Paine - The Crisis, No. 1

Henry and Paine deal with similar subjects – the need to stand up to Britain before the colonies are crushed – in different ways After all, Henry was speaking to a

convention; Paine was stationed with Washington’s troops

Paine - Background Paine had something of a rough life

Born in England, but poorly educated Drifted through life until the age of 37 Was fired from his tax-collection job for trying to

“organize” (form a union) his fellow workers, and came to America seeking a new life

Immediately became one of the great American patriots

“Common Sense” ended up in the hands of about a fourth of the American population

Paine- Background Unfortunately, Paine went back to Europe in

1787 He was tried for treason in absentia in England in

1791 for publishing “The Rights of Man.” Paine was safe because he was living/hiding in

France…until the French arrested him for being “a citizen of an enemy nation”

James Monroe made a deal for his release, and he returned to America…which was a curse disguised as a blessing, really

Paine- Background His final work, “The Age of Reason,”

convinced Americans that he was an atheist (he wasn’t) As a result, he lost all of his money, was stripped

of his right to vote, and was shunned or harassed for the rest of his life

The harassment continued into death, when he was denied burial in consecrated ground in 1809

After being buried on his farm, someone dug up his body and stole it

A furniture dealer in England bought his coffin and bones in 1844

No one has heard of him since

Paine-Background Although Paine’s existence was

somewhat miserable, his writings were incredibly influential

Part of this is due to his inflammatory writing style – he accuses Britain of intending to enslave the colonies, and labels those who don’t want to fight as enemy sympathizers Colonists who openly sympathized with

the British were called “Tories”

The Crisis, No. 1 Like Henry, Paine advocates the formation

of a militia A militia was merely a group of citizens who

organized to combat something when faced with an emergency

A standing army, on the other hand, is just that – a permanent military force

He does so in a slightly less emotionally charged way than Henry

Imagery Paine mentions the “summer soldier” and

“sunshine patriot.” He uses these images because the summer soldier isn’t brave enough to keep fighting when the going gets tough (i.e., winter), and the sunshine patriot will turn on you when faced with strong opposition (i.e., in stormy weather) Basically, if everything’s pleasant, these guys

are the loudest, bravest folks around When the chips are down, however, they’re

nowhere to be found

Imagery

Last paragraph Ravaged country Depopulated cities Unsafe houses Homes turned into barracks and bawdy

houses for the Hessians

Metaphor “Mutual fear is the principal link in the

chain of mutual love.” Well, namely that people will stand together if

they’re seeking protection from an external threat

In other words, self-preservation and self-interest is the best reason to stay united as a whole

LAY YOUR SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL- appeals to the average farmer.

Simile

Tyranny, like hell, … Britain has trembled like an ague… The cunning of the fox is as

murderous as the violence of the wolf

Rhetorical Question

Why is it that the enemy have left the New England provinces, and made the middle ones the seat of the war?

What is a Tory?

Analogy The “thief analogy” exists so Paine’s readers can see

“Britain” in a different light. The empire may seem intimidating – or perhaps his

readers don’t see the Empire’s actions as criminal By comparing the fight against Britain to the fight

against a thief, Paine is underscoring the two parties’ mutual danger – namely, that they both overstep their legal right to act in such a manner, and that both pose a threat to one’s home, even if that home is a country whose independence has not yet been established. An opponent may point out that the rule of law is on

Britain’s side, and not on that of the “rebellious” colonists (since, by definition, people rebel against something - control or rules)

Loaded (charged) words

Earnestly, descent, wisdom - used to describe the colonists

Infidel, devils, murderer, highwayman, housebreaker - used to describe the British

Parallelism I love the man that can smile in trouble,

that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.

…but if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property, kills or threatens to kill me…

Were the back counties to give up their arms, they would fall an easy prey to the Indians… Were the home counties to deliver up their arms, they would be exposed to the resentment of the back counties…

Aphorism

Wisdom is not the purchase of a day. The harder the conflict, the more

glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem

too lightly. Though the flame of liberty may

sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire.

Paradox

Paine calls Howe, who is fighting for the Tories, “the greatest enemy” of the Tories.

Paine says that the treatment of the colonists is not slavery, then there is no such thing as slavery in the world.

Allusions

Literary - Voltaire Biblical - page 97

Appeal to Authority/Emotions/Reason A. Paine believes God will favor the colonists

because they make no claim to God’s authority (we only want “peace”), whereas King George claims Godlike authority over the lands of the British Empire (and abuses that authority) - A

“Look at this picture and weep over it” - E “the heart that feels not now is dead; the blood of

his children will curse his cowardice”- E “Howe is as much deceived by you as the American

cause is injured by you. He expects you will take up arms … Your opinions are of no use to him, unless you support him personally, for ‘tis soldiers, and not Tories, that he wants.” - R

Anecdote The anecdote about the Tory tavern keeper

highlights a simple truth: Maintaining allegiance to Britain out of fear is not only short-sighted, but merely delays the inevitable conflict

Ad hominen

Personal attack- Calls the king an immoral, stupid,

drunken cruel man whose royal rank should be no protection from the just consequences of his actions.

As mentioned earlier, Paine accuses Britain of harboring the long-term goal of enslaving the colonies. He also mentions ruined countryside, cities without people, and German mercenaries swooping in to attack the colonists’ families. (More pathos!)

The main idea of the Crisis is that it’s too late to back down now – the die has been cast, the hands have been dealt, and war is coming. The colonies can choose either to lay down in the face of opposition and suffer the consequences, or stand their ground and fight the tyrannical British Empire. In order to stand firm, the colonies must be united behind that common purpose! Details include: Independence is inevitable; we’re

facing external (British/Germans) and internal threats (Native Americans); God is on our side