THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 1775 1783
THOMAS PAINES COMMON SENSE
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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True
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False
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Either A or B
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None of the above
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Detailed explanation-1: -Why do you think Thomas Paine originally published Common Sense anonymously? Because he didn’t want anyone to know it was him or he would get killed. What two sides emerged in response to the Declaration of Independence?
Detailed explanation-2: -By promoting the idea of American exceptionalism and the need to form a new nation to realize its promise, Paine’s pamphlet not only attracted public support for the Revolution, but put the rebellion’s leaders under pressure to declare independence.
Detailed explanation-3: -Paine wanted it that way, both because his arguments against British rule would bring government retaliation, and because he shared the Enlightenment belief that ideas were more important than the identity of the speaker expressing them.
Detailed explanation-4: -Why would Paine keep his identity private, publishing anonymously? What he was saying was treason, or speaking out against the current government, and could get him into trouble.