Annotated Bibliography: Common Sense

Hakim, Joy. "From Thomas Paine, Common Sense." A History of US : Sourcebook and Index. Vol. 11. New York: Oxford UP, 1999. 31-37. Print.

In this document called Common Sense, the author, Thomas Paine is discussing the reasons why the colonists should join the resistance against Great Britain. He begins a long discussion of the purpose of America, and if the colonists would continue to be "attached" to Great Britain, there would be much larger conflicts. The document supports and extends the Declaration of Independence because Thomas Paine talks about how government does not last quite long and would eventually need to be removed after several abuses by those in charge. Common Sense by Thomas Paine would allow us to see the colonist's perspective in our study of the American Revolution but we would need to see all perspectives to fully grasp the causes of the American Revolution. We as students need to see breadth to have a wide range of knowledge, not just this document as a whole.