Final answer:
Thomas Paine argued against the idea that the British government had protected the American colonies in his work Common Sense.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thomas Paine, in his critical work Common Sense, argued against the idea that the British government had protected the American colonies. He believed that the British government had failed in its duty to the colonists by putting its own interests ahead of the interests of the colonies.
Paine argued that the colonies were now able to stand on their own and did not need the protection of the British government. He further criticized the British government for inhibiting trade between the colonies and other nations, hindering their economic development.