from The Crisis, Number 1

Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine

With a letter of introduction from Benjamin Franklin, Paine began a career as a journalist

In January 1776, he published Common Sense, in which he argued that Americans must fight for independence

He enlisted in the army toward the end of 1776 after the army had just been defeated by the British Soldiers were suffering from freezing weather, a

shortage of provisions and low morale Paine wrote a series of essays entitled The

American Crisis which George Washington ordered to be read to his troops before they crossed the Delaware River

Paine went to France after the American Revolution and was imprisoned for pleading against the execution of the overthrown French king While in prison, he began writing The Age of

Reason, an attack on organized religion This book turned American public opinion

against him P. 154

Designed to build morale among the soldiers Promises that the severity of their situation

makes triumph more glorious Paine vows that God would never desert those

who fight for just causes He praises those who stand up for their

opposition to England He calls on all the states to put forth their best

effort to resist English rule Paine labels those who step aside as evil and

cowardly

The Crisis, Number 1

Writing meant to convince readers to think or

act in a certain way Appeals to emotions or reason, offers

opinions, and urges action Points/arguments must be backed up with

evidence How does the following statement support

Paine’s argument for independence? “He [the British king] has dissolved

representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions of the rights of the people”

Persuasion

The person or group of people the author

intends to reach

Imagine you were a colonist who remained loyal to the British. How would a speech like The Crisis, Number 1 make you feel?

Audience

Words likely to produce strong emotional

responses

What are the charged words in the following quote from The Crisis, Number 1?

“Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered”

Charged Words

Read pages 160-162 Complete the Crisis Outline Worksheet by

determining which quotes support with arguments

Activity