If the British didn't treat their American colonies so horribly, Thomas Paine might not have had to write Common Sense. But the truth is that the Brits imposed brutal taxes and treated Americans' private property as though it were their own.
On top of that, Paine thinks that the Brits have a completely nonsensical political system and he doesn't want this same system ruining things for folks in America. Every person and every country has a breaking point when it comes to putting up with injustice, and for Thomas Paine, America has definitely reached the point at which it's totally appropriate to snap.
Questions About Injustice
- Does Thomas Paine give a clear enough idea of why Britain is being so unjust to America, or is he vague? What are some of the specific injustices he lists?
- What is so unjust about the British political system, according to Paine? Do you agree with him? Why or why not?
- Why does Paine think that war with Britain would be a "just" cause?
Chew on This
In Common Sense, we find that the only way America can ever be just is to make sure that its leaders are democratically elected.
Thomas Paine's Common Sense shows us that the only real way to stop injustice is to put up with it until God sorts it out.