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The interconnection between the works of Thomas Paine, Samuel Adams, and John Adams In my essay I will discuss the works Common Sense, The Rights of the Colonists, Novanglus written by the prominent political philosophers and freethinkers of the American Revolution - Thomas Paine, Samuel Adams, and John Adams. My discussion will be set into the context of the relations between the points spotlighted in the works and similarity of the topics brought up by the authors. To fulfill the mentioned tasks I will briefly draw the political and social background which necessitated the appearance of the revolutionary writings. Then I will briefly describe the points stressed on by the thinkers in the works noted above. And finally, I will analyze my findings and show the links and interconnection between the philosophical writings: Common Sense, The Rights of the Colonists, and Novanglus. In the 18 th century America had to share the ruling of its colonies with other countries, among which the Great Britain was dominating.
In fact, such double power caused many conflicts and confusion in the colonies which eventually grew into common discontent with the principles of administration and local policy. In particular, the community was concerned about human rights and private property. Consequently, the legislature which would secure and defend the rights of people who inhabited American colonies was questioned. The point of human rights and the principle fundamentals of their legal protection raised much debate and controversy among political thinkers. In 1772 Samuel Adams presented to the audience of the Boston Town Meeting his view on the colonists rights.
The central thesis of The Rights of the Colonists is that common sense must the sole principle of natural rights of the colonists as men, the rights of the colonists as Christians, and the rights of the colonists as subjects. This common sense dictates that every human being must have the right to life, the right to liberty and the right to property. If men are deprived of their natural rights or being oppressed by religion or society, they are free to leave their society they belong to and enter in another one. (Adams S. 1906 vol. 7, p. 417 - 428) All these natural rights supported by logics and common sense negate any kind of dependence. A freeman, as Samuel Adams views it, possesses absolute rights for personal security, personal liberty, and private property, is a judge and sole judge of his own rights and of the injuries done him and is free from any superior power on earth but, at the same time, must have the law of nature for his rule (Adams S. 1906 vol. 7, p. 417 - 428).
All these basics drove American community to the conclusion that colonists had natural right to be independent and to reject the authority of any other foreign country which intruded and interfered with the domestic policy and local administration in America. The idea of independence and separation from Great Britain was supported and received more convincing argumentation in Novanglus written by John Adams in 1775. If Sam Adams tried to prove the necessity of independence through natural law and common sense, John made his path through international politics and economic issues. Thus, Novanglus shows up inconsistencies and confusions erected by ruling and governing from overseas. In Novanglus the author puts forward an undeniable argument that "two supreme and independent authorities cannot exist in the same state (Adams J, 1775), and drives to the point that the association with Great Britain is impossible, because British political and economical systems are be chasing only domestic interests and impose them on Americans. Such policy is provoking civil war in the American community which sharply needs to work out its own constitution and legislature for establishing order in the country and to secure and defend rights of the colonists.
The way, similar to that of John Adams, to contradict the dependence of the colonies on Britain was chosen by Thomas Paine in Common Sense (1776). Thomas Paine emphasizes on the necessity of American Constitution formed in a cool deliberate manner (Paine T. , 1776) to solve domestic problems and regulate affairs with the country without trusting events to the judgment of other country. For what relief can Britain give? Ere she could hear the news the fatal business might be done, and ourselves suffering like the wretched Britons under the oppression of the Conqueror. (Paine T. , 1776).
Thomas Paine repeats the idea that America must be governed by only its own parliament, because as the thinker states: A government of our own is our natural right. (Paine T. , 1776). This statement interconnects with The Rights of the Colonists, and adds the fourth natural right to those already enlisted by Samuel Adams. In this way Thomas Paine concludes, that preserving natural rights of people is possible only in an independent country, which has its own government and constitution. In conclusion I would like to say that the works of Thomas Paine, Samuel Adams, and John Adams are interconnected and drive to the similar points. I have found out, that the writing of Samuel Adams sets logical basis for the idea of independence and human rights in America. This basis is successfully used in the following works of Thomas Paine and John Adams.
In particular, Joan Adams expands the idea of necessity of independence with the argumentation and proofs from the fields of international affairs and economics. Thomas Paine centers more on local issues and emphasizes that independence will be achieved under the following conditions: America has its own government and is ruled by its own constitution. Bibliography: Adams J. (1775). Novanglus. Treasury of Primary Documents. Oct. 19, 2005 at < web > Adams S. "The Rights of the Colonists, " in Old South Leaflets (Boston: Directors of the Old South Work, 1906), vol. 7, p. 417 - 428.
Hart, A. B. American History told by Contemporaries. 4 vols. 18971901. Niles, Hezekiah. Principles and Acts of the Revolution in America. Baltimore, 1822.
New York [reprint], 1876. Paine T. (1776). Common Sense. Treasury of Primary Documents. Oct. 19, 2005 at < web >
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