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[[File:thomas paine.jpg|thumbnail|250px230px|left|Thomas Paine]] Colonial Americans enjoyed relative independence from England until 1763, which marked the cessation of the Seven Years’ War. Prior to that time, the British government had paid little attention to the domestic affairs conducted by their American colonists. The war was costly; however, and England deemed it appropriate that American colonies contribute to the war debt and the costs associated with stationing British troops on American soil. The British government assessed taxes on the colonies yet denied colonists the right to Parliamentary representation in the House of Commons.  As a result, Americans saw themselves as being subordinates to the Crown rather than as equal members of the British Empire, thus prompting the colonists to rebel against their mother country in the name of liberty. Parliament’s actions fostered a sense of rebellion amongst the inhabitants of America, while Thomas Paine unleashed a patriotic fervor throughout the colonies that solidified a nation.

==== Taxes ====When Parliament passed the Sugar Act of 1764, the British pride felt by Americans quickly began to wane.<ref>Eric Foner, ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393920291/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0393920291&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=830d9faf1c14899644e25151f167242f Give Me Liberty! An American History]'', 2nd ed., vol. 1 (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2009), 171.</ref>Although this act did decrease the taxes paid by colonists on imported molasses, the long -established practice of smuggling goods in and out of the country, which violated the Navigation Acts of 1651, was no longer feasible.<ref>Foner, 83.</ref>The Sugar Act, along with the simultaneously enacted Revenue Act, was detrimental to coastal merchants. The Revenue Act mandated that wools, hides, and other items that were not previously subjected to the Navigation Acts, were required to pass through England rather than being shipped directly from America to their destinations. This was another yet attempt by King George to attain money from the colonies in order to reduce England’s war debt. American citizens, already feeling the pangs of post -war recession, were feeling their economic security threatened.

==== Signs of Unification ==[[File:Sons_of_Liberty_Broadside,_1765.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|Sons of Liberty broadside, 1765.]]==Americans surprised London merchants by boycotting English goods while the Stamp Act was in effect. Colonists banded together, with the urging of such groups as like the Sons of Liberty, and posted numerous broadsides and conducted impromptu meetings in the streets to heighten their fellow citizens’ awareness of the oppressive actions being taken by Parliament. Groups such as these began to appear throughout the colonies and politics began to consume the thoughts and conversations not only of colonial leaders, but of average citizens as well.

According to historian Eric Foner, “Parliament had inadvertently united America.”<ref>Foner, 173.</ref>Rather than seeing themselves as separate entities, the colonies were cooperating rather instead of competing with one another. Colonial unification In October 1765, the colonies became more formal in October 1765 unified when the Colonial Congress met to discuss the Stamp Act Congress met in New York. Colonial leaders convened and formally advocated the boycott of British goods. The boycott posed a formidable economic threat to London merchants, who successfully persuaded Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act just one year after its issuance.

==== Boston ====The growing trend of unification among colonists and dissention towards [[File:bostonteaparty.jpg|thumbnail|350px|left|Image depicting the British came to a violent climax on Boston Tea Party, 1773.]]On March 5, 1770 in an event known as , the Boston Massacrepushed the colonists closer together and increased the level of dissent against the British across the colonies. A The Massacre was a confrontation between colonists and British soldiers on the streets of Boston that escalated to violence resulting in the death of five Bostoniansby British soldiers. The details of the event were (and still are) blurred and biased, yet Massachusetts silversmith Paul Revere created an etching that depicted British soldiers executing unarmed Bostonians. This type of propaganda escalated anti-British sentiment, which in turn bolstered colonial pride and the determination to gain and hold liberty. The quest for liberty and equal justice was exemplified by the action of John Adams when he chose to defend the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre. Adams held that in order to fight for justice and equality, all were due to a fair trial, including the British soldiers. His loyalty to the Patriot cause was well known, thus affording him the ability to emerge from this endeavor unscathed and with his esteemed reputation intact.

With the new taxes imposed and continued Crown intervention, Americans became more ardent in their resolve that they would not become enslaved to a distant government. Liberty was on the minds of patriots while the idea of independence from the British Empire crept into the discussions of colonial leaders. The climactic event which propelled the final split with England came on December 16, 1773 , when certain colonists engaged in what became to be known as the Boston Tea Party. Sam Adams supposedly instigated the act of disposing of a shipment of British tea into Boston Harbor; which cost the Crown over ten thousand pounds in revenue. The Tea Act issued earlier in the year agitated rebellious colonists to the point of destructive and violent action. [[File:bostonteaparty.jpg|thumbnail|250px|Image depicting the Boston Tea Party, 1773.]]The subsequent reaction from London was to further oppress the colonists through a stringent new set of laws Americans called the Intolerable Acts. King George’s wrath was aimed at New England, thus . Thus he closed the port of Boston until compensation was made for the lost tea revenue. Through these acts, town meetings in Massachusetts were stifled; the British government appointed council members in New England and lodged soldiers in private homes.<ref>Foner, 180.</ref>Outrage swept not only through New England but throughout all American colonies.  <dh-ad/>

==== ''Common Sense'' ====[[File:commonsense.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|Cover of the pamphlet, ''Common Sense.'']]In an ironic twist, colonists who were once filled with British pride were now consumed with American patriotism. When Americans realized they were would never to be thought of as considered equals to with Englishmen, they resolved to find that sense of equality among themselves; while concurrently denying such liberties to those who were deemed inferior. Such men as John and Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry courageously paved the path to freedom for white men in the colonies. Arguably, the man most instrumental in the movement towards independence, and perhaps the forgotten Founding Father, was Thomas Paine. [[File:commonsense.jpg|thumbnail|300px|Cover of the pamphlet, ''Common Sense.'']]An Englishman born in 1737, Paine arrived in Philadelphia on November 30, 1774 at the urging of Benjamin Franklin. Paine defined the origin of government as “a mode rendered necessary by the inability of moral virtue to govern the world.”<ref>Thomas Paine, “Common Sense,” 1776, in ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486296024/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0486296024&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=d78cfe9337d9078ded91c6e41d82b646 Common Sense, Rights of Man, and Other Essential Writings of Thomas Paine]'' (New York: Signet, 2003), 7.</ref> He believed governmental representation was a right for every citizen and wrote his pamphlet, ''Common Sense'', in a language accessible to all. Through Paine’s words, poor white citizens were able to envision a role in the electoral process and a voice in legislature. For generations these people were seen as intellectually inferior to the gentry class and were therefore deemed unworthy of consideration. Although far less educated than the elites, the lower classes were not necessarily less intelligent. Their grasp of politics and understanding of freedom was recognized by Thomas Paine.

Paine’s language An Englishman born in 1737, Paine arrived in Philadelphia on November 30, 1774, at the urging of Benjamin Franklin. Paine defined the origin of government as “a mode rendered necessary by the inability of moral virtue to govern the world.”<ref>Thomas Paine, “Common Sense,” 1776, in ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486296024/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0486296024&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=d78cfe9337d9078ded91c6e41d82b646 Common Sense, Rights of Man, and call for a new form Other Essential Writings of government struck Thomas Paine]'' (New York: Signet, 2003), 7.</ref> He believed governmental representation was a chord with common men right for every citizen and invoked wrote his pamphlet, ''Common Sense'', in a sense of purpose among small farmers and poor whiteslanguage accessible to all. His Through Paine’s words instilled ideas in average , poor white citizens and brought were able to light notions held within this group that had lain dormant envision a role in their hearts the electoral process and mindsa voice in the legislature. Public discussions took place among commoners regarding politics For generations, these people were seen as intellectually inferior to the gentry class and social changewere therefore deemed unworthy of consideration. People envisioned a future in which their wishes Although far less educated than the elites, the lower classes were considerednot necessarily less intelligent. The generals Thomas Paine recognized their grasp of politics and diplomats may have been gentry but the men fighting and dying were common farmersunderstanding of freedom.

== Paine's Influence ==One reason ''Common Sense'' was such an influential piece was because it was written in Paine’s language and call for a manner understandable by all. Most subsistence farmers new form of the time did not have an education conducive to understanding the essence government struck a chord with everyday men and invoked a sense of someone such as philosopher John Lockepurpose among small farmers and poor whites. Paine used a common language His words instilled ideas in order average citizens and brought to appeal to people light notions held within this group that had lain dormant in all levels of societytheir hearts and minds. By doing so, he discredited the notion that poor farmers Public discussions took place among commoners regarding politics and others of the lower classes had no choice but to abide by any law put forth by social change. People envisioned a distant governmentfuture in which their wishes were considered. Individually they did not, The generals and diplomats may have been gentry but when Paine erased the sense of isolation prevalent throughout the rural communities, he did in fact enlighten those citizens, which in turn elicited their response to revoke tacit consentmen fighting and dying were ordinary farmers.

A second reason for the success of Paine’s work is that his words appealed to the overwhelmingly Protestant audience which comprised the citizenship of the colonies. Well aware of his audience, ==== Paine expressly employed biblical rhetoric to convey to the colonists that God is the only king and that it angers Him to be aware of anyone else in His role. Paine selected biblical quotations that indicate it is wrong, and even blasphemous to give a man the title of “king”, which suggests God can be replaced. By quoting and alluding to scripture early in his argument, Paine captured his audience. Through his use of history, religion, and sheer logic, Thomas Paine presented a very convincing argument that a monarchy is a blasphemous and oppressive form of government from which liberty for the common man could never be realized. He assured his readers that they were more worthy of God’s gifts than a greedy tyrant and that God did indeed create everyone equally. This of course is the premise upon which the Declaration of Independence is based.'s Influence ====

Paine made One reason ''Common Sense'' was such an influential piece was because it was written in a plea to potential patriots manner understandable by confidently stating that “The nearer any government approaches all. Most subsistence farmers of the time did not have an education conducive to a republic understanding the less business there is for a kingessence of someone such as philosopher John Locke.”<ref>Paine, 20used a common language to appeal to people in all levels of society.</ref>Once Paine instilled this thought in the readerBy doing so, he continued to raise discredited the fear notion that without a republic “slavery ensues.”<ref>Paine, 21.</ref>This was an especially powerful notion as Parliament was levying taxes at a rapid pace poor farmers and without some form others of legislative representation, farmers, trappers, and shippers were certain the lower classes had no choice but to have their livelihoods threatenedabide by any law put forth by a distant government. Individually they did not, if not completely eradicated. It can therefore be argued that but when Paine erased the combination sense of England’s taxation policies and isolation prevalent throughout the release of ''Common Sense''rural communities, he did enlighten those citizens, worked which in concert turn elicited their response to create one cohesive nation rather than thirteen loosely joined coloniesrevoke tacit consent.

== Conclusion ==In A second reason for the introduction success of Paine’s work is that his words appealed to ''Common Sense''the overwhelmingly Protestant audience which comprised the citizenship of the colonies. Well aware of his audience, Paine declares “a long habit expressly employed biblical rhetoric to convey to the colonists that God is the only king and that it angers Him to be aware of not thinking a thing ''anyone else in His role. Paine selected biblical quotations that indicate it is wrong'', gives it and even blasphemous to give a superficial appearance man the title of being ''right''.“king,”<ref>Paine,3which suggests God can be replaced.</ref>This simple sentence opened the minds of common citizens By quoting and alluding to the possibilities of a less oppressive future scripture early in an egalitarian society for white menhis argument, Paine captured his audience. Thomas Paine anonymously unleashed the buried patriot spirit Through his use of average American colonists. While Parliament was implementing strict tax laws history, religion, and occupying the American continentsheer logic, Thomas Paine was transforming the lives presented a compelling case that a monarchy is a blasphemous and attitudes oppressive form of its inhabitantsgovernment from which liberty for the common man could never be realized. England created an atmosphere He assured his readers that they were more worthy of future subservience among the colonistsGod’s gifts than a greedy tyrant and that God did indeed create everyone equally. This, while Thomas Paine reached out to these same people and through his inspired wordsof course, fomented a revolutionis the premise upon which the Declaration of Independence is based.

<div class="portal" style="width:85%;">==Related DailyHistory.org ArticlesConclusion ====*[[Thomas JeffersonIn the introduction to ''Common Sense'', Paine declares “a long habit of not thinking a thing ''wrong'', the Founding Fathers and Christianity: Interview with Sam Haselby]]*[[Social History gives it a superficial appearance of American Medicine Top Ten Booklist]]*[[Gilded Age/Progressive Era History Top Ten Booklist]]*[[Hodgesbeing ''right'' Scout: Interview with Len Travers]]*[[American Revolution Top Ten Booklist]].”<ref>Paine,3.</divref>This simple sentence opened the minds of common citizens to the possibilities of a less oppressive future in an egalitarian society for white men. Thomas Paine anonymously unleashed the buried patriot spirit of average American colonists. While Parliament was implementing strict tax laws and occupying the American continent, Thomas Paine was transforming the lives and attitudes of its inhabitants. England created an atmosphere of future subservience among the colonists, while Thomas Paine reached out to these same people and through his inspired words, fomented a revolution.

{{Mediawiki:Colonial History}} ====References====