Understanding Common Sense and Enlightenment

What was the main purpose of Thomas Paine's pamphlet "Common Sense"?

• To encourage Americans to stay loyal to Britain

• To convince colonists to seek independence from Britain

• To teach colonists how to farm

• To support the British king

Which Enlightenment idea is shown in "Common Sense" when Paine says people should choose their own government?

• The right to free speech

• The right to self-government

• The right to own land

• The right to a fair trial

Who was the main audience for "Common Sense"?

• British soldiers

• American colonists

• French leaders

• Native Americans

What did Thomas Paine call the idea of a king ruling over the colonies?

• Fair and just

• Unnatural and wrong

• Helpful for everyone

• Necessary for peace

Which British action did Paine criticize in "Common Sense"?

• Allowing colonists to vote

• Taxing the colonies without their consent

• Giving land to the colonists

• Protecting the colonies from pirates

What does the Enlightenment idea of "natural rights" mean?

• Rights given by the king

• Rights everyone is born with

• Rights only for rich people

• Rights for British citizens only

Which of the following is an argument Paine made in "Common Sense"?

• America is better off without British rule

• America should pay more taxes to Britain

• America should become a monarchy

• America should move to Europe

What did Paine say about the size of America compared to Britain?

• America is much smaller than Britain

• America is too far away to be ruled by Britain

• America is closer to Britain than France

• America is the same size as Britain

Which Enlightenment thinker influenced Thomas Paine's ideas?

• Isaac Newton

• John Locke

• William Shakespeare

• Christopher Columbus

What did Paine believe about the relationship between the colonies and Britain?

• The colonies should always obey Britain

• The colonies should be independent

• The colonies should move to Britain

• The colonies should pay more taxes