TheFederalist- Perhaps more than any other work, Thomas Paine’s ‘Common Sense’ galvanized the case for American independence.
“Common Sense” was a short work but had an enormous impact on colonial America’s decision to break its ties with Great Britain. Paine was an English defector to the American cause. Born in 1737, he immigrated to America in 1774 after leading a life of disappointment in England. He initially settled in Philadelphia under the tutelage of Richard Bache, Benjamin Franklin’s son-in-law. A year later, he was hired to write for and edit The Pennsylvania Magazine, although he left his position the same year.
In January 1776, two years after arriving in America and six months before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Paine anonymously published “Common Sense” to immediate success. It sold more than 100,000 copies within the first three months, and even today remains one of the best-selling (if not the best-selling) American titles of all time. The pamphlet galvanized support for an armed rebellion and moved America from the lukewarm column into the solidly independent one.
Several factors assisted “Common Sense’s” wild success. First, it was easy to read. Even today, 239 years after it was published, the language remains incredibly simple.
Just imagine how far we’ve fallen when Saul Alansky’s “Rules for Radicals” has overtaken Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense.”?
Moe Tom, sadly so damn true. 🙁
They’re 2 entirely different kinds of books.
Further when we hold Regressives to these rules, they squeal like little girls. Newt did it and look how he surged in SC. It took the combined efforts and millions from Romney and the fucking backstabbing RNC to put him down.
Look at Trump now-he’s holding them to their standards and all they’ve got are personal attacks. They can’t refute him with facts, they must use the politics of personal destruction and that is another one of SA’s Rules, “The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.” Never let the enemy score points because you’re caught without a solution to the problem and the REgressive solution at this point are personal attacks-it’s doing nothing but building even more support for Trump.
Off the top of my head he’s using 5 more of SA’s Rules to great effect right now.
Watch how the 2 contenders picked by the Republican Elites, Jeb & Marco, are tag teaming to criticize Donald. Romney just held a meeting with these 2 slime balls and you can bet your last donut that they weren’t talking baseball.
the usa’s founding fathers, the old dead white men with guns (and yes some had slaves), had to pledge their lives and fortunes to acquire their freedom from tyranny and autocratic rule.
we are now again at the time that try men’s souls in this country.
I wonder just who in this country is going to be willing to sacrifice their life and everything for their freedom?
He used the word niggard therefore all his thoughts are invalid. Sarc
I think a few quotes from America In Crisis might be more appropriate.