Common Sense — Outline

Thesis

“The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.”
Chapter 2

Development

1.
Introductory: scope and occasion of the pamphlet
“a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom.”
Chapter 2
2.
Foundational: origin and purpose of government
“Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one”
Chapter 3
3.
Critique: defects of the English constitution
“if we will suffer ourselves to examine the component parts of the English constitution, we shall find them to be the base remains of two ancient tyrannies, compounded with some new republican materials.”
Chapter 3
4.
Historical: origins and evils of monarchy and hereditary succession
“In short, monarchy and succession have laid (not this or that kingdom only) but the world in blood and ashes.”
Chapter 4
5.
Polemical: the case against hereditary right
“Of more worth is one honest man to society and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived.”
Chapter 4
6.
Argumentative: the case for separation and independence
“I am not induced by motives of pride, party, or resentment to espouse the doctrine of separation and independance; I am clearly, positively, and conscientiously persuaded that it is the true interest of this continent to be so”
Chapter 5
7.
Constructive: proposal for continental government and charter
“A government of our own is our natural right: And when a man seriously reflects on the precariousness of human affairs, he will become convinced, that it is infinitely wiser and safer, to form a constitution of our own in a cool deliberate manner, while we have it in our power, than to trust such an interesting event to time and chance.”
Chapter 5
8.
Practical: America's present capacity for independence
“It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies; yet our present numbers are sufficient to repel the force of all the world.”
Chapter 6
9.
Temporal: the present moment as the proper time for independence
“the present time is the true time for establishing it. The intimacy which is contracted in infancy, and the friendship which is formed in misfortune, are, of all others, the most lasting and unalterable.”
Chapter 6
10.
Appendix: rebuttal of the King's Speech and case for declared independence
“We have it in our power to begin the world over again. A situation, similar to the present, hath not happened since the days of Noah until now.”
Chapter 7

Conclusion

“let each of us, hold out to his neighbour the hearty hand of friendship, and unite in drawing a line, which, like an act of oblivion shall bury in forgetfulness every former dissension. Let the names of Whig and Tory be extinct; and let none other be heard among us, than those of a good citizen, an open and resolute friend, and a virtuous supporter of the rights of mankind and of the FREE AND INDEPENDANT STATES OF AMERICA.”
Chapter 7