View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Paine believe about revelation?

2. What point does Paine make about the rights of people to believe in events that took place?

3. Why does Paine admire the Marquis?

4. Which countries have left room in their Constitution for revision if necessary in the future?

5. What does Paine surmise Burke's view of government entails?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Paine believe is the general focus of any effective constitution?

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

3. How does Paine define a revelation?

4. How does Paine consider cultivation and dispossession?

5. What are the two reasons why Paine waited before writing and releasing the Rights of Man, Part II?

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

7. What question does Paine pose to Burke after a comment made by Burke during a speech in Canada?

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

9. What is Paine's belief about land distribution at birth and why does he think it is impractical?

10. What are some of the doubts Paine expresses about prophecies?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the deception that England uses with its people during the French Revolution. Why did the English government publicly support the war and how did their actions indicate their lack of support? What are the ways England increases the revenue to the government by using wars or conflicts with other countries? What happens when it appears that England and France might reconcile, and how does England make sure it has another country to dispute? Why do the actions of the English government confirm Paine's negative description of it throughout his works?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the letter to the Inhabitants of America that Paine writes about in the beginning years of the revolution. Include a description of his thoughts on the previous governments of Ancient Rome and Greece, as well as the similarities and differences between them and the new government that America is forming.

Essay Topic 3

Paine rejects the notion that religion should be used in politics in any way.

1) Describe Paine's views on religion and what should be considered when opposing someone's opinions or beliefs.

2) Explain Paine's warning against using religion for political purposes and the results of what happens when faith is misused in this way.

3) Describe the Quakers and their situation according to Paine's analysis of them in The Crisis.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,047 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample