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1. THOMAS PAINE
Ángela Mejías
Melissa Matamoros
José Miguel Martínez
Diana González

2. INDEX
 Biography
 Political Thoughts
 Political Writings
 Common Sense
 Structure of Common Sense
 Arguments against British rule
 Influence and consequences of Common Sense

3. BIOGRAPHY
 1737 - Thomas Paine was born in
Thetford
 1759 - Married Mary Lambert
 1761 – Supernumerary officer
 1762 – Excise officer in Grantham
 Stay maker, servant, school
teacher…

4. BIOGRAPHY
 1768 – Appointed to Lewes (Samuel Ollive)
 1771 – Married Elizabeth Ollive
 1772 – The Case of the Officers of Excise
 1774 –Emigrated to Pennsylvania because of
Benjamin Franklin’s suggestions.

5. BIOGRAPHY
 1775 – Editor of Pennsylvania
Magazine. He published
Common Sense.
 1791- The rights of Man
 1792 – Fled to France
 1802 – Came back to United
States
 1809 – He died

6. POLITICAL THOUGHTS
 I. Reason and Self-Governing Individuals.
 II. Self-Governance and Societal Interdependence.
 III. Government and the Common Good.
Plaque at the White Hart Hotel,
Lewes, East Sussex, south east
England

7. POLITICAL WRITINGS
 The Case of the Officers of Excise
 Published in 1772.

8. POLITICAL WRITINGS
 Rights of Man
- Published in 1791.

9. POLITICAL WRITINGS
 African Slavery in America.
- Article published in 1775 in the Postscript to
the Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly
Advertiser.
 The Crisis (1776)

10. COMMON SENSE
 Common Sense is a pamphlet
written during the American
Revolution. It was published
anonymously in 1776.
 This work presented the
American Colonies with an
argument for freedom from
British rule at a time when the
question of independence was
still undecided.

11. COMMON SENSE
 It is structured like a sermon and relied on
biblical references to make his case to the people.
 The pamphlet probably had little direct influence
on the Continental Congress’ decision to issue a
Declaration of independence.
 Loyalists vigorously attacked Common Sense.

12. STRUCTURE OF COMMON SENSE
 I – Of the Origin and design of the government in
general, with concise remarks on the English
Constitutions.
 II – Of Monarchy and hereditary succession.
 III – Thoughts on the present state of American
Affairs.
 IV – On the present Ability of America, with
some Miscellaneous Reflections.

13. ARGUMENTS AGAINST BRITISH
RULE
 It was absurd for an island to rule a continent.
 America is not a British nation and Britain is not
the mother of America.
 The distance between the two nations is
enormous.
 America's relationship with the rest of Europe.
 The problem with Monarchy.

14. ARGUMENTS AGAINST BRITISH
RULE
 Britain rules the colonies from its own benefit.
“Why is it that we hesitate? From Britain we can
expect nothing but ruin. If she is admitted to the
government of America again, this continent will
not be worth living in.”
“Until an independence is declared the continent
will feel itself like a man who continues putting
off some unpleasant business from day to day, yet
knows it must be done, hates to set about it,
wishes it over, and is continually haunted with
the thoughts of its necessity.”

15. INFLUENCE AND CONSEQUENCES
OF COMMON SENSE

16. INFLUENCE AND CONSEQUENCES
OF COMMON SENSE
 American Revolution (1775):
- Dated from 1775 to 1783
- Aim: Independence
British debts
Causes:
No representation in the
Parliament of Great Britain

17. INFLUENCE AND CONSEQUENCES
OF COMMON SENSE
 Creation of the Provincial Congress
Continental Congress
 The Declaration of Independence
 British troops sent to America and the beginning
of the war (American war of Independence)
 American victory
 Treaty of Paris (1783)