NAME:Emily Moreno

HR:301

Understanding Common Sense

Common
Sense

Passage 1

What is the
author saying?

Thomas
Paine was
trying to say
that Britain is
not a parent
country like
some say;
because
parents do
not bring
shame to
their young
like Britain
did to
America.

What details are

important?

What is the
main idea of
the reading?

But

The main
idea of the
reading is to
tell colonist
that every
time Britain
does
something
shameful it
reflects back
on America

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....Europe
, and not
England, is the
parent country of
America. AND
Hither have they
fled, not from the
tender embraces
of the mother,
but from the
cruelty of the
monster; and it is
so far true of
England

List similar grievances

from the Declaration of
Independence

He has
erected a
multitude of
New Offices,
and sent
hither
swarms of
Officers to
harrass our
people, and
eat out their
substance.

He has kept
among us, in
times of
peace,
Standing
Armies
without the
Consent of
our
legislatures.

For cutting
off our Trade
with all parts
of the world:

Teaching Democracy: How did the Patriots justify their separation from Great Britain? Jasmin
Brown, Author Copyright 2012, Regents of the University of California

NAME:Emily Moreno
HR:301

Passage 2

Paine is trying to
say that every
time England
wants to break
out in war the
sake of America
is going to be
traded or will be
put in danger
because of the
connection
between Britain
and America.

Europe is too
thickly planted
with kingdoms to
be long at peace,
and whenever a
war breaks out
between England
and any foreign
power, the trade
of America goes
to ruin, because
of her connection
to Britain.

The

main
idea of the
reading is to
tell colonist
that America
should not
be in danger
every time
England
decides to
break out a
war.

He has
plundered
our seas,
ravaged our
Coasts,
burnt our
towns, and
destroyed
the lives of
our people.
He has
constrained
our fellow
Citizens
taken
Captive on
the high
Seas to bear
Arms against
their
Country, to
become the
executioners
of their
friends and
Brethren, or
to fall
themselves
by their
Hands.

He has
affected to
render the
Military
independent
Teaching Democracy: How did the Patriots justify their separation from Great Britain? Jasmin
Brown, Author Copyright 2012, Regents of the University of California

NAME:Emily Moreno
HR:301

of and
superior to
the Civil
power.

Passage 3

Yet

that we may
not appear to be
Pain is trying
defective even in
to say that
earthly honors,
let a day be
even though
solemnly set
America is
under Britain's apart for
proclaiming the
rule the
charter; let it be
colonist have
brought forth
their own rules
placed on the
for things
divine law, the
because of
word of God;let a
unjust laws.
crown be placed
thereon, by
which the world
may know, that
so far as we
approve as
monarchy, that in
America THE
LAW IS KING.

The main
idea of the
reading is to
express how
even though
America is a
monarchy
government
the law is
king not
Britain.

He has
dissolved
Representati
ve Houses
repeatedly,
for opposing
with manly
firmness his
invasions on
the rights of
the people.

For taking
away our
Charters,
abolishing
our most
valuable
Laws, and
altering
fundamentall
y the Forms
of our
Government
s:

Teaching Democracy: How did the Patriots justify their separation from Great Britain? Jasmin
Brown, Author Copyright 2012, Regents of the University of California

NAME:Emily Moreno
HR:301

He has
refused his
Assent to
Laws, the
most
wholesome
and
necessary
for the public
good.

Teaching Democracy: How did the Patriots justify their separation from Great Britain? Jasmin
Brown, Author Copyright 2012, Regents of the University of California