Thomas Paine, Common Sense, and the Turning Point to Independence

In his book, 46 Pages: Thomas Paine, Common Sense, and the Turning Point to Independence, Scott Liell outlined the principles and situations which led to the American Revolution culminating in the American Revolutionary War. He provides the reader with the tools in which to travel back to the setting of the original Common Sense and experience the essence of the period. He depicted the atmosphere at the time as well as the American colonists' psyche towards the British, themselves, and varying perspectives on the opinion of independence from the British. This book explains the social unrest, the anger provoked by the British, and the internal and external struggles within everyday colonists. Liell’s book, though written over two centuries after the Revolutionary outlines the citizen’s perspectives, and show the shift in perspective leading up to, during, and after the war. Liell’s book summarizing and analyzing Common Sense was written as a clarification to the originally untitled forty six-page article, which is confusing and tangential if the context is not understood.

As with all revolutions, there were proponents who felt that it was time to be independent and receive equal rights as those living in the homeland. Many of the colonists felt “choked” by Britain’s control over them, and suffocated until they claimed independence. They believed that as an independent nation, they could legitimately contend with the British for goods and services, and had a strong enough foundation in the Americas to be self-sufficient. They also were knowledgeable about the enemies of the British and felt they would be protected by these enemies of their enemies. There were also opponents who had minimal problems with British control and even welcomed the benefits and perceived structure. They valued the homeland and the culture and values which stemmed from there. Many may have feared Britain’s overwhelming response or that the colonists were not self-sufficient enough to survive independently. Paine is credited as the facilitator of the Revolution because no matter your perspective, his vivid imagery allowed the citizens of the future United States of America to become united in their stance against the Parliament, and the British in total.

Leill provided examples of how the public and Paine’s perspectives shifted during the lead up to the war and during the war and believes that the colonists were being bullied and provoked by Britain. The British had imposed multiple laws that seemed antagonistic. Paine has already been a controversial figure himself, as he had previously written anti-slavery articles that were not popular at the time. As an abolitionist, Paine believed in equality and appeared to interpret this lack of freedom as unequal. He also fought for women’s rights, which was also extremely unpopular amongst the entire society. Slavery, however, did not end in the United States until 1864, the year before the Civil War ended; and inequality laws were implemented as recently as 20 years ago to halt the effects of this. How did men who fought for their own freedom deem it ethical, moral, or have a good conscious regarding holding captive, lynching, and killing an entire race of people nearly a century, after experiencing a form of slavery themselves? Women also continue to fight for equality over 200 years later.

Leill uses Thomas Paine’s, Common Sense as a guide to describe the political and societal norms of this period. Not long before the publication of the untitled forty six-page article, the mother country had passed tariffs on multiple goods used by the colonist. The colonists were angry, disappointed, and felt disrespected. In addition to the taxes, the colonists were not allowed representation and felt devalued. They wanted to become united, and this article facilitated the passion needed for the collective group think.

Paine’s pamphlet, originally 46 pages long and untitled, depicted his perception of the British government, their role in the colonist’s current difficulties, and their goal as maintaining the colonists as a subservient entity. His book evoked a strong, visceral reaction within the colonists, and is viewed by many in history as the main catalyst which facilitated a global shift in the colonist’s perspective. Think about it, you are a citizen paying higher taxes into a place that is weeks away by travel. The motherland becomes almost as far, both figuratively and literally in many citizen’s minds, as heaven and hell. Then with each passing generation, it had become more and more extinct; as several generations were now “Americans,” and had lived in the colonies for nearly 300 years. The old culture was being replaced, people spoke differently as the accents were being replaced by a new hipper version, the language was being altered, religion was at a different place on the spectrum, tradition was becoming less traditional, and people had identified less with being British and more with being a colonist. There was a sense of pride sweeping across the nation, and the pamphlet Common Sense accessed that pride, magnified the intensity optimally, and empowered the masses to do the same. With this challenge came the Revolutionary War.

Leill facilitated the interpretation of the original pamphlet by clarifying the data, providing a backdrop for the sections, and interpreting confusing language that may no longer be relevant or understood in our present English language. He makes it more interesting and exciting, as he has the advantage of witnessing the greatest nation in the world whose roots were undoubtedly influenced by the strong-willed, controversial Thomas Paine.

Work Cited

Liell, Scott. 46 Pages: Thomas Paine, Common Sense, and the Turning Point to American Independence. Running Pr Book Pub, 2004.