Common Sense Summary

10 questions on the main ideas. Each answer comes with a short explanation.

Take it one question at a time

1. Question 1

   Which of the following best describes the core argument Thomas Paine makes in 'Common Sense' regarding America's relationship with Great Britain?

   1. That America should seek reconciliation and better representation within the British Parliament.
   2. That America should immediately declare independence and establish a republican government.
   3. That America should form an alliance with France to pressure Britain into granting more autonomy.
   4. That America should remain loyal to the Crown but resist unjust taxation through economic boycotts.
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   B. That America should immediately declare independence and establish a republican government. Paine's central thesis in 'Common Sense' was a radical and impassioned call for America to free itself from British rule and set up an independent republican government, rejecting any notion of reconciliation.

2. Question 2

   Paine argues that hereditary succession and monarchical government are inherently flawed. What is one of his primary criticisms of these systems?

   1. They lead to excessive religious dogma and persecution.
   2. They often place unqualified individuals in power and can lead to tyranny.
   3. They are too expensive to maintain compared to elected officials.
   4. They discourage international trade and economic prosperity.
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   B. They often place unqualified individuals in power and can lead to tyranny. Paine savagely attacked hereditary kingship and aristocratic institutions, arguing that the system could place an unfit or tyrannical ruler in power simply by birthright, rather than merit or consent.

3. Question 3

   What significant impact did 'Common Sense' have on its immediate audience in 1776?

   1. It convinced the British Parliament to reconsider its policies towards the colonies.
   2. It primarily appealed to the intellectual elite, solidifying their existing support for independence.
   3. It converted thousands of citizens to the cause of American independence and spoke directly to a mass audience.
   4. It led to immediate military intervention from other European powers in support of the colonies.
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   C. It converted thousands of citizens to the cause of American independence and spoke directly to a mass audience. The pamphlet was the first to speak directly to a mass audience—it went through fifty-six editions within a year of publication—and its assertive and often caustic style both embodied the democratic spirit he advocated, and converted thousands of citizens to the cause of American independence.

4. Question 4

   Paine dismisses the argument that America needs Britain for protection. What is his counter-argument regarding this point?

   1. America's vast natural resources would deter any potential invaders.
   2. Britain's involvement in European wars actually drags America into unnecessary conflicts.
   3. America could easily form its own powerful navy to defend itself.
   4. Other European nations would naturally protect America's interests.
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   B. Britain's involvement in European wars actually drags America into unnecessary conflicts. Paine argued that being tied to Britain meant America was drawn into European conflicts that were not its own, making it an enemy to countries that would otherwise be its friends.

5. Question 5

   What type of government did Thomas Paine advocate for in 'Common Sense'?

   1. A constitutional monarchy similar to Britain's, but with more colonial representation.
   2. A direct democracy where all citizens vote on every law.
   3. An independent republican government.
   4. A confederation of independent states with no central authority.
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   C. An independent republican government. Paine's call was for America to 'set up an independent republican government,' emphasizing representative rule over hereditary power.

6. Question 6

   Paine uses the metaphor of a 'child' and 'parent' to describe the relationship between America and Britain. How does he subvert this common loyalist argument?

   1. He argues that America is a 'child' that has matured and is now capable of self-governance.
   2. He claims Britain was never a true 'parent' but rather an abusive captor.
   3. He suggests America's true 'parent' is Europe as a whole, not just Britain.
   4. He states that children should always obey their parents, thus contradicting his own call for independence.
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   A. He argues that America is a 'child' that has matured and is now capable of self-governance. Paine acknowledges the 'parent' metaphor but asserts that a child, once grown, no longer needs the constant supervision of a parent and can manage its own affairs, implying America has reached this stage.

7. Question 7

   Paine's writing style in 'Common Sense' is described as 'assertive and often caustic.' How did this style contribute to its effectiveness?

   1. It allowed for nuanced philosophical debate among scholars.
   2. It made the complex political arguments accessible and emotionally compelling to a mass audience.
   3. It alienated moderate colonists, making the divide between loyalists and patriots even wider.
   4. It was primarily aimed at impressing European monarchs with American intellectual prowess.
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   B. It made the complex political arguments accessible and emotionally compelling to a mass audience. The 'assertive and often caustic style both embodied the democratic spirit he advocated, and converted thousands of citizens to the cause of American independence,' indicating its effectiveness in reaching and persuading a broad public.

8. Question 8

   Paine argues that reconciliation with Britain is a 'fallacious dream.' What is one specific reason he gives for this impossibility?

   1. The vast geographical distance between the two nations makes effective governance impossible.
   2. The bloodshed at Lexington and Concord has created an irreparable breach between the two sides.
   3. Britain's military is too powerful to be challenged, making any peace temporary.
   4. The American colonies are too diverse in their interests to ever agree on terms of reconciliation.
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   B. The bloodshed at Lexington and Concord has created an irreparable breach between the two sides. Paine explicitly states that the 'period of debate is closed' and points to the battles like Lexington and Concord as proof that the time for reconciliation has passed due to the violence inflicted by Britain.

9. Question 9

   Beyond political independence, what social and economic principles did Paine advocate for a newly independent America?

   1. Strict adherence to traditional aristocratic hierarchies and land ownership.
   2. Personal freedom, social equality, and encouragement of economic and cultural progress.
   3. A centralized, state-controlled economy with limited individual enterprise.
   4. Maintaining a strong established church to guide moral and social order.
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   B. Personal freedom, social equality, and encouragement of economic and cultural progress. Paine urged a new beginning for his adopted country in which personal freedom and social equality would be upheld and economic and cultural progress encouraged, reflecting his broader philosophical ideals.

10. Question 10

    Paine refutes the claim that America's prosperity depends on its connection to Britain. What is his argument about the source of America's economic strength?

    1. America's prosperity is primarily due to British subsidies and trade agreements.
    2. America's natural resources, industriousness, and access to a global market are the true foundations of its wealth.
    3. America would only prosper if it formed an exclusive economic alliance with France.
    4. The colonies' economic strength is solely derived from their agricultural output, not trade.
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    B. America's natural resources, industriousness, and access to a global market are the true foundations of its wealth. Paine argued that America's trade extended beyond Britain to all of Europe and that its natural resources and industrious people were the true source of its prosperity, not its colonial ties, which often restricted its trade.