Common Sense: Introduction

Thomas Paine admits that the "sentiments contained" in his pamphlet weren't necessarily popular among everyone in the English colonies of America. But why wouldn't these words be "fashionable?" He observed that tyranny can be tolerated to some degree even among freedom-loving people. What is it that shielded the eyes of the oppressed colonists? Loyalty to the Mother country, perhaps? Were they ignorant of what true liberty entails while slowly subjugated to intolerable acts.

Paine also stated that "[t]he cause of America is...the cause of all." And the fight for independence was a universal circumstance, because it's a fight against those "against the natural rights of all Mankind." He recuses himself from any party and uses reason alone to defend those deprived of their natural rights, and their justification for retaliation.

Full Text...

Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not YET sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favour; a long habit of not thinking a thing WRONG, gives it a superficial appearance of being RIGHT, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason. As a long and violent abuse of power, is generally the Means of calling the right of it in question (and in Matters too which might never have been thought of, had not the Sufferers been aggravated into the inquiry) and as the King of England hath undertaken in his OWN RIGHT, to support the Parliament in what he calls THEIRS, and as the good people of this country are grievously oppressed by the combination, they have an undoubted privilege to inquire into the pretensions of both, and equally to reject the usurpation of either. In the following sheets, the author hath studiously avoided every thing which is personal among ourselves. Compliments as well as censure to individuals make no part thereof. The wise, and the worthy, need not the triumph of a pamphlet; and those whose sentiments are injudicious, or unfriendly, will cease of themselves unless too much pains are bestowed upon their conversion. The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Many circumstances hath, and will arise, which are not local, but universal, and through which the principles of all Lovers of Mankind are affected, and in the Event of which, their Affections are interested. The laying a Country desolate with Fire and Sword, declaring War against the natural rights of all Mankind, and extirpating the Defenders thereof from the Face of the Earth, is the Concern of every Man to whom Nature hath given the Power of feeling; of which Class, regardless of Party Censure, is the AUTHOR.

P. S. The Publication of this new Edition hath been delayed, with a View of taking notice (had it been necessary) of any Attempt to refute the Doctrine of Independence: As no Answer hath yet appeared, it is now presumed that none will, the Time needful for getting such a Performance ready for the Public being considerably past. Who the Author of this Production is, is wholly unnecessary to the Public, as the Object for Attention is the DOCTRINE ITSELF, not the MAN. Yet it may not be unnecessary to say, That he is unconnected with any Party, and under no sort of Influence public or private, but the influence of reason and principle.

Philadelphia, February 14, 1776

5kYL: Principle Eleven

WHO CAN ALTER THE GOVERNMENT?

Because the majority of the people have the authority to establish a republican government, only the majority may justly change/abolish the government.

In our Constitution, we have two ways to alter the laws.

Article. V. and Constitutional Convention

What are the ways in which America can/has change(d) the Government other than the two ways listed above? Are/were these methods justified?

5kYL: Principle Two

VIRTUOUS AND MORALLY STRONG PEOPLE

From the 9/12 project:

1. America Is Good.

3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.

"Public Virtue" is what allowed the construction of the Constitution in the first place. Adhering the Golden Rule the founders had to concede some personal desires in order to craft the document that we revere today.

We see the "Tide of Reform" rising again with the advent of the 9/12ers and the Tea Parties. This type of moral reform is what cultivates a virtuous revolution.

Are we witnesses to an Awakening in the U.S.? The people are now aware of the atrocities done against republicanism and the mandates of the Constitution over the last century or so. Just like during the American Revolution of the 1770's, we realize we can not hold on to this American tradition if we are not morally strong.

Jefferson said, "Virtue is not hereditary," so our nation must continually reaffirm it's virtue, generation after generation. We don't look to Washington D.C., but to family and our faith for our reaffirmation. School is also where we learn virtue, therefore according to Benjamin Franklin the importance of good teachers. If a government wanted to subvert the moral direction of a nation, the major sources of information would have to be controlled. In this modern culture, schools and television are the two major sources of information.