An
Introduction
In January of 1776, in Philadelphia, an anonymous
pamphlet called Common Sense is published
and sells for two shillings. The 47-page pamphlet,
which advocates America’s independence from
Britain and the King, quickly becomes a sensation
and word spreads that Thomas Paine may be the author.
A month later, a second edition under Paine’s
name is published.
Having arrived from England after the conflict between
the colonists and the British had already begun, Thomas
Paine helped unite both common people and revolutionary
leaders behind the idea that America should be free
of England's oppressive taxes. Within the first year
of its publication, Common Sense sold over
500,000 copies--in a population of only 2.5 million
colonists--and many scholars credit this work as a
major influence on the writing of the Declaration
of Independence.
In this program, we invite you to revisit this central
text and to consider its importance, historically
and in contemporary politics. To offer particular
insights and ways of reading the text, we have asked
several University of Chicago faculty members to contribute
their thoughts, online and on a faculty
panel scheduled for Friday, June 4. An online
discussion group allows you to join the conversation
wherever you are, and faculty will contribute discussion
questions to stimulate your thinking.
Common Sense
(Adobe
Reader is required to view pdf files)
Questions to consider as you read and discuss
Common Sense:
- Paine tells his readers, "A government of
our own is our natural right." What reasons
other than natural right does Paine offer for declaring
independence from Great Britain?
- In Paine's view, what reasons had caused American
patriots to hesitate over the issue of declaring
independence even after armed conflict had begun
in April 1775?
- What does Paine say or imply about how difficult
it would likely be for Americans to secure their
independence?
- According to Paine, what would be the long-term
benefits of declaring independence? Evaluate his
predictions.
- Paine makes a powerful case for keeping government
simple. What does he assume about the forces that
historically have subverted a people's ability to
govern itself--demagoguery, and the mutual oppression
of factions?
- How might Paine respond to this? If government
is designed "to supply the defect of moral
virtue," how might government itself be protected
from that same lack of virtue?
- As regards American foreign and military policy,
Paine exclaims, "What have we to do with setting
the world at defiance? Our plan is commerce...."
But later on in his pamphlet he concedes that "commerce
diminishes the spirit both of patriotism and military
defense." On what grounds is he so confident
of America's future safety?
- What does Paine see as America's mission in the
world?
