Book SummaryCommon Sense, by Thomas Paine

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Common Sense

Common Sense, written by Thomas Paine and published anonymously, provides both an intellectual backing and a roadmap for full American independence from England. Importantly, while it is often read and taught as a book that is only concerned with questions related to America and England, Paine also lays out a comprehensive political philosophy that is anti-monarchy and based in his understanding of the virtue of republican democracy. It was his hope that America could serve as a model democracy that could eventually be exported around the world.

We’ll begin with this political philosophy and then move more directly into the American case. There are four main principles that make up Paine’s argument:

1. Government’s only purpose is to provide its citizens with security from the vices that are inherent in all humans.

Consider humans in a total state of nature. They realize soon that they need to band together and form a society to survive and thrive. However, a society without regulations will quickly crumble, because some evil men will see an opportunity to take advantage of others. Government thus originates because humans agree to give up some of their freedoms, including privacy or freedom from conscription into an army, in order to exist in a collective that will protect them from the evil of others.

The success and happiness of any colony or nation rest on a citizenry that feels its government is an effective protector and does not overreach. A successful government does not include kings, like the one in England. The role of king is tyrannical by its very nature because kings are not elected, and so have no reason to listen to their constituents. It is thus the right of Americans to overthrow the tyrannical government of England.

2. Monarchical governments are evil, particularly heredity monarchies.

The Bible shows that the distinction of men into kings and subjects is wrong. The only...

Common Sense Summary Shortform Introduction

Common Sense was written by Thomas Paine (and published anonymously) to provide an intellectual backing for American independence from England. An English-born philosopher, Paine authored the pamphlet between 1775-1776. Despite the fact that there were only 2.5 million people living in America, it sold between 100,000 and 500,000 copies in its first year of publication, and it was reprinted in newspapers and copied by hand and distributed that way as well. Estimates suggest that, in relation to population, it retains the title of the most widely circulated publication in American history.

The Americans to whom Paine was speaking were, by Paine’s own estimation, interested more in reconciliation with the English government than establishing their own, despite the fact that the Boston...

Common Sense Summary Chapter 1: The Origins of Government and Society

Government is a necessity to protect its citizens from the inherent vice in humanity, and its sole purpose is to provide its citizens with security. In this chapter, we will analyze Paine’s ideal government.

Society vs. Government

In order to understand what makes an ideal government, we need first to understand the difference between government and society.

• Society is produced by a group banding together for collective wants. This is in all cases a positive development.
• Government is produced by moral failings—it is a restraint on vice. In the best case, government is a necessary evil; in the worst case, it can become intolerable.

Because evil develops in society and among humans, they agree to enter into a contract where they give up some of their freedoms for protections from said evil. Government is about security.

Thought Experiment: The Creation of Government

Paine introduces a thought experiment about how government comes to be. (Shortform note: This sort of thought experiment is popular in seminal political philosophy, including most famously in Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan and Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s _Social...

Shortform Exercise: Build Your Own Society

Consider what you prioritize in your daily life by thinking about your ideal society and government.

Do you agree with Paine’s assertion that the sole purpose of government is to protect its citizens? Why or why not? If not, what are other purposes of government?

Common Sense Summary Chapter 2: The Problems With Monarchy

Monarchical governments are inherently evil and, as we’ll see, hereditary monarchies are particularly unjust.

In this chapter, we’ll analyze monarchies as a system of government.

The Creation of Monarchies

The Bible shows that the distinction of men into kings and their subjects is an evil one. Paine argues that it was “Heathens” who introduced kings into the world, which Jews then took up. However, even though Jews desired to be ruled by kings, it’s clear in the Bible that God does not condone monarchies. In fact, the Bible shows that monarchy is a sin. There are multiple examples of groups of people asking a virtuous man to be their king, which the man then turns down because he doesn’t want to exalt himself above others.

Paine specifically mentions Gideon, a man who...

Common Sense Summary Chapter 3: America’s Predicament

In this chapter, we’ll move from philosophical arguments to the situation in front of the American colonists in 1775 and 1776. We’ll discuss arguments for reconciliation with England and why there is a need for revolution.

Reconciliation with England is no longer an option. Now that England has begun to violently oppress America, there is no other option but to fight back. This is a worthy cause because in fighting back, America can establish a republican form of government that is a model for the rest of the world.

The Idea of Liberation

There’s been a lot of debate on the topic of America’s relations with England, but the period of debate is over, ended by the actions of the King. It’s time now to fight.

• (Shortform note: Common Sense was written after the Boston Tea Party, subsequent crackdowns by the colonial English government on rebel factions in America, and the skirmishes of Lexington and Concord.)

This particular liberation movement is of the greatest possible worth for two reasons:

• First, it is a cause that will affect an entire continent that’s at least an eighth of the whole world.
• Second, **it’s a cause that will be enduring and...

Shortform Exercise: What Makes a Republican Government?

Think about the pros and cons of Paine’s goals for an ideal government and compare them to what actually happened in America.

What are the similarities and differences between Paine’s proposed Continental Congress and how Congress functions today?

Common Sense Summary Chapter 4: America’s Advantages

America has a lot of natural advantages when it comes to the possibility of revolution. There will never be a greater chance of success than there is right now, and if Americans do not seize the opportunity, they leave themselves open to more oppression from England or violent takeover from somewhere else.

In this chapter, we’ll examine these advantages and discuss America’s future and potential.

Arguments for Immediate Revolution

America has never been in a better place than it is right now to commit to revolution because:

• The people are united.
• There are enough citizens to hold off any army against them and not so many that there are too many towns to defend.
  • If there were more Americans, the colonies might also be less united. Each colony, were it to expand, would be governed by increasingly unique interests.
• America has no navy, but England would never allow it to build one, so this would not change no matter how long it waits to declare independence.

America is also in a great position to start building a navy once it does declare independence, with ample resources and capital available. America will eventually lead the world in...

Common Sense Summary Appendix

(Shortform note: This section was not in the original version of Common Sense and was published as an addendum after King of England George III gave a speech to parliament on October 26, 1775, the text of which appeared in America in January of 1776, in which he called the American rebels traitors.)

George III’s speech is not of particular concern because he has already proven that he is immoral. It just reinforces the point that America’s relationship with England is beyond reconciliation.

The speech by George III is libelous and is entirely untrue. However, it doesn’t matter much what the King says or does, because he has already...

Common Sense Summary Addendum: Message to the Quakers

(Shortform note: Paine writes a message to the Quakers in an attempt to gain their support for the revolution and explain the guiding principles of peace, despite the necessity of war. He also chastises them for their lack of support. Thomas Paine himself was born into a Quaker family. Most Quakers eventually remained pacifist during the war and refused to support any efforts.)

The Quakers should support the war effort despite their stated pacifism, because it will lead to eternal peace. Quakers aren’t committed to...