Reflection #9: Thomas Paine- The Crisis No. 1

I think that the writing, The Crisis No. 1, by Thomas Paine was definitely a writing from the Rationalism period. I could just tell by the style of writing that the work of Mister Paine was Rationalist. The way that Paine had support to back up his opinions was a really good hint that he used reason and thought to prove his points. I think that the Rationalistic writing style is really good at persuading people into doing thing because it leaves no room for the reader to have their own opinion, they are chalk full of ideas that support the writer's opinion. In the very first paragraph in the excerpt in the book, Thomas Paine says, "Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, had declared that she has a right (not only to tax) but "to bind us in all cases whatsoever"; and if being bound in that manner is not slavery, then there is not such a thing as slavery upon Earth" (Paine 134). This quote really shows that Paine was passionate about riling up the people in the British colonies to stand up for what they believe in. He makes it really clear that he thinks the British government is taking over their lives and he thinks that they should not be taxing people overseas from them. I think that Thomas Paine was writing this essay to the people that were in the military. In the Before you Read section (132), it was said that Thomas Paine’s letter, The Crisis, was to be read at all military campgrounds. This makes me think that Thomas Paine was really targeting all people in the colonies, but especially the people in the military because they were already showing their passion by fighting in the wars.

Thomas Paine said in the excerpt, “We did not make a proper use of last winter… and the fault is all our own” (Paine 135). I think that this quote really shows the Rationalistic thinking of Thomas Paine because rationalism was a time of reasoning. Thomas Paine had obviously thought through that they were the ones that sat around and did not accomplish anything during the winter. I can tell that the thought process is rationalistic because you have to think about something logically to actually believe that you are at fault. I think that by telling the people that they have not really accomplished anything, he is hoping to get them stirred up enough to do something about the way they are being treated by the British government.

I liked the part at the end where Thomas Paine talked about how if someone broke into his house and tried to rob it or kill anyone that he would not just have to sit there and take it, he would do something about it. (Paine 136). Thomas Paine is trying to say that if people are not willing to let people break into their homes and take their belongings, then why would they be willing to sit around and let the British government make them pay unnecessary taxes and order them around.

Paine, Thomas. "from The Crisis, No.1." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 134-136. Print.

"Before you Read: From The Crisis, No. 1." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 132. Print.