"Common Sense" Explained: US History Review
Summary
TLDRIn this history lecture, the speaker discusses Thomas Paine's influential pamphlet 'Common Sense' from 1775, which played a pivotal role in persuading colonists to revolt against British rule. The lecture breaks down the pamphlet into seven key arguments: the impracticality of an island nation governing a continent, the cultural diversification of the colonies, the failure of Britain as a 'mother country', the dangers of entanglement in European wars, the challenges posed by geographical distance, the Puritan heritage of seeking refuge from European religious conflicts, and the assertion that colonialism is against the colonies' best interests. The speaker emphasizes the pamphlet's significance in shaping American identity and the push for independence.
Takeaways
- 📚 Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' was a persuasive pamphlet written in 1775 that advocated for American independence from Great Britain.
- 🗣️ The pamphlet is often referred to as the 'book of duh' because it presented common sense arguments for why the colonies should break away from Britain.
- 🌍 Paine argued that it was absurd for an island nation like Britain to govern a vast continent like America, highlighting the geographical and practical challenges.
- 🏴 The colonial population had diversified, with many different European backgrounds, and Paine suggested they were no longer truly 'British' but had developed a distinct American identity.
- 👩 Paine criticized the idea of Britain as a 'mother country', suggesting that it was more like a bad mother that violated the natural rights of its children.
- 🔫 He warned against the dangers of being entangled in Europe's constant wars, which could drag the colonies into conflicts not of their own making.
- 📡 The geographical distance between America and Britain was a significant issue for Paine, as it made communication and governance difficult.
- 🏛️ Paine drew on the Puritan heritage of the colonies, which sought refuge from religious conflicts in Europe, to argue for continued separation from Britain.
- 🏆 The final argument was about self-governance and the best interests of the colonies, with Paine asserting that Britain would never truly represent or prioritize American needs.
- 💡 'Common Sense' is considered one of the first defining pieces of American literature, helping to shape a sense of American identity and the push for independence.
Q & A
What is the main subject of the lecture?
-The main subject of the lecture is the discussion of Thomas Paine's pamphlet 'Common Sense,' written in 1775, which is considered a persuasive piece of literature that played a significant role in the American Revolution.
Why does the lecturer refer to 'Common Sense' as the 'book of duh'?
-The lecturer refers to 'Common Sense' as the 'book of duh' because it presents arguments that seem obvious or straightforward to the modern reader, advocating for the American colonies to revolt against British rule.
What is the first argument presented by Thomas Paine in 'Common Sense'?
-The first argument is that it is illogical for an island nation like Great Britain to govern a distant continent, which is the American colonies in this context.
How does the lecturer describe the diversity of the American colonies in 1775?
-The lecturer describes the American colonies in 1775 as being diverse, with a population that included not only British but also German, French, and other Northern Europeans, indicating a shift away from a purely British identity.
What is the 'mother country' analogy used by Paine?
-The 'mother country' analogy refers to the idea that Great Britain, as the colonial power, is like a mother to the colonies. Paine argues that if the mother country does not fulfill its duties to protect and represent the colonies, it is akin to a bad mother.
Why does the lecturer compare Europe to a 'drama table' in the cafeteria?
-The lecturer compares Europe to a 'drama table' to illustrate how the continent's constant state of war and political turmoil can negatively impact the American colonies, which are better off avoiding such entanglements.
What is the significance of the 'distance' argument in Paine's pamphlet?
-The 'distance' argument highlights the practical challenges of communication and governance due to the vast geographical separation between the American colonies and Great Britain, suggesting that self-governance would be more effective.
How does Paine connect the colonial heritage to the argument for independence?
-Paine connects the colonial heritage to the argument for independence by emphasizing the original reasons for the colonies' establishment as a refuge from religious and political conflicts in Europe, suggesting that the colonies should maintain their separation.
What is the seventh and final argument presented by Paine in 'Common Sense'?
-The seventh argument is about the best interests of the colonies, asserting that Great Britain will never act in the best interests of the colonies but will always prioritize its own, thus necessitating the creation of a separate country with self-governance.
What is the overall message of 'Common Sense' according to the lecturer?
-The overall message of 'Common Sense' is to persuade the American colonies to seek independence from Great Britain, arguing that self-governance and representation are essential for the protection of natural rights and the well-being of the colonies.
Outlines
📜 Introduction to 'Common Sense' by Thomas Paine
The speaker welcomes the audience to a history lecture, setting the scene in their classroom. They introduce Thomas Paine's pamphlet 'Common Sense,' published in 1775, which they affectionately nickname 'the book of duh.' The pamphlet is described as a persuasive piece of literature that played a significant role in encouraging the American colonists to revolt against Great Britain. The speaker outlines the pamphlet's content into seven sections and likens Paine's work to a modern-day Oprah interview, suggesting its power to awaken and persuade. The first argument presented is the absurdity of a small island nation like Britain trying to govern a vast continent, using the analogy of Jamaica attempting to rule Africa to emphasize the point.
🌏 The Divergent Identity of the American Colonies
The speaker continues to break down the arguments presented in 'Common Sense.' The second argument addresses the changing identity of the American colonies, which were becoming increasingly diverse with immigrants from various European backgrounds. Paine argues that the colonies were no longer purely British but had developed a distinct American identity, necessitating separation from the British Empire. The third argument criticizes the British as a 'bad mother' to the colonies, suggesting that a mother country should nurture and protect, not exploit and oppress. Paine uses this analogy to build a case for American independence.
🚩 The Folly of Entrusting the Colonies to Britain
In the third paragraph, the speaker discusses Paine's fourth argument, which revolves around the concept of war and the constant entanglement of the colonies in Britain's European conflicts. Paine warns against the dangers of being associated with a 'drama table' like Europe, advocating for the colonies to distance themselves from such turmoil. The fifth argument focuses on the practical challenges posed by the vast distance between the colonies and Britain, highlighting communication difficulties and the slow response to colonial needs. Paine suggests that this distance makes effective governance nearly impossible.
🏛️ The Puritan Heritage and the Argument for Separation
The speaker outlines the sixth argument from 'Common Sense,' which draws on the Puritan heritage of the colonies. Paine argues that the original settlers fled Europe to escape religious persecution and establish a new life free from the turmoil of the Old World. He suggests that the colonies should maintain this separation and formalize their independence to preserve their unique identity and values.
🌟 The Pursuit of Self-Rule and Representation
The final paragraph discussed in the script addresses Paine's seventh and last argument, which is centered on the idea of self-interest and self-governance. Paine contends that Great Britain will never act in the best interests of the colonies but will always prioritize its own needs. He calls for the colonies to rise up, evolve, and create their own separate nation where they can rule themselves, protect their natural rights, and ensure that the people have a voice in their governance.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Common Sense
💡Thomas Paine
💡Great Britain
💡Colonists
💡Revolution
💡Pamphlet
💡Representation
💡Natural Rights
💡Mother Country
💡Puritan Heritage
💡Colonialism
Highlights
Introduction to Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' pamphlet and its significance in American history.
The pamphlet is referred to as the 'book of duh', highlighting its persuasive nature.
Common Sense is seen as a catalyst for the American Revolution against Great Britain.
The pamphlet is divided into seven key arguments for American independence.
Argument one: The impracticality of an island nation (Great Britain) ruling a continent.
Argument two: The cultural and ethnic diversification of the colonies, distinct from Britain.
Argument three: The failure of Great Britain as a 'mother country' to protect the colonies' rights.
Argument four: The colonies' entanglement in Europe's constant wars.
Argument five: The challenges of distance and communication with a far-off ruler.
Argument six: The Puritan heritage and the original intent of the colonies as a refuge from Europe.
Argument seven: The colonies being treated as a colony, not having their best interests at heart.
The call for the colonies to rise up, revolt, and create their own separate country.
The importance of representation, protecting natural rights, and consent of the governed.
The pamphlet's role in defining American identity and literature.
The use of analogies, such as Tina Turner and Ike Turner, to explain the relationship between the colonies and Great Britain.
The idea of the colonies not wanting to be part of the 'drama table' that is Europe.
Transcripts
hey guys welcome to another hippies
history lecture this time from my
awesome classroom that I love so much
what I'm gonna do for you in the next
few minutes guys is have a little chat
with you about a really awesome book a
pamphlet written in 1775 by Thomas Paine
and it's called common sense I like
calling it the book of duh so what this
is guys is basically seen as a piece of
literature in American history that's
really going to serve as a piece of
persuasion as a catalyst to launch
people into wanting to revolt against
the country Great Britain the colonial
power and that's a pretty pretty
powerful book if it's gonna convince you
to pick up a gun and start shooting at
the Redcoats
so let's break this bad boy up into
seven big sections but I like starting
off by kind of stating that I call it
the book of duh and other analogies I've
talked about Tina Turner and Ike Turner
and this is really the moment today's
world where Tina would go on Oprah and
she kind of have that girl you need to
leave but of course we're talking about
a book and Oprah is Thomas Paine but
nevertheless it's gonna have the same
type of effect a really kind of waking
America up so it's a really great book
to get to know and especially if you're
writing an essay talking about why the
colonists are gonna repel against Great
Britain so seven basic basic arguments
will just kind of break them up right
now number one number one is Great
Britain yo-you an island should do an
island running a continent I mean that's
ridiculous
you know the idea of let's say I don't
know Jamaica running Africa really makes
no sense so the idea that an island
nation in Europe is going to be able to
successfully kind of you know drive
policy for a continent that's you know
thousands of miles away it's just
ludicrous
so argument number one is yo you're an
island argument number two is that we're
particularly not British anymore you
know the colonial power certainly is
Great Britain and that is probably more
of kind of a reason because of history
and power and economics but in 1775 yo
we mad diverse you know there's German
and there's a French and there's all
types of Europeans especially Northern
Europeans at this time the old
immigration that is pain in this kind of
sermon is saying you know we're not
British anymore we've diversified so
it's time to kind of move on and not be
part of the British Empire because we're
distinctly different we're American and
that's what makes this book so important
it's really one of the first kind of
American defining pieces of literature
giving us this kind of sense of identity
so argument number two we're really not
British anymore argument number three yo
mama really you know you've heard the
term mother country right so using that
analogy in this sermon that Payne is
launching he's like what kind of mother
does what this mother does you know yeah
maybe she's my mother but she's a bad
mother and were grown up now you know
certainly you you owe something to your
mother if she raises you and loves you
but if she raises you and violates your
natural rights and doesn't give you
representation and you know taxes you as
punishment and when you're 18 all of
your life go live your life
so argument number three is your momma
right that your mother if it's a mother
country isn't doing its motherly duties
number four is bang bang and this is the
concept of European war Great Britain's
in a war like every Monday so if you're
the colonists and you're kind of
strapping your hook to this boat that's
going to war all the time we're going to
constantly entangled in European
alliance ISM you know the French and
Indian War is an example of that of kind
of Europe scrap spilling over in the
continent of the North American
continent you know it's not cool so
certainly I give the analogy that if you
go to the cafeteria table you don't want
to sit at the drama table and certainly
Europe is the drama table and Payne says
you know let's sit over there
argument number five is basically the
idea of distance Great Britain is
literally thousand miles away and of
course there's no internet or phones or
even the post office so therefore
communication is a problem and having
them deal with us that far away and
having that time gap there's going to be
certainly problems just pragmatic
problems about dealing
issues so distance is a big argument
that pain lays out its the bell this
time for school is time for learning
argument number six is the idea of kind
of our Puritan heritage or at least the
idea that one of the founding principles
of the colonies was kind of serving as a
refuge from Europe and certainly in a
religious refuge from kind of the
Catholic Church in the Church of England
we're coming over here to separate
ourselves from all that drama so going
back to kind of historical context of
you know the Puritan foundational stuff
pain makes that argument of that that
should kind of lead us to the idea that
we should we should still be separate or
we should be separated officially and
finally the last argument of the seventh
argument is the idea of best interest
and this really goes to colonialism we
are you know Great Britain's Punk and
Paine says basically that they're never
gonna have our best interests they're
always going to treat us like a punk
because they're always going to be
interested and you know one nin before
they're going to be interested in Boston
so therefore it is that much more
important that we rise up and we're
evolved and we create our own separate
country so we can rule ourselves and we
can have our own representation protect
our own natural rights and give our
people consent of the governed so we can
you know rule the day so there you go
guys Common Sense 1775 Thomas Paine
seven arguments we'll see you next time
you should click links below there in
the description because your brain is
going to grow ten times its size thanks
for watching where Tessa goes
while it diffuses out we'll see later a
[Music]
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