Chapter 5: The Road to Independence Notes

Thomas Paine emigrated from England to America fifteen months prior to the events discussed.
He lived much of his life in poverty and faced social ostracism due to his views where he openly ridiculed existing beliefs.
Despite failures in various trades, Paine emerged as a successful propagandist during the American Revolutionary period.

Purpose of Common Sense: Paine aimed to shift American sentiment from protesting specific parliamentary measures towards a broader call for independence from British rule.
At the onset of the conflict, most Americans viewed their struggle as one for redress of grievances within the British Empire rather than outright independence.
Changing Perspectives:
- Many Americans re-evaluated their stance due to rising war costs, both human and financial.
- The British attempts to recruit Indians, African slaves, and foreign mercenaries against colonists diminished affection for England.
- Americans believed the British government's actions, such as rejecting the Olive Branch Petition and enacting the "Prohibitory Act", compelled them towards independence.
- The Prohibitory Act closed colonial ports to overseas trade and offered only pardons to repentant rebels while imposing a naval blockade.

In January 1776, Paine's pamphlet "Common Sense" was published and became a pivotal document in rallying support for independence, selling over 100,000 copies rapidly.
The pamphlet was viewed as a revelation, galvanizing many Americans to consider independence seriously, even if still not unanimous.
Congress's Actions:
- The Continental Congress began to move towards a final break with England, declaring American ports open to all nations except Great Britain.
- Communication with foreign powers was initiated.
- Recommendations were made to colonies to form independent governments.
- A committee was appointed to draft a formal Declaration of Independence.

On July 2, 1776, Congress adopted a significant resolution stating:
- "That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connexion between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."
Two days later, on July 4, the Declaration of Independence was approved, offering formal justifications for the actions taken by Congress.
Authorship: Thomas Jefferson, at the age of thirty-three, was instrumental in writing this declaration, with assistance from Benjamin Franklin and John Adams.
- Adams noted that the document did not present entirely new ideas but was powerful due to its eloquence and reflection of widespread beliefs already existing in the colonies.
- It drew upon the sentiments expressed in approximately ninety local declarations of independence across the colonies in the preceding months.