THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder
the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to
enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER," and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.
...
'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose
heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death. My own line of reasoning is to myself as straight and clear as a ray of light. Not all the treasures of the world, so far as I believe, could have induced me to support an offensive war, for I think it murder; but if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property, and kills or threatens to kill me, or those that are in it, and to "bind me in all cases whatsoever" to his absolute will, am I to suffer it? What signifies it to me, whether he who does it is a king or a common man; my countryman or not my countryman; whether it be done by an individual villain, or an army of them? If we reason to the root of things we shall find no difference; neither can any just cause be assigned why we should punish in the one case and pardon in the other.
Paine, Thomas. 'The Crisis'. December 1776. April 2008 <http://www.puc.edu/Faculty/Rosemary_Dibben/English11/NewNation/PaineCrisis1.pdf>.
By the Student,
Paine is expressing his view of how Great Britain is cheating the colony of America out of everything and how it is unfair that the colonists must pay such high taxes and be bound to England for goods with jacked up prices. He appeals to the emotions and reason of the audiences in the different parts of his speech, allowing anyone to be able to have a reaction to it, going from farmers to congressmen.
This and Paine's other book are both propaganda in support of a war with Great Britain.
By a Concerned Loyalist,
Thomas Paine is spouting blasphemy about the Queen and England! What's more is that he is quickly gathering followers who seem to share his love of drivel. He says that England providing what he need is terrible and having to pay for it? Unheard of! This man and his ilk are obviously insane and ungrateful...I must warn the queen.
Essential Question,
Revolutionary works such as those by Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry drove the United States to gain freedom from the oppressive rule of Great Britain and therefore also gaining opportunites the for future as a free nation. They appeal to the emotions and logic of the confused and angry citizens. This creates the pressure for an uprising against Britain by the government and by the people. When the United States finally gains freedom, its people gain the ability to control their own destinys. This newfound freedom allows not only unopposed speech, but presents limitless greatness as well, which is what the revolutionary writers were trying to impose on the people. Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, and others wrote inspiring pieces to instill a fighting spirit into the colonists so that they may be truly free.
the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to
enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER," and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.
...
'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose
heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death. My own line of reasoning is to myself as straight and clear as a ray of light. Not all the treasures of the world, so far as I believe, could have induced me to support an offensive war, for I think it murder; but if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property, and kills or threatens to kill me, or those that are in it, and to "bind me in all cases whatsoever" to his absolute will, am I to suffer it? What signifies it to me, whether he who does it is a king or a common man; my countryman or not my countryman; whether it be done by an individual villain, or an army of them? If we reason to the root of things we shall find no difference; neither can any just cause be assigned why we should punish in the one case and pardon in the other.
Paine, Thomas. 'The Crisis'. December 1776. April 2008 <http://www.puc.edu/Faculty/Rosemary_Dibben/English11/NewNation/PaineCrisis1.pdf>.
By the Student,
Paine is expressing his view of how Great Britain is cheating the colony of America out of everything and how it is unfair that the colonists must pay such high taxes and be bound to England for goods with jacked up prices. He appeals to the emotions and reason of the audiences in the different parts of his speech, allowing anyone to be able to have a reaction to it, going from farmers to congressmen.
This and Paine's other book are both propaganda in support of a war with Great Britain.
By a Concerned Loyalist,
Thomas Paine is spouting blasphemy about the Queen and England! What's more is that he is quickly gathering followers who seem to share his love of drivel. He says that England providing what he need is terrible and having to pay for it? Unheard of! This man and his ilk are obviously insane and ungrateful...I must warn the queen.
Essential Question,
Revolutionary works such as those by Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry drove the United States to gain freedom from the oppressive rule of Great Britain and therefore also gaining opportunites the for future as a free nation. They appeal to the emotions and logic of the confused and angry citizens. This creates the pressure for an uprising against Britain by the government and by the people. When the United States finally gains freedom, its people gain the ability to control their own destinys. This newfound freedom allows not only unopposed speech, but presents limitless greatness as well, which is what the revolutionary writers were trying to impose on the people. Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, and others wrote inspiring pieces to instill a fighting spirit into the colonists so that they may be truly free.
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