Common Sense
In ?Common Sense? and ?The Crisis? Thomas Paine expresses his idea about individual rights, the idea of revolution and what it means to be an American. John Locke had two major ideas about individual rights; human nature is potentially good, and mankind is capable of governing themselves.
Thomas Paine criticizes the governing of Americans by Great Britain in his writings. Here are some statements that show shared feelings by Locke and Paine.
?We have boasted the protection of Great Britain without considering that her motive was interest not attachment; and that she did not protect us form our enemies on our account; but from her enemies on her own account, from those who had no quarrel with us on any other account, and who will always be our enemies on the same account. Let Britain waive her pretensions to the continent, or the continent throw off the dependence, and we should be at peace with France and Spain, were they at war with Britain. The miseries of Hanover?s last war ought to warn us against connections.? (Note: Hanover?s last war – The Seven Years war involving Prussia and Austria at the beginning then involving all major European powers.)
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