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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Paine think the British are incapable of ruling America justly?

2. What is the famous quote by Paine that starts the section, The Crisis?

3. What did Gideon deny?

4. How does Paine describe society?

5. What prevents the British from effectively governing America?

Short Essay Questions

1. What mistake do the British make in attacking a particular city during the American Revolution?

2. According to Paine, how does England view the French Revolution?

3. Why is there a need for regulations and government in general?

4. How does Paine describes Benjamin Franklin's historical role in the French Constitution?

5. How did Paine and Burke become enemies and what are Paine's concerns about Burke's pamphlet?

6. Why does Paine write Common Sense anonymously and how does he think his work will be remembered?

7. What does Paine think that America will gain by separating from England?

8. What is Paine's definition of a Quaker?

9. What disappoints Paine about the limited examples of solid government that are available?

10. What does Paine think the effects of Burke's pamphlets will be and what are Burke's reasons for publishing them?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Thomas Paine's life and background, including where he is originally from and what his reputation was before, during, and after writing Common Sense. Also, discuss Paine's motives in writing his pamphlets and the reasons that he chose to remain anonymous at the time. Finally, use the information in Paine's work to explain why he believed strongly in the American Revolution and how his experiences qualified him to chronicle the events as America declared Independence.

Essay Topic 2

At the end of the Rights of Man, Paine explains the differences between the three origins of government and provides a comparison of the English Constitution and the French Constitution.

1) Define the government of priesthood, the government of conquerors, and the government of reason, including the differences in how they work.

2) Compare and contrast the English Constitution with the French Constitution, and describe how Paine refers to both in his theory of how a government should be formed.

3) Explain the influence that America had on the French Constitution and why Paine considers it to be better than the English Constitution.

Essay Topic 3

Explain the major differences between a natural state and a civilized state, including the benefits of each, and how Paine thinks they should both be incorporated into a government. Provide a detailed analysis of the goals a civilized society has and examples of why the equality of birth is essential to a society's growth.

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This section contains 997 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample