comparison and similarities
common sense: fight for what they believe in, want to sepearte from briatian, pamphlet, written by paine, colonies break away, colonies become new country
declaration of independence: create all men equal, want to be united as one nation, government document, written by jefferson, people in charge, no king
similarities:?
are the colonies justified in
demanding independence?
yes because They only wanted equality with other British subjects. They wanted representation in Parliament, they wanted to be able to petition the King, to write him letters asking for things and complaining about things they didn't like. They wanted fair, open trials in court, based on principles of law, as was common in England.
Common Sense was an inflammatory document, an attempt to change peoples' minds, to persuade them to want independence. And a call to action. The Declaration of Independence was more calm and rational, beginning with an outline of the British/American concept of the purpose of government, then explaining the reasons why the American colonies had decided to declare themselves independent
To identify the similarities between Common Sense and the Declaration of Independence, we can compare the content, purpose, and historical context of both documents.
1. Content:
- Both Common Sense and the Declaration of Independence discuss the idea of breaking away from British rule.
- Common Sense argues for complete independence from Britain, urging the colonies to fight for their rights and establish a new country.
- The Declaration of Independence announces the colonies' formal separation from Britain, outlining the reasons for independence and their natural rights.
2. Purpose:
- Both documents aim to inspire and convince the American colonists to support the cause of independence.
- Common Sense was written by Thomas Paine and distributed as a pamphlet to encourage colonists to break free from British rule.
- The Declaration of Independence, primarily drafted by Thomas Jefferson, served as a formal declaration of the American colonies' determination to form a new nation.
3. Authors:
- Common Sense was written by Thomas Paine, while the primary author of the Declaration of Independence was Thomas Jefferson.
- Both Paine and Jefferson were influential thinkers and writers during the American Revolutionary period.
4. Government:
- Both documents express the desire for a new form of government.
- Common Sense argues against the idea of having a king, advocating for a government elected by the people.
- The Declaration of Independence emphasizes the concept of self-governance and the principle that all individuals are created equal.
These similarities showcase a common purpose of inspiring independence, questioning the authority of Britain, and promoting ideals of self-rule and equality. Both Common Sense and the Declaration of Independence played crucial roles in shaping the mindset of the American colonists and ultimately influencing the birth of a new nation.