RS#31
To learn the different perspectives of
people living in the Revolutionary War
era in order to answer our overarching
question, “Should the colonies have
revolted against Great Britain?”
This Document Log will help you to keep track of
the various perspectives you will encounter. You
will need these perspectives to help you complete
your final assessment.
Do you think every white
male agreed with Paine?
Ok then…on to more sources!
What was the white
male perspective?
When we were looking
at our documents, what
strategies were we using
to analyze them?
Strategies Historians Use to
Analyze Historical Documents
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Identify the type of document
 Identify the author and any relevant information about
the author
Identify the date and historical context
Identify the audience
Identify the purpose for writing
Look for clues in the text that help to identify the author’s
perspectives
 Word choice
 Tone
 Facts and opinions
 Inferences
Connect the text back to the title
Right!
 Type
of document
 Title
 Author and
author
information
 Date and historical context
 Intended audience
 Purpose for writing
Angry at the position taken in the Pamphlet,
entitled COMMON SENSE, I have expressed
myself with some passion. Animated and driven
by every influence of the Human Heart, I love,
and (if I dare express myself) I adore my
Country. Passionately devoted to true Liberty, I
glow with the purest flame of Patriotism. Old as
I am, if I know myself, I will fight for my
Country. The wise Reader, will not think my
honest, though bold Remarks go against my
Children and my Country but go against
Independency. If it is carried out we will
inevitably plunge our once envied Country into
Ruin, Horror, and Desolation.
Talk with your partner about
the strategy you used as a
historian to understand the
introduction.
Angry at the position taken in the Pamphlet, entitled
COMMON SENSE, I have expressed myself with some
passion. Animated and driven by every influence of the
Human Heart, I love, and (if I dare express myself) I
adore my Country. Passionately devoted to true Liberty, I
glow with the purest flame of Patriotism. Old as I am, if I
know myself, I will fight for my Country. The wise
Reader, will not think my honest, though bold Remarks
go against my Children and my Country but go against
Independency. If it is carried out we will inevitably
plunge our once envied Country into Ruin, Horror, and
Desolation.
Turn and talk to your partner.
Angry at the position taken in the Pamphlet, entitled
COMMON SENSE, I have expressed myself with some
passion. Animated and driven by every influence of the
Human Heart, I love, and (if I dare express myself) I
adore my Country. Passionately devoted to true Liberty, I
glow with the purest flame of Patriotism. Old as I am, if
I know myself, I will fight for my Country. The wise
Reader, will not think my honest, though bold Remarks
go against my Children and my Country but go against
Independency. If it is carried out we will inevitably
plunge our once envied Country into Ruin, Horror, and
Desolation.
Angry at the position taken in the Pamphlet, entitled
COMMON SENSE, I have expressed myself with some
passion. Animated and driven by every influence of the
Human Heart, I love, and (if I dare express myself) I
adore my Country. Passionately devoted to true Liberty, I
glow with the purest flame of Patriotism. Old as I am, if I
know myself, I will fight for my Country. The wise
Reader, will not think my honest, though bold Remarks
go against my Children and my Country but go against
Independency. If it is carried out we will inevitably
plunge our once envied Country into Ruin, Horror, and
Desolation.
I HAVE now before me the Pamphlet, entitled COMMON
SENSE; on which I shall remark with freedom and
openness.
Remember that Chalmers has Common
Sense in front of him and will use it to
state his argument.
Row 3:
The British government is a beautiful system
because it is ruled by the king, the upper class,
and the people. The King influences the People.
Without such control of the King, our government
would decline into Democracy, a government just
run by the people, which I hope to prove unwise.
Row 3:
The British government is a beautiful system
because it is ruled by the king, the upper class,
and the people. The King influences the People.
Without such control of the King, our government
would decline into Democracy, a government just
run by the people, which I hope to prove unwise.
Row 4:
After Thomas Paine’s detestable writing against
our constitution, and monarchy; let us briefly
examine a democratic state; and see whether or
not it is a less bloodthirsty government. If we
examine Greece and Rome which are run by the
people, we continually find them in a state of war.
Row 4:
After Thomas Paine’s detestable writing against
our constitution, and monarchy; let us briefly
examine a democratic state; and see whether or
not it is a less bloodthirsty government. If we
examine Greece and Rome which are run by the
people, we continually find them in a state of war.
Common Sense
In the early ages of the world, according to the Bible there
were no kings; the consequence of which was, there were
no wars; it is the pride of kings which throws mankind into
confusion. Holland, without a king hath enjoyed more
peace for this last century than any of the monarchical
governments in Europe…
Plain Truth
After Thomas Paine’s detestable writing against our
constitution, and monarchy; let us briefly examine a
democratic state; and see whether or not it is a less
bloodthirsty government. If we examine Greece and Rome
which are run by the people, we continually find them in a
state of war.
In the early ages of the world, according to the Bible there
were no kings; the consequence of which was, there were
no wars; it is the pride of kings which throws mankind into
confusion. Holland, without a king hath enjoyed more
peace for this last century than any of the monarchical
governments in Europe…
After Thomas Paine’s detestable writing against our
constitution, and monarchy; let us briefly examine a
democratic state; and see whether or not it is a less bloodthirsty
government. If we examine Greece and Rome which are run by
the people, we continually find them in a state of war.
Row 5:
Can a reasonable person for a moment believe that
Great Britain, who earlier made such monstrous
efforts to save us from France, will not powerfully
prevent us from gaining independence. Can we
doubt that the King of Great Britain will not try
everything to avoid losing the Thirteen Colonies.
Row 6:
There are many advantages of our connection with
Britain; It will cause us to avoid the horrors and
misfortune of war. Paine surely forgets that when
we are independent, we cannot trade with Europe
because the treaties are made under England’s
name.
Row 7:
An entire set of books isn’t room enough to describe
the horror, misery, and devastation, awaiting the
people who are trying to gain American
independence. In short, I declare that it would be
excellent for those people who wish for TRUE
LIBERTY to settle this dispute with Great Britain.
Independence and slavery are the same thing.
The End.
What specific words and
phrases does Chalmers use to
get his point across?
What kind of tactic is Chalmers
using to make his point?
James Chalmers thinks “our country”
will be ruined if we try to break away
from Great Britain. Democratic
countries are wracked with war and we
should stay loyal to England to try to
avoid war ourselves. We should try to
resolve our dispute instead of trying to
break away.
Wrap Up Discussion: How much
progress have we made so far in
answering the focus question?
What was the white
male perspective?