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130 Unit 2 ■ Appealing to an Audience

© Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Do not distribute.
The American Crisis
Number 1

Thomas Paine

THE TEXT IN CONTEXT
A master of persuasion, philosopher and author Thomas
Paine (1737–1809) generated support among colonists
and motivated Revolutionary soldiers in the camps. In
what became the last battle of the Revolutionary War on
December 23, 1776, General George Washington ordered geogphotos/Alamy Stock Photo
that this first in a series of thirteen pamphlets be read
aloud in efforts to motivate discouraged, tired, and out-
numbered troops.

hese are the times that try men’s souls. I have as little superstition in me as any
TThe summer soldier and the sunshine man living, but my secret opinion has ever
patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the been, and still is, that God Almighty will not
service of their country; but he that stands give up a people to military destruction, or
it now, deserves the love and thanks of man leave them unsupportedly to perish, who have
and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily so earnestly and so repeatedly sought to avoid
conquered; yet we have this consolation with the calamities of war, by every decent method
us, that the harder the conflict, the more which wisdom could invent. Neither have I so
glorious the triumph. What we obtain too much of the infidel in me, as to suppose that
cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness He has relinquished the government of the
only that gives everything its value. Heaven world, and given us up to the care of devils;
knows how to put a proper price upon its and as I do not, I cannot see on what grounds
goods; and it would be strange indeed if so the king of Britain can look up to heaven
celestial an article as freedom should not be for help against us: a common murderer, a
highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce highwayman, or a house-breaker, has as good
her tyranny, has declared that she has a a pretence as he. . . .
right (not only to tax) but “to bind us in all But, before the line of irrecoverable sepa-
cases whatsoever,” and if being bound in that ration be drawn between us, let us reason the
manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a matter together: Your conduct is an invitation
thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expres- to the enemy, yet not one in a thousand of
sion is impious; for so unlimited a power can you has heart enough to join him. Howe is as
belong only to God. . . . much deceived by you as the American cause

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