Thomas Paine and James Chalmers were two men with different ideas and different social-political backgrounds. Chalmers was an American Landowner in Maryland while Paine was an Englishman who arrived from England to Pennsylvania with one purpose in mind: dissolving the English Monarchy in the English Colonies in America. Even though these two characters were established in America, their ideas concerning Democracy and Monarchy were different. Paine was in favor of the abolition of the Monarchy through democracy with his argument about class distinctions and privileges. For example, he criticized the fact that the monarchy believed their power came directly from God. Chalmers was in favor of the Monarchy ruling in the Americas since he and his social class were getting a lot of benefits by being tied to the British Crown. Paine thought that the English King was unworthy of having power, and he thought that the English Constitution was tyrannical. It is well understood that Paine came to the Americas with the idea of getting rid of the Monarchy by starting a revolution in America. He would later go to France and help them start the French Revolution.
Paine’s Common Sense led Chalmers to write an essay concerning the benefits of Monarchy in response to Paine’s challenge that anyone who believed there was a single good reason to have Monarchy in America should show it. Chalmers claimed the English Constitution as the greatest defense of human rights known to man, since he was given the right to land and slaves by submitting to the English Crown. Paine had the opposing point of view about Monarchy. He believed that all men were born equals and therefore hereditary power was undeserved. Another different point of view we encounter between these two characters is concerning Commerce. Chalmers believed that by getting independence from the British, a failure in commerce would result. Furthermore, a war between creditors and debtors would end in a general abolition of debts. However, Paine believed that commerce would secure America peace and friendship with Europe since it was Europe’s first interest to have America as a free port of trade.
The Essay on One Language America English People
America has always been a very diverse country. There are different people, from different countries, and they bring different languages with them. There are people from European countries, South American countries, Asian countries, and many more. With these people and their different backgrounds, they all do not speak the same language. Some of these people do not even speak English, which is the ...
Paine and Chalmers differed on their views of American independence as well. Chalmers believed that American independence would only result in another form of tyranny under Cromwell’s rule. On the other hand, Paine believed that America would benefit from independence because they would be at peace with other nations such as France and Spain that could eventually enter into war with Britain. Paine based his argument largely on the idea that it was European tyranny that drove Europeans to find America appealing. For some British thinkers, the word “Democracy” was directly used for referring to the “House of Commons” unlike in the early American Revolution where the word “Democracy” was referred to as the greater equality inspired by the struggle for independence.
Democracy did not exist in the colonies before the Revolution because political status was directly related to wealth. Special qualifications were supposed to be met in order to be eligible to vote or to be sitting in an assembly. A republic is a form of government in which power is held by the people. In this form of government, people are able to elect their own representatives. After the independence of America, the definition of republic was that the power rested on the consent of the governed, and that there would be no King or Monarchy. Like Paine, Noah Webster believed in Equality when he stated that Equality was the very soul of a republic. The independence resulted in the formation of a Republic where the main task of the republican government was to promote the public wellbeing and not individual’s self-interest.
Works Cited
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty!: An American History. Brief 3rd Ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006. 152. Print.
The Term Paper on The American Museum Of Natural History Anthropology
The American Museum of Natural History: Anthropology The American Museum of Natural History has many exhibits that demonstrate many aspects of anthropology. The Museum is located on Central Park West between W 81 st and W 77 nd streets. The museum is an excellent place to open oneself to many new ideas and cultures. When looking through the museum the exhibits that are anthropological could ...
Foner, Eric. Voices of Freedom: A Documentary History. Third Edition ed. Vol. One. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2011. Print.
Foner, Eric. Voices of Freedom: A Documentary History. Third Edition ed. Vol. One. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2011. Print.
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty!: An American History. Brief 3rd Ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006. Print.
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty!: An American History. Brief 3rd Ed. New
York: W.W. Norton, 2006. Print.
vi Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty!: An American History. Brief 3rd Ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006. 170. Print.
vii Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty!: An American History. Brief 3rd Ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006. 170. Print.
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty!: An American History. Brief 3rd Ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006. 120. Print.
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty!: An American History. Brief 3rd Ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006. 176. Print.
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty!: An American History. Brief 3rd Ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006. 177. Print.
