Common Sense
The author of Common Sense, published in 1776
Who is Thomas Paine?
The colonial group that protested British laws and met near the Liberty Tree.
Who were the Sons of Liberty?
The name used to refer to colonists who supported independence from Great Britain.
What is a Patriot?
A colonist who stayed loyal to Great Britain during the American Revolution.
What is a Loyalist?
The 1770 event where British soldiers killed five colonists in Boston.
What is the Boston Massacre?
The main goal of Common Sense was to persuade colonists.
What is supporting independence from Great Britain? (or supporting the revolution)
The elm tree in Boston that became a symbol of protest against British control.
What is the Liberty Tree?
One main reason many Patriots wanted to break away from British rule.
What is unfair taxes and lack of representation?
One main reason many Loyalists did not support independence.
What is fear of instability or violence?
or
What is personal connections to Britain?
The 1773 protest where colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor.
What is the Boston Tea Party?
The form of government Paine criticized as unfair because power is inherited instead of earned.
What is a monarchy?
The main purpose of Thomas Paine’s song "Liberty Tree"
What is promoting unity and resistance to British rule?
A famous Patriot who helped lead the Continental Army during the American Revolution.
Who is George Washington?
A pamphlet written to argue against Common Sense and support loyalty to Britain.
What is Plain Truth?
A punishment used by the Sons of Liberty to scare people who supported Britain
What is tarring and feathering?
Paine’s use of clear, direct language to make his ideas understandable to everyday colonists.
What is appealing to the common person (or using plain language)
One way meeting at the Liberty Tree helped the Sons of Liberty.
What is that it brought people together to plan protests?
or
What is showing the British that the colonists were serious (they met in public)
Why many farmers, merchants, and craftsmen supported the Patriot cause.
What is that British laws and taxes hurt their ability to earn a living?
Why many merchants and government officials supported staying loyal to Britain.
What is that British rule protected their business or position?
What is passing harsher laws to punish the colonies?
Paine’s warning that staying connected to Britain would pull the colonies into wars that were not their own.
What is Paine’s argument that dependence on Britain leads to unnecessary wars? (Britain is involved in too many wars, bang bang)
Why the Sons of Liberty used public symbols and songs instead of only writing pamphlets.
What is to reach more people, including those who could not read?
A reason a young Patriot might give to convince others to support independence.
What is that future generations deserve freedom and self-rule?
Why a wealthy landowner might support Britain instead of the Patriot cause.
What is that British rule helped protect their wealth and property?
Why Loyalists viewed events like the Boston Tea Party as dangerous.
What is they believed it encouraged chaos and violence?