Question

In The Crisis, why does Thomas Paine refer to Great Britain as "a foreign dominion?"

Answer 1

Thomas Paine refers to Great Britain as "a foreign dominion" in "The Crisis" to emphasize the idea that British rule over the American colonies is illegitimate and oppressive. By describing Britain in this way, Paine aims to highlight the distinction between the colonies and the British government, portraying the latter as an outside force that has no rightful claim to control or authority over the American people.

This characterization serves multiple purposes:

1. **Alienation:** It underscores that the British rulers are not fellow citizens but outsiders exerting control. This alienation strengthens the argument for independence by framing British rule as an imposition by an external power with different interests than those of the colonists.

2. **Legitimacy:** By calling Britain a "foreign dominion," Paine questions the legitimacy of British governance in the colonies, suggesting that it is unnatural and unjust for one nation to dominate another in such a manner.

3. **Unification:** This language aims to unify the colonists against a common enemy. By casting Britain as a foreign oppressor, Paine encourages solidarity among the Americans and a collective identity separate from that of the British.

4. **Motivation:** Paine's wording is designed to motivate the colonists to resist and fight for their independence. By depicting British rule as an external oppression, he invokes a sense of urgency and the need for action to liberate themselves from foreign control.

Overall, Paine's choice of words is strategic and intended to stir the emotions of his readers, galvanizing support for the Revolutionary cause by framing it as a struggle against an illegitimate foreign power.