Final answer:
Thomas Paine's pamphlet, Common Sense, articulated key arguments for American independence and helped alter public opinion toward breaking free from British rule. It offered clear, accessible critiques of monarchy and proposed a republic rooted in Enlightenment principles, which were pivotal in the formation of American government.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Common Sense by Thomas Paine, the passage can be applied to the United States, especially during the time of the American Revolution.
Paine made strong arguments for independence from Britain by critiquing the monarchy and advocating for a republic where the government's duty is to serve the people. His main arguments surrounding the natural condition of equality, the issues with hereditary monarchy, and the self-interest of the British government resonated with many colonists and propelled them toward revolution.
Paine's writing was popular because it presented simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense that were accessible to the average colonist. He highlighted that as the colonies matured, they no longer needed British oversight, which had become more of an economic hindrance than help.
Paine appealed to both the practical concerns of colonists regarding economic development and the philosophical ideals of the Enlightenment that were influential at the time.
The sentiments expressed in Common Sense were integral to shifting public opinion towards independence, a movement culminating in the Declaration of Independence. Thus, the relevance of Paine's arguments to the American context is significant as it provided the ideological justification for the revolution and the foundations of American governance.