Question

What made Thomas Paine's Common Sense (Document 5-6) so much more widely influential in the American colonies than documents like Richard Bland's "Inquiry into the Rights of the British Colonies" (Document 5-1)?

Answer 1

Thomas Paine's Common Sense was more widely influential in the American colonies than documents like Richard Bland's 'Inquiry into the Rights of the British Colonies' due to its simplicity, direct language, and relatability to the average person.

Step-by-step explanation:

Thomas Paine's Common Sense was more widely influential in the American colonies compared to Richard Bland's 'Inquiry into the Rights of the British Colonies' because of its simplicity and direct language that targeted ordinary people rather than just the learned elite.

Paine's pamphlet, Common Sense, was written in a way that was easily accessible to the masses, which helped it gain widespread popularity.

In addition, Paine's arguments about the condition of the American colonies and the failings of the British government resonated with both the practical-minded merchant and the principled philosopher, making it appealing to a wide range of individuals.