Document Interpretation 3

"Common Sense" by Thomas Paine

1. Society is produced by our wants, and government by our
wickedness I agree with this quote on all levels. We create a society
when people come together for something, and then government
comes to rise when a separate group of people want to control the first
group.
2. government even in its best state is but a necessary evil Even
though government is very restricting because of its laws, government
is necessary because it organizes people.
3. Government by kings was first introduced into the world by the
Heathens, from whom the children of Israel copied the custom Who
are the Heathens? Its interesting to know that the Jews were one of
the first people to introduce kings.
4. The nearer any government approaches to a republic the less
business there is for a king I would think this is true, because when a
government strives to be a republic it does more things for the people
so the government has less money.
5. As much hath been said of the advantages of reconciliation which []
examine that connection and dependence [] to see what we have to
trust to, if separated, and what we are to expect, if dependent
Having alliances are great, but one should know their own limits or
capabilities as well as when being together with an alliance.
6. America hath flourished under her former
connection with Great Britain that the same connection is
necessary towards her future happiness, and will
always have the same effect. Nothing can be more fallacious than this
kind of argument I agree with Paine that America doesnt need to
stay connected to Great Britain to do well. America has its own
resources that Great Britain doesnt have, and thus can be unique and
dependent from Great Britain.
7. trade of America goes to ruin, BECAUSE OF
HER CONNECTION WITH ENGLAND Paine is saying that America
being connected to England is a bad thing. I dont think thats
necessarily true. Being allied with another country can be a good and
bad thing, depending on the performance of both countries. However, I
think that Paines idea is appropriate because England wishes to make
America into a vassal country which is not good, in an economic sense.
8. it is not in the power of Britain to do this continent justice: The
business of it will soon be too weighty, and intricate, to be
managed with any tolerable degree of convenience, by a power so
distant from us, and so very ignorant of us I agree with Paine that

Britain alone will be able to make America flourish. Britain is an ocean

away from America which makes it very inefficient to do any sort of
business with America.
9. there is something very absurd, in supposing a continent to be
perpetually governed by an island I agree with Paine that its
nonsense that America who is many times the size of Great Britain, to
be governed by something as small as Great Britain.
10.
It may not always happen that OUR soldiers are citizens, and
the multitude a body of reasonable men; virtue, as I
have already remarked, is not hereditary, neither is it perpetual I
think it is impossible to have something pure, that includes a countrys
people.
The Constitution of the United States - A Transcription
1. The Congress shall assemble
at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first
Monday in December Its strange that the meeting day is so specific.
Why does it have to be on a Monday?
2. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the
Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the
Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from
the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not
be questioned in any other Place. Its interesting to know that
Senators and Representatives are pardoned from crime at this
particular event. If they were to actually commit a crime, then they
would get away with it.
3. nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter,
clear, or pay Duties in another I know that ships have to pay for
things like docking fees, but I didnt know that you dont have to pay if
its from one state to another.
4. The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a
Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor diminished during
the Period for which he shall have been elected This is something
that I havent explicitly learned, but is sort of implied. Its an amusing
thought to think that the President cant get a raise.
5. No Person held to Service or Labour in one State. under the Laws
thereof. escaping into another. shall. in Consequence of any Law or
Regulation therein. be discharged from such Service or Labour. but
shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or
Labour may be due Its interesting to know that a criminal from one
state cant be punished in another. This means that a criminal can get
away with whatever crime he/she committed.

6. and if Vacancies happen by Resignation. or otherwise during

the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may
make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the
Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies Who qualifies for
these temporary Appointments?
7. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of
two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court
So a person can get away with treason if there are no witnesses.
8. Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War
against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and
Comfort Ive always thought that treason just meant betraying your
own country. I now know that treason is when someone wages war on
America or someone helps an enemy country.
9. The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a
Republican Form of Government By a guarantee does that mean
every state is required a Republican form of government?
10.
no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any
Office or public Trust under the United States For such a religious
time that the Constitution was written, it kind of surprises me that they
would make such a law.