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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. How does Paine describe life in an uncivilized culture?

2. What does the term canonization refer to?

3. How does Paine describe the Resurrection?

4. What happens if people refuse to obey a law they oppose?

5. What are the main components of a civilized society?

Short Essay Questions

1. What issue does Paine address concerning the Old and New Testaments?

2. What is the difference between democracy and representation?

3. What is Paine's writing style throughout Common Sense and his other collected works, and how will Paine be remembered?

4. What should civilized states be concerned about ?

5. How does Paine handle the responses to the Rights of Man by Burke and others?

6. What is the concept of land ownership and rent owned, and how does it compare to the approach to land that people had in ancient times?

7. Does Paine think that a natural state and civilized state are exchangeable?

8. How does Paine consider cultivation and dispossession?

9. What is the proof of God's existence that Paine also believes is a guide for people to live their lives?

10. Why does Paine have a favorable opinion of the Marquis de La Fayette and what is the one area where the two differ?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe in detail why it was necessary for America to separate from England and declare its independence. Also, list and explain each of the reasons why England was not capable of governing America along with the benefits that the United States will have as a result of establishing their own country.

Essay Topic 2

In the Rights of Man, Part II, Paine elaborates on the role of government and whether a society can function without one. Explain what Paine believes the central responsibilities of government are, the tactics it uses to increase the control it has over its citizens, and why Paine believes that a society can exist in the absence of government. Include how America self-imposed its own laws during the beginning of the American Revolution as an example and describe what the key ingredients were in its success.

Essay Topic 3

Paine criticizes the British government on a variety of levels.

1) Describe the positive and negative aspects of the Parliament.

2) Explain Paine's objections to the monarchy and the examples he uses to reveal its hypocritical absurdity.

3) Analyze the two parts of the English Constitution, why Paine believes it is ineffective, and his suggestions to update it.

(see the answer keys)

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