achieve greatness, England continues to struggle through debt, taxes, and violence with other nations and within their own country. Paine calls the English people to seize a revolutionary opportunity and rid their country of the oppressive crown, just as the Americans are doing in

fighting for their independence from the British monarchy. This letter significantly shows Paines motivation for his revolutionary writing: to call for people to take the matter of their rights and freedom into their own hands no matter where they are, because they have the responsibility to do so in order to live more satisfying lives and improve the futures of their people. Paine, Thomas. "An Occasional Letter on the Female Sex." Letter. Aug. 1775. MS. N.p. In this letter to the general public, Paine directs his attention toward women in society. He expresses compassion toward women and their unequal treatment, telling them to strive for equality among men and "defend the case of her sex." Paine, by encouraging women to fight for equal recognition of rights, can be tied to the Progressive Era in its movement toward gender equality. Paine's overall motive for a liberal and independent America further inspired women's suffrage and reform movements in the years to come. Paine, Thomas, and Harry Hayden Clark. Thomas Paine Representative Selections, with Introduction, Bibliography and Notes. New York: American Book, 1944. Print. Composed of works written by Thomas Paine himself, this primary source provides a wealth of information. Not only does it contain the complete works of Common Sense, Public Good, The Rights of Man, and others, but Harry Hayden Clark begins by discussing key factors that influenced all of Paine's work in the lengthy book introduction. American Books, a reputable publication title, delivers this novel as a wealth of information connecting to Thomas Paine's concern with rights and

responsibilities of the people during his time and beyond. From Paine's political ideas to social compact and his views on natural versus civil rights, his rational principles are discussed to frame the cause and motive for his works in the revolutionary period. Paine, Thomas, and Isaac Kramnick. Common Sense. Harmondsworth Middlesex, England Penguin, 1986. Print. This source contains background information on the time period and the life of Paine, though brief and repetitive from other sources. The major gain is a reprint of the actual Common Sense pamphlet, making this a reliable and primary source. Combing through Common Sense, Paine addresses the failures of the British government while recognizing hesitations due to long standing loyalty, the characteristics of a well managed government, and the evils of hereditary succession that contrast with natural birthrights. He then works to convince the audience that life would be more prosperous without European control, and calls reconciliation advocates to provide just one benefit to the power of Great Britain over the colonies. Paine concludes by calling for an end to British control, and stating simply and clearly the goals and plan of action he has envisioned for Americans to take on their way to independence. Parliament of England, English Bill of Rights 1689. The Avalon Project. Yale Law School, n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2013. <http://avalon.law.yale.edu/17th_century/england.asp>. This reprint of the English Bill of Rights 1689 reveals the traditional constitution devised by British parliament. Its contents pertaining to people's rights and the role and

responsibility of the government were recognized by King William and his wife Mary before they took the throne, and this document was to be further respected by rulers to come. This source provided by Yale University displays the underlying principles of such British documentation exactly as they were originally written. Paine would later use the contents of this document to attack the misrule of King George III and spark the American revolution.

Shallus, Jacob. "The United States Constitution." Letter. 17 Sept. 1787. MS. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html>. This reprint of the United States Constitution is a primary source. I was written with the consent of the people of America as a foundation for their new nation. By defining the rights of the people and the roles and responsibilities of the American government, this document proved that Thomas Paine's call to the colonists for the establishment of a new nation was answered successfully.

Secondary Sources (14): Bertram, Christopher. "Jean Jacques Rousseau." Stanford University. Stanford University Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 27 Sept. 2010. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, an Enlightenment thinker, promoted individual sovereignty and the elimination of outside control. Author of The Social Contract, Rousseau expressed the right to self-rule which Paine would later address in convincing the colonies to govern themselves and separate from Britain during the revolution.

Stanford University provides this overview of Rousseaus principles and focuses on his beliefs in self-rule. Foner, Eric and John A. Garraty. "PAINE, THOMAS." The Reader's Companion to American History. 1991. eLibrary. Web. 29 Sep. 2013. Highly commended historian Eric Foner summarizes Thomas Paines story in this brief article. Raised with humanitarian ideals, Paine quickly moved his way into the field of political change to express his ideas and opinions on natural rights and the duty of the people. Foner touches on Paines effective simplistic style in the writing of Common Sense, which was perhaps his most well known work. While it sparked revolutionary thought and movement, Foner puts into perspective that not all ended happily for Paine. He was forced to flee from France for advocating the end of the British monarchy, and was constantly assaulted for his radical writing. Sadly, only six mourners attended his funeral, which reiterates that Paines struggle for independence affected him personally, though he disregarded his personal hardship for the good of America to come. During Paines time, it was completely out of the ordinary for any man to express his opinion if it went against the government. This is the underlying reason why Paines work is so significant. Knowing what a risk he was taking, Paine looked beyond himself to the future of America, and wrote what many Americans were afraid to ever say. Fortunately, despite personal repercussions, his work would soon pay off, for his writings would become the foundation for nineteenth century radicalism.

"Hitchens: How Paine's 'Rights' Changed The World." Narr. Neal Conan. Talk of the Nation. 23 Oct. 2007. Transcript. eLibrary. Web. 29 Sep. 2013. An interview discussing Thomas Paine and his impact on the world, Conan and Hitchens consider many factors of Paines recognition. They discuss the risk that Paine took in his radical writing and ideas, for example the squalid last years of his life that he lived in isolation after being in prison and ridiculed for his literature. It is recognized that Paine was the first to really ask what rights were, and to dissect the concept of rights to analyze the factors of government. Paine was set for success in that the time period was right for him to expose his thoughts- there was talk that the British monarchy was failing to meet the needs of the people, and Paine was able to take advantage of this and craft his thoughts in a way that reached out to the people without turning them away from such radical thinking. Paine further looked forward to modernism and saw the greater picture of American freedom, hoping to instill in his audience and future audiences the importance of rights and the responsibility of the people to always have these rights protected no matter where or when they are living. Kashatus, William C. "Revolution with Pen & Ink (the Influence of Thomas Paine's Common Sense)." Primedia Special Interest Publications. Gale, Feb. 2000. Web. 6 Oct. 2013. In order to understand the true benefit to Paine's Common Sense, one must understand the historical context of its publication. The Primedia Special Interest Publications introduces author William Kashatus, who provides this context by explaining the struggle of Americans under the oppressive British monarchy, and the desire for

independence. Paine simply used the time period for his advantage, feeding off of the hunger for a revolution to gain supporters in his ideas. Kashatus then explains the significance and aftermath of Common Sense. This pamphlet is considered the deciding factor that pushed Americans over the edge, abandoning their loyalties to England and instead declaring independence. Common Sense is credited as inspiration for the creation of the Declaration of Independence, which established the right of America to stand as its own free country. Paine's greatest legacy, even more than contributing to American freedom, was his faith in the people of America to determine their own destiny. Even during such a difficult time of oppression and corruption, Paine saw the light in each American and was able to shed this light on his audience. Nash, David. "The gain from Paine History Today 59.6 (2009): 12+. Student Edition. Web. 21 Sept. 2013. The article in this scholarly journal broadly outlines the cause that Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense for. Generally stated, he was calling colonists to break free from British rule. Not only did Paine present evidence that British rule was failing the colonists, but he presented a plan of action for people to follow if they wished to act on his call. This journal entry discusses the aftermath of Common Sense. When Paine died, his revolutionary thought lived on. He had inspired many Americans and boosted their confidence, providing them with substantial and convincing reasons to follow his plan. The nineteenth century was filled with radical revolt as the people stood up to British corruption and oppression, beginning the dismantle of aristocratic rule and the formation of independent yet unified America. Nelson, Craig. "Thomas Paine and the Making of Common Sense." New England Review 3(2006):228. eLibrary. Web. 29 Sep. 2013.

Found through a well known eLibrary database, Craig wrote this article to discuss the effectiveness and importance of Thomas Paines Common Sense. Paine was able to get through to his audience by writing in a simple manner that was respectable and relatable. With such a crucial and sensitive subject at hand, this technique was crucial to gaining support. He made readers feel that his way was the way things should be, and Craig stresses that he was not pushy but rather respectfully forceful. The effects and aftermath of the pamphlet is also discussed, as it led to the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. The general idea surrounding Common Sense is its ability to communicate the responsibility of the people to secure their rights, and this article takes the concept to the next level by discussing how Paine went about delivering this message and effectively communicating his ideas to spark changes that would affect American society immediately as well as forever in the future. Nelson, Craig. "Thomas Paine: Enlightenment, Revolution, and the Birth of Modern Nations at Craig Nelson." Thomas Paine: Enlightenment, Revolution, and the Birth of Modern Nations at Craig Nelson. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2013. This sources highlights the key events during Thomas Paine's time, enabling the reader to learn about causes and effects of Common Sense. Historical figures who contributed to the life of Thomas Paine, such as Ben Franklin and George Washington, are explained in depth. Events like the Reign of Terror and the fight of the US Continental Army are covered, providing historical context. Overall this sources sets

the time period and overall context that show the significance of Paine's work, while also focusing on personal details and events that impacted his life in the struggle for American independence and the recognition of the rights of all men. Philp, Mark, "Thomas Paine", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.) Mark Philip, a member of the department of Politics and International relations at Stanford University, explains Paines political theory and plans for the future of America. It is in Paines personal views that a man who sees wrong with the current situation has the responsibility to act, and he does just this while calling others to follow his pursuit of independence. In pre-revolutionary context, Paine recognized the stifling oppression that Americans were facing under the British government, and directly attacked King George IIIs leadership. He then proposed a new order of government, leaving colonists with a clear path for change. Philip describes Paines views on government and society, as well as his plans for the future. He discusses Paines hope to develop districts with elected Congress representatives and a newly drafted constitution to reform government regulation and promote goodness for Americans. With this Philip introduces Paines concern with protection and recognition of rights, which he sees as the pinnacle of government responsibility. In all, Philip dives into the philosophical break down of Paines argument, which consists majorly of the role and significance of both government and the people- societies two most powerful groups.

Powell, Jim. "John Locke: Natural Rights to Life, Liberty, and Property." : The Freeman :

Foundation for Economic Education. N.p., 1 Aug. 1996. Web. 09 Nov. 2013.

In this article, Powell discusses the fundamental ideas of John Locke, a renowned philosopher who embodies the concept of natural rights. Powell explains Locke's views on the role of government, the power of natural rights, and his most famous work "The Second Treatise Concerning Civil Government." Locke's radical ideas during the Enlightenment period inspired Thomas Paine to help spark the revolution by supporting his views on government responsibility for the protection of rights.

Sigelman, Lee, Colin Martindale, and Dean McKenzie. "The Common Style of Common Sense." Computers and the Humanities 30.5 (1997): 373-79. This journal article looks into how exactly Thomas Paine achieved wide success in writing Common Sense. In comparison to other writers, the authors explain that much of Paine's success is to be attributed to his writing style. During this time of revolutionary thought and the desire to separate from Britain, other people had expressed revolutionary ideas that Paine also supported. His views were not so much new information as they were crafted in an appealing way to his audience. The article focuses on his two main strengths: accessibility and forcefulness. In pre-revolutionary context, many colonists were uneducated or illiterate, and for this reason were unable to read about and participate in debate over the current political state. Paine, unlike many other writers of the time, used short words and refrained from carrying on in

long sentences. The brevity and simplicity of his writing made his work easy to comprehend, and people who could still not read the words had the clear arguments verbally explained to them. In terms of forceful writing style, Paine wrote vividly with great energy because he was passionate about his cause. American freedom excited him, and he had the ability to pass this on to his readers with his confident and hopeful writing. Paine created a unity between the colonists by connecting to every reader with his simple and motivational writing style, making his pamphlet more significant than those past. Smith, Wendy. "The Founder Who Makes Americans Uncomfortable ; Review Biography." Sun, The; Baltimore, Md.. 24 Sep. 2006: 5F. eLibrary. Web. 06 Oct. 2013. Smith reveals the truth that despite the joy of achieving American freedom, this time period so controversial that not all ended happily for Paine. She discusses the effects that Common Sense and other writings had on Paine. Despite his work, many people do not even think to credit Paine as a founding father. While his writing inspired many, it infuriated others. For example, the Right of Man got Paine convicted of sedition by a London jury in 1792. Soon after, in 1794, Paine narrowly escaped the guillotine in France for his radical notions throughout the French Revolution. When Paine returned to America in 1802, the Federal press attacked him, saying he was a lying, drunken brutal infidel, who rejoiced in...bloodshed, rapine, and murder. This article is significant because it reveals that while Paine fought passionately for the rights of Americans, this vigor had many negative affects on him personally. It is important to

put the context in perspective: this was not an easy time, and Paine sacrificed his reputation and put his life on the line for the future good. While this is a difficult feat, it encompasses all that Paine stood for. Recognizing his responsibility to his people, Paine put himself on the line and suffered the consequences.

"Thomas Paine's Influence on the American Revolution." - Sons of the American Revolution, Connecticut. Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2013. Founded in 1889, the Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution works to keep alive the memory of important figures during the revolution. This essay contains information from many primary sources. It explains the greater historical context and significance that Paine had, including his influence on the American Continental Army and his inspirational views of patriotism. From this essay many short and long term causes and effects can be gathered and further explain Paine's impact on American history.

Ushistory.org. "10f. Thomas Paine's Common Sense." Thomas Paine's Common Sense [ushistory.org]. U.S. History Online Textbook, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2013. To establish context for Paine's work, ushistory.org provided a brief yet useful analysis of the time of the American struggle for independence. Ushistory.org, asking to be noted as the author of this analysis, explains that colonists had been raised as loyal followers of the British monarch. They were fearful of bringing about violence in revolting, and of the mob rule that such a revolution could produce. However, as

British justices became more and more recognized, an argument for American independence grew. Paine's Common Sense was significant in that it grabbed hold of this time of desperation for change, and made change a reality. Paine presented a clear cut argument to turn on King George III and fight for an independent republic. The establishment of a patriotic cause is rooted in this pamphlet, and Paine helped to spark the revolution by gathering the courage to voice what most colonists had been afraid to say. The summer of 1776 was soon to come, when the Declaration of Independence would be formed, with much thanks to the rallying support of Paine for a free America. Wilson, Jerome D., and William F. Ricketson. Thomas Paine. Boston: Twayne, 1978. Print. ! ! Written by Jerome D. Wilson and William F. Ricketson. This book on the life and achievements of Thomas Paine provides insight of the early years of Paine's life, his rise to recognition, and the work that he is most notably regarded for: Common Sense. Rising from his frustrating failures as a young and poor writer, Paine was able to make a great impact once his radically written Common Sense pamphlet was printed for the public. In a call to action for American colonists to unite and separate from Britain, Paine made it known the duty and responsibility of the people themselves to assert their rights over the stifling British government. He was supported by Benjamin Franklin, who gave him an introductory start in the literary business, and has been commended by commoners all over the world to the present day for his ability to influence the American people and clearly establish the path to independence through Common Sense and many of his other literary works such as The Rights of Man and The Age of Reason.

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