Matrix of Excerpts from Common Sense

Instructions: Use the matrix below to record your interpretation of each excerpt displayed. You may restate each excerpt in any way you wish (written or visual), but keep your interpretations clean! Letter Excerpt from Common Sense What the Excerpt Means in Our Own Words

Its saying that theyve heard from some people that America was happy with Britain I have heard it asserted by some, that as America hath and that America has grown with them. However, this is a lie. America was not happy flourished under her former connection with Great Britain, with them because of all the things Britain did to them, such as the Stamp Act, and the same connection is necessary toward her future they hadnt flourished while they were part of Britains control. happiness, and will always have the same effect. Nothing can be more fallacious than this kind of argument. We have boasted the protection of Great Britain without Before they could think about what the British were doing to them, they allowed considering that her motive was interest, not attachment, them to do it. Great Britain had only protected themselves, and not the colonists, and that she did not protect us from our enemies on out which is why they said, but from her enemies on her account. account, but from her enemies on her account This is talking about how the British are shameful. The British made the young go to But Britain is the parent country, say some. Then the more war, and theyre saying that not even the worst people make their kids go to war. shame upon her conduct. Even brutes do not devour their And not a brutal person would make their own families go to war. In other words, young, nor savages make war upon their families brutal people wont betray their family. I challenge the warmest advocate for reconciliation, to Even the nicest person couldnt make them become friends with Britain again. If they show a single advantage that this continent can reap, by were connected by the British in any way, there was no way that they could have being connected with Great Britain. I repeat the challenge; been friends with them. not a single advantage can be derived. Because some of the islands are so small they cant defend themselves, Britain had Small islands, not capable of defending themselves, are the taken them under their wing. However, because they couldnt defend themselves, proper objects for kingdoms to take under their care; but theyll be under their care forever. there is something absurd, in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island. In no instance hath nature made the satellite larger than its primary planet. In order to keep the peace between the two, the only thing they can do is separate Nothing but independencecan keep the peace of the from them. Before they get too far into Britains government, they must separate continentA government of our own is our natural right: before its too late. It would definitely be much more wiser and safer for them to and when a man seriously reflect on the precariousness of separate now rather than later. 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

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