Question

read pages 14-19 of ch. 3 from common sense, but I also want you in the text box to tell me how Thomas Paine viewed the current state of American affairs. This text entry will need to be at least one paragraph long (4-5 sentences).

Answer 1

Thomas Paine saw the colonies at a decisive breaking point: British rule had become intolerable and reconciliation was both impractical and dangerous, so immediate separation was necessary. He argued that America already had the means to flourish on its own—ample population, resources, and trade potential—and that independence would better secure liberty and economic prosperity. Paine emphasized that Britain’s distance and the colonists’ spirit made long‑term subjugation difficult, so forming a united continental government was urgent to organize defense, finances, and public order. Above all, he presented the conflict as a moral fight for natural rights as well as a practical opportunity for self‑government, urging bold, collective action rather than continued dependence on or negotiation with the Crown.