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The debate over independence in 1776 / Thomas Paine - Common Sense

Thomas Paine arguments

The British had taken over America, and the people of the United States were too devoted

to their monarchial rulers to consider breaking away from British authority. While opposing

British legislation, Thomas Paine wrote "Common Sense." a booklet summarizing his ideas and

beliefs against the government. It had an enticing title, but the substance within was powerful

enough to give the Americans confidence in their choice to leave British control (Paine). Thomas

made it clear in his speech and writings that he believed the United States should be free and

independent of England, as well as a democratic republic.

Thomas composed the booklet so that the average American could understand, utilizing

Biblical quotations that were beloved to the people of the United States. When even patriot

leaders like Thomas Jefferson and John Adams criticized his excessive attempts at writing, he

had his writings throughout the country and continued to push too hard. It was claimed by

Thomas Paine back in 1776 that the British government had failed because the king and nobility

had been given excessive authority (Paine). He said a "necessary evil" since it provided

individuals with a framework to work together to solve issues. However, it was required to serve

the public in the same capacity that elected officials do.

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Charles Inglis arguments

However, Charles Inglis was adamantly opposed to the United States obtaining its

independence from Great Britain. According to his writing, the United States has had a

tremendous economic and social influence because of the British. As far as Charles was

concerned, a conflict with the British would only lead to disaster. He feared that the United

States would lose some of its most prized assets, including its ports, trade, and commerce.

Instead of waging war and achieving independence by force, Charles urged Americans to

negotiate with the British and solve the struggle better. Charles said that the United States was a

young nation that needed the assistance and guidance of Britain to deal with its problems. He

believed that if the United States remained a colony of the United Kingdom, it would mature and

deal with its problems. If the Americans dared declare their independence, Charles feared

murder, devastation, and poverty would follow (Inglis). He concluded that fighting for American

independence would be counterproductive.

He stated the consequences that the Americans would face if they attained independence.

The consequences were: During a revolution, the previous constitution would be overturned

entirely, as it was in England during 1688. All Americans' assets would be thrown into disarray

throughout the continent, causing the most significant uncertainty and the fiercest convulsions.

The single link that united us and protected our assets would be severed (Inglis). The Congress,

without a doubt, would work to find a solution to these problems, but, with all due respect to that

honorable body, no solution found there would be sufficient.

I agree with Charles Inglis that the people of the United States are British in every sense

of the word. As a result, they behave and think like Britons and are used to a political structure

similar to that of the United Kingdom. However, the extremes of monarchy or republicanism
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were intolerable for the British people. Despotism has been an aspiration of a few of its kings,

but they have always fallen short. There have been many attempts to bring about democracy, all

of which have failed.

Declaring America's independence would prohibit a treaty with the United Kingdom as a

whole and would serve no useful purpose. We would lose all support from the British

government if we signed the Declaration of Independence for the United States of America.

Their lips would be shut since if they said anything favorable to us, they would be considered

rebels and punished as such (Paine). I am confident in my conviction that he is misinformed on

this as well as on everything else and that this hope is misplaced, nave, and misguided.
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Works Cited

Inglis, Charles. "A Crack-Brained Zealot for Democracy a Loyalist Rebuttal to Common Sense,

PDF Free Download." Docplayer.net, 2019, docplayer.net/58088646-A-crack-brained-

zealot-for-democracy-a-loyalist-rebuttal-to-common-sense-1776.html.

Paine, Thomas. Common Sense. 1776. Arcturus Publishing Ltd, 2018.