Name______Period______

Common Sense

Read and discuss the excerpts that your group has been assigned below. In the right column re-write the excerpt in your own words, then record the meanings of each excerpt as they are presented.

Letter / Excerpt from Common Sense / What the excerpt means in our own words
A / “I have heard it asserted by some, that as America hath flourished under her former connection with Great Britain, the same connection is necessary towards her future happiness, and will always have the same effect. Nothing can be more fallacious than this kind of argument”
B / “We have bolstered the protection of Great Britain without considering that her motive was interest, not attachment; and that she did not protect us from our enemies on our account, but from her enemies on her own account”
C / “But Britain is the parent country, say some. Then the more shame upon her conduct. Even brutes do not devour their young, nor savages make war upon their families”
D / “I challenge the warmest advocate for reconciliation, to show a single advantage that this continent can reap, by being connected to Great Britain. I repeat the challenge; not a single advantage is derived”
E / “Small islands, not capable of protecting themselves, are the proper objects for kingdoms to take under their care; but there is something absurd, in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island. In no instance hath nature made the satellite larger than the primary planet”
F / “Nothing but independence…can keep the peace of the continent. A reconciliation with Britain now…will be followed by a revolt somewhere or other, the consequences of which may be far more fatal than all the malice of Britain”

On back: Summarize Paine’s main argument. Predict - How do you think his pamphlet with impact the actions of the Continental Congress?

1 – America is a continent, Great Britain is an island.

It is crazy to think an island should control a continent! E

2 – If Great Britain is our “mother” then shame on

her for abusing her children. Even monsters would C

not act this way.

3 – To those who say we should make peace with Great Britain,

I ask you how will this ever benefit us? It never will! D

4 – Some say that America has benefited because of her connection

to Great Britain. Some say that to grow and get better we need A

this connection – nothing can be more of a lie!

5 – Only independence can bring us peace. Avoiding war now will

only bring us war later – and if it comes later the violence could be F

much worse.

6 – Great Britain has defended us not for our own good, but for her B

own selfish reasons.