Thomas Paine's Common Sense Pages 177-179

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense Pages 177-179 

 



Thomas Paine

 

Common sense. One of the most popular pamphlets of American History. However, I feel as if in high school education, they just tell you about it and never have the students read it for themselves. Common Sense, in the intro, said that it had two purposes: “to make an appeal for the separation and independence of the American colonies from the British empire, and to propose the replacement of monarchy with a republican form of government” (Page 177). This is all high school students learn of Common Sense, but now we will learn more about some of the points he brought up as to why America should be free of the British Empire and why they should replace the monarchy with a republican form of government.

Before Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense the colonists had been advocating for separation from Britain and were attempting as best they could to do it peacefully. However, Pain mentioned: “As Britain hath not manifested the least inclination towards a compromise, we may not be assured that no terms can be obtained worthy the acceptance of the continent, or any ways equal to the expense of blood and treasure we have been already put to” (Page 178). He goes on to say “but if the whole continent must take up arms, if every man must be a soldier, it is scarcely worth our while to fight against a contemptible ministry only. Dearly, dearly, do we pay for the repeal of the acts, if that is all we fight for in a just estimation, it is as great a folly to pay a Bunker-hill price for law, as for land” (Page 178). At first, Paine eased the reader into the situation, and now that they know the context, he is NOT holding back his feelings. This statement is really very powerful. All he really wants is for Britain to repeal their Acts: No Taxation Without Representation: the phrase all high school kids have memorized. However, he also believes that it is very silly to merely fight over one cause, so he will list other causes to try and persuade the loyalists to believe in his cause.

 

Photo Copy of Common Sense

 “First. The powers of governing still remaining in the hands of the king, he will have a negative over the whole legislation of this continent. And as he hath shewn himself such an inveterate enemy to liberty, and discovered such a thirst for arbitrary powers, is he, or is he not, a proper man to say to these colonies, ‘You shall not make no laws but what I please’” (Pages 178-179). Here, Paine is trying to explain to the loyalists a specific point of why the King of Britain shouldn’t be governing over America. “Instead of going forward, we shall go backward, or be perpetually quarreling or ridiculously petitioning—We are already greater than the king wishes us to be, and will he not hereafter endeavour to make us less? To bring the matter to one point. Is the power who is jealous of our prosperity, a proper power to govern us? Whoever says No to this question, is an independent, for independency means no more, than, whether we shall make our own laws, or whether the king, the greatest enemy this continent hat, or can have, shall tell us ‘there shall be no laws but such as I like’” (Page 179). Paine, having no reservations, freely speaks his mind and denounces the king, for which he could be hanged if they came over from Britain to do so. However, Paine knows that this is a worthy cause and believes that their fight will be worth something very soon.

Major Problems in American Business History

From Major Problems in American Business History Pages 38-40

John Woolman’s Christian Conscience Impels Him to Leave Retailing, 1756

This reading was written by John Woolman who recounted his history in retail sales. Today, retail sales encompass any good sold in a store excluding food and hardware. However, in 1756, retail sales only accounted for linen, garments, cloths, etc. Woolman stated that “In merchandise it is the custom where I lived to sell chiefly on credit, and poor people often get in debt; when payment is expected, not having wherewith to pay, their creditors often sue for it at law. Having frequently observed occurrences of this kind, I found it good for me to advise poor people to take such goods as were most useful, and not costly” (Page 39). He also laments those men who drink and become reliant on alcohol to be happy in their lives. “Every degree of luxury hath some connection with evil; and if those who profess to be disciples of Christ, and are looked upon as leaders of the people, have that mind in them which was also in Christ, and so stand separate from every wrong way, it is a means of help to the weaker” (Page 40).

 

I found this reading really interesting in that Woolman only spent one to three paragraphs describing what he does and who he is. The majority of the work is Woolman offering his opinions on his customers and people in general. For Woolman to be truly invested in the general welfare and financial health of his customers I found to be truly inspirational. This was during a time where capitalism was starting to plant its seed and everyone was out for themselves. One would assume that Woolman would have been the classical “salesman” to survive during this time, especially considering that credit was already an option for payment during this time, which I truly found to be interesting. “Then I lessened my outword business, and, as I had opportunity, told my customers of my intentions, that they might consider what shop to turn to; and in a while I wholly laid down merchandise, and followed my trade as a tailor by myself, having no apprentice” (Page 39). Secondly, he spent many paragraphs describing his opinions of people who drink. He truly felt sad and sorry for those who felt the need to drink alcohol to be successful or happy in life. “And where those whose lives are for the most part regular, and whose examples have a strong influence on the minds of others, adhere to some customs which powerfully draw to the use of more strong liquor than pure wisdom allows, it hinders the spreading of the spirit of meekness, and strengthens the hands of the more excessive drinkers. This is a case to be lamented” (Page 40). He did admit to sometimes giving into this vice, but not very often. “As I have sometimes been much spent in the heat and have taken spirits to revive me, I have found by experience, that in such circumstances the mind is not so calm, nor so fitly disposed for Divine meditation, as when all such extremes are avoided….a selfish spirit takes place in the minds of people, which is attended with darkness and manifold confusions in the world.” Denouncing drinking I felt was quite common at this time, but to admit to one’s problems I felt is quite uncommon. I found it truly brave for Woolman to accept his own problems and mistakes and care about the nature and welfare of his customers and other people more than he ever cared about his own.