Tow #11 (The American Crisis)

     When we think of the american revolution we tend to focus on the roles of the founding fathers. People among the ranks of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. However, when we consider the ideals behind the american revolution one man stands at the base of nearly all of them. Thomas Paine is an author whose works were incredibly moving and influential, helping to structure the beliefs of the american revolution. Pains most notable work is the pamphlet Common Sense, meant to display the tyranny of Britain. His next work, the american crisis, was meant to inspire Americans to fight against Britain in the revolutionary war. It was so effective, in fact, that George Washington read it to the all of the troops in valley forge.

     The essay is meant as a call to action so as to inspire american soldiers to fight against Britain. It lays out and juxtaposes two different men the summer soldier, and the true patriot. In the introduction Paine says " These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country" by characterizing the summer soldier Paine creates a rather unfavorable archetype. He shows a soldier who literally and figuratively fights in the summer. The summer soldier is the soldier who literally fights in the summer but retreats home to comfort in the winter. This symbol is further extended at a deeper level. The summer could be referring to any time where fighting seems favorable, where sun and good fortune shine down on you, but as soon as darkness or threats loom, the sunshine patriot flees. Paine continues his argument in this first paragraph with an argument that seems both logical and emotional. It was a call to the american sense of divinity. He makes a clear logical relationship Tyranny is like hell and there for not easily conquered, but it is known that the harder a conflict the better the triumph. This call to action is deeply moving in that it not only lays out a logical reason to fight but also compels one to revolt against the actions of Britain depicted as nearly satanic.