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During the colonization period, the American society was going through a hard and difficult time living under British rules. Many colonies were afraid to speak their minds and follow what they believed as right. However, Thomas Paine rose his voice to invigorate Americans to get rid of the British government and conquer their independence. Paine seems to be a knowledgeable and experienced author according to the following source, “Paine established himself as an editor and writer for Pennsylvania Magazine” (Anne). Through his successful writings, he not only delivered a powerful message, but most importantly he was able to convince the populace to join a Revolutionary war against the British monarch.
Thomas Paine uses his persuasive writings as a platform to transmit his revolutionary ideas directly to citizens often referred to as “common man and common women.” Paine’s pamphlet had such a powerful affect on the peoples’ viewpoint about the British government. His simple and effective yet writings were able to influence the colonial-Americans to try to obtain full independence from Britain. Paine once wrote “A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and rises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom.” In other words, people were being manipulated by the British so that they were unable to realize the unfairness of the government rules and this led the colonist to believe that this was okay. Just because something in society is around for a long time does not mean that it is right thing to follow or that it is beneficial for the well-being of a community. For instance, the trade of slaves during the colonization era was a very common practice between the colonists for labor purposes. The fact that it was seen normal during that period did not mean it was positive for all mankind. It might had not occurred sooner because nobody spoke out against it or wanted to put an end to such unhuman practices. However, Paine’s pamphlet changed American beliefs against Britain and was one of the main elements in the colonies' decision to participate in a fight for self-government and freedom.
Paine portrays the idea of American Independence as a model for other nations. He states, “The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind” (Paine). Altogether, Paine was encouraging American citizens to stand up and fight for their rights to be free and stop the abuse by the power of the British government. In other words, the ideals of freedom and sovereignty have an impact on other people around the world and by fighting for independence, America could represent an example that might rouse other individuals to fight for their own freedom. The American Revolution represented a model for other countries to follow when they decided to become free from their colonial monarchs. American independence not only meant freedom for the natives but also for other people from all around the nation.
Furthermore, Paine stressed the need for human fairness and self-government. For Paine every man was created equal and Americans did not deserve to be mistreated by the British. He makes this claim by saying. “For all men being originally equals, no one by birth could have a right to set up his own family in perpetual preference to all others forever, and tho’ himself might deserve some decent degree of honors of his contemporaries, yet his descendants might be far too unworthy to inherit them.”9Paine). To put it differently, everyone should have to make decisions for themselves and have the right to own their life and liberty instead of being oppressed for a monarchy. In the same way, it is negative that a monarch, like a king or queen has the absolute power to rule without being choosing by the citizens only because the power was genetic. Namely, during the slave period when a child was born from a slave mother, he/she was automatically a slave just because of the child’s family status. Due to this the child was committed to work for his master since early age. Clearly, this was another reason why Paine insights on Americans to stand up for their rights, to be free from their rulers, and achieve social equalities.
Undoubtedly, Tomas Paine’s work not only influenced society during the American Revolution, but also impacted present and future generations around the world. Also, Paine’s ideas about freedom and human equality had motivate other people to fight to achieve those right for the wellbeing of humanity. Martin Luther King, for example, as well as Paine made a mighty contribution that changed American society. Dr. Martin Luther King established the Civil Rights Movement to abolish segregation, social inequality, and racial discrimination, in order to get a fair and free society. Paine’s legacy and others shows that those ideas are eternal.
In final analysis, Thomas Paine used his powerful writings to talk to the mass generation regarding their independence. He uses anger to convince Americans to fight against the British to obtain their independence and freedom. Significantly, Paine’s ideas about self-government, freedom, and equality changed the American views about the British monarchy, which drove Americans into a Revolutionary War. Once more, Paine visualized the American independence as a “cause of all mankind”. If America became independent from the British, it would serve as an example for other countries around the globe. Still in 2018, Paine’s writing is present in many different aspects. Humankind should follow Paine instructions to keep fighting for what they believe in.
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