HISET Social Studies Practice

What right did Thomas Paine argue the colonies had in his pamphlet Common Sense?

1. The right to free trade

2. The right to independence from Britain

3. The right to self-governance

4. The right to religious expression

The correct answer is: The right to independence from Britain

Thomas Paine's pamphlet "Common Sense," published in 1776, was a pivotal work that argued strongly for the colonies' right to independence from British rule. Paine articulated the idea that the relationship between the colonies and Britain was not only oppressive but also detrimental to the colonies’ potential for growth and stability. He argued that it was unreasonable for an island to govern a continent and emphasized that the colonies had the natural right to break away and establish their own government free from British control. Paine's passionate call for independence resonated widely with the colonists and helped to galvanize public opinion towards supporting the revolutionary cause. By framing independence not merely as an option but as a moral imperative, he laid the groundwork for the Declaration of Independence that would follow. His work contributed significantly to shifting the mindset of many colonists from seeking reconciliation with Britain to actively pursuing independence.