Use the excerpt to answer the question.
A government of our own is our natural right: And when a man seriously reflects on the precariousness of human affairs, he will become convinced, that it is infinitely wiser and safer, to form a constitution of our own in a cool deliberate manner, while we have it in our power, than to trust such an interesting event to time and chance.— Thomas Paine, Common Sense
What effect do you think these words had on the American colonists?
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These words likely had a significant effect on the American colonists by strengthening their belief in the necessity and importance of establishing their own government. The excerpt suggests that having their own government is a natural right and emphasizes the potential risks and uncertainties of leaving such a crucial decision to "time and chance." This argument would have resonated with the colonists who were seeking independence from British rule and were contemplating the establishment of a new governing system. Thomas Paine's words may have helped solidify their determination and commitment to creating their own constitution and government in a deliberate manner.
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