Thomas Paine was a political writer who fervently supported the American Revolution. In this excerpt from his popular work Commo

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Thomas Paine was a political writer who fervently supported the American Revolution. In this excerpt from his popular work Commo

n Sense, Paine uses an analogy to refute a common Loyalist claim. The first king of England, of the present line (William the Conqueror) was a Frenchman, and half the peers of England are descendants from the same country; wherefore, by the same method of reasoning, England ought to be governed by France. Which claim has Paine refuted? The American colonies should join Britain in any future war against France because the colonists are of English descent. Britain should govern the American colonies because the colonists are of English descent. France should govern the American colonies instead of Britain because the British king is a descendant of a Frenchman. The American colonies should not trade with France because of the ongoing war between France and Britain.

English

2 answers:

ddd [7.4K] · Answer 1 · 2026-02-28T00:00:58+03:00

The assertion Paine challenged is that Britain ought to rule over the American colonies due to the English heritage of the colonists. If you haven't, consider reading Common Sense. It’s a fascinating text and quite digestible, even for those unfamiliar with archaic English.

Gnom [7.5K] · Answer 2 · 2026-02-28T00:05:24+03:00

The accurate choice is B) Britain should govern the American colonies because the colonists are of English descent.

Paine contested the notion that "Britain should govern the American colonies because the colonists are of English descent."

Thomas Paine, an English thinker, released the renowned pamphlet "Common Sense" on January 9, 1776. In this document, he called on American colonists to back the quest for independence. Throughout his 47-page treatise, he elaborated on why the colonies should seek autonomy. His powerful ideas resonated across the 13 colonies and influenced numerous people. Approximately 500,000 copies were sold, which at that time was indeed a best-seller.