Your Name: ______

Period 3 Ch 5: Dissecting Primary Sources

#1 Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” 1775-1776

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Thomas Paine was an English-American political activist, philosopher, political theorist and revolutionary. One of theFounding Fathers of the United States, he authored the two most influential pamphlets at the start of theAmerican Revolution.His ideas reflected Enlightenment-era rhetoric of transnational human rights.He has been called "acorsetmakerby trade, a journalist by profession, and a propagandist by inclination".Born inThetford, England, in the county ofNorfolk, Paine emigrated to the British American colonies in 1774 with the help ofBenjamin Franklin, arriving just in time to participate in the American Revolution. John Adamsonce said, "Without the pen of the author ofCommon Sense, the sword of Washington would have been raised in vain." Paine lived in France for most of the 1790s, becoming deeply involved in theFrench Revolution. He wroteRights of Man(1791), in part a defense of the French Revolution against its critics. He became notorious because of his pamphletThe Age of Reason(1793–94), in which he advocateddeism, promoted reason and free thought, and argued against institutionalized religion in general and Christian doctrine in particular.

In the following pages I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense; and have no other preliminaries to settle with the reader, than that he will divest himself of prejudice and prepossession, and suffer his reason and his feelings to determine for themselves; that he will put on, or rather that he will not put off, the true character of a man, and generously enlarge his views beyond the present day…

As much hath been said of the advantages of reconciliation, which, like an agreeable dream, hath passed away and left us as we were, it is but right, that we should examine the contrary side of the argument, and inquire into some of the many material injuries which these colonies sustain, and always will sustain, by being connected with, and dependant on Great Britain…

I have heard it asserted by some, that as America hath flourished under her former connection with Great Britain, that the same connection is necessary towards her future happiness, and will always have the same effect. Nothing can be more fallacious than this kind of argument. We may as well assert, that because a child has thrived upon milk, that it is never to have meat; or that the first twenty years of our lives is to become a precedent for the next twenty. But even this is admitting more than is true, for I answer roundly, that America would have flourished as much, and probably much more, had no European power had any thing to do with her.

I challenge the warmest advocate for reconciliation, to show, a single advantage that this continent can reap, by being connected with Great Britain. I repeat the challenge, not a single advantage is derived. Our corn will fetch its price in any market in Europe, and our imported goods must be paid for buy them where we will…

Europe is too thickly planted with kingdoms to be long at peace, and whenever a war breaks out between England and any foreign power, the trade of America goes to ruin, because of her connection with Britain. The next war may not turn out like the Past, and should it not, the advocates for reconciliation now will be wishing for separation then, because, neutrality in that case, would be a safer convoy than a man of war. Every thing that is right or natural pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, 'TIS TIME TO PART. Even the distance at which the Almighty hath placed England and America, is a strong and natural proof, that the authority of the one, over the other, was never the design of Heaven.

Directions: Answer below, you do not need to write in complete sentences.

  1. Describe what this pamphlet issaying.
  1. Analyze the possible reaction of his audience. Also, who might his audience be? Be specific.

#2 Olive Branch Petition: written by the Second Continental Congress (Thomas Jefferson and John Dickinson), adopted July 5, 1775

RESULT OF PETITION

In August 1775 the colonies were formally declared to be in rebellion by theProclamation of Rebellion, and the petition was rejected in fact, although not having been received by the king before declaring the Congress-supporting colonists traitors.

“MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN: We, your Majesty’s faithful subjects of the Colonies of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, in behalf of ourselves and the inhabitants of these Colonies, who have deputed us to represent them in General Congress, entreat your Majesty’s gracious attention to this our humble petition.

The union between our Mother Country and these Colonies, and the energy of mild and just Government, produce benefits so remarkably important, and afforded such an assurance of their permanency and increase, that the wonder and envy of other nations were excited, while they beheld Great Britain rising to a power the most extra-ordinary the world had ever known.”…

…”We therefore beseech your Majesty, that your royal authority and influence may be graciously interposed to procure us relief from our afflicting fears and jealousies, occasioned by the system before-mentioned, and to settle peace through every part of our Dominions, with all humility submitting to your Majesty’s wise consideration, whether it may not be expedient, for facilitating those important purposes, that your Majesty be pleased to direct some mode, by which the united applications of your faithful Colonists to the Throne, in pursuance of their common counsels, may be improved into a happy and permanent reconciliation; and that, in the mean time, measures may be taken for preventing the further destruction of the lives of your Majesty’s subjects; and that such statutes as more immediately distress any of your Majesty’s Colonies may be repealed.

For such arrangements as your Majesty’s wisdom can form for collecting the united sense of your American people, we are convinced your Majesty would receive such satisfactory proofs of the disposition of the Colonists towards their Sovereign and Parent State, that the wished for opportunity would soon be restored to them, of evincing the sincerity of their professions, by every testimony of devotion becoming the most dutiful subjects, and the most affectionate Colonists.That your Majesty may enjoy long and prosperous reign, and that your descendants may govern your Dominions with honour to themselves and happiness to their subjects, is our sincere prayer.”

  1. Describewhat this document is saying.
  1. Analyzethe tone of this document. Why might the Continental Congress have used this type of language?

#3 Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, edited by Congress: adopted July 4, 1776

Read the Declaration of Independence in your green textbook, found on page A-9 at the back of the book. On your own paper you will staple to this handout, complete the following: (don’t google this stuff, this is one of the greatest documents ever written!!)

  1. DESCRIBE the 3 parts: Preamble, List of Grievances (you can skim these, you’ll get the idea), and Resolution.
  2. ANALYZE: After re-reading the Preamble, list 3 phrases used by Jefferson that show a direct influence from the ideas of the Enlightenment.
  3. ANALYZE: Why do you think Jefferson included the final 2 paragraphs?