The American Crisis. Thomas Paine

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       Thomas Paine

      The American Crisis

      The Revolutionary Work Which Inspired the Americans to Fight for Their Independence (Including "The Life of Thomas Paine” – Extensive Biography of the Author)

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      2017 OK Publishing

      ISBN 978-80-272-2625-2

      Table of Contents

       The American Crisis

       The Life Of Thomas Paine by Moncure D. Conway

      The American Crisis

       Table of Contents

       The Crisis No. I

       The Crisis No. II

       To Lord Howe

       The Crisis No. III

       The Crisis No. IV

       The Crisis No. V

       To General Sir William Howe.

       To the Inhabitants of America.

       The Crisis No. VI

       To the Earl of Carlisle, General Clinton, and William Eden, Esq., British Commissioners at New York.

       The Crisis No. VII

       To the People of England.

       The Crisis No. VIII

       Address to the People of England.

       The Crisis No. IX

       The Crisis Extraordinary On the Subject of Taxation.

       The Crisis No. X

       On the King of England’s Speech.

       To the People of America: On the expenses, arrangements and disbursements for carrying on the war, and finishing it with honor and advantage

       The Crisis No. XI

       On the Present State of News.

       A Supernumerary Crisis To Sir Guy Carleton.

       The Crisis No. XII

       To the Earl of Shelburne.

       The Crisis No. XIII

       Thoughts on the Peace, and the Probable Advantages Thereof.

       A Supernumerary Crisis To the People of America.

      The American Crisis

       Table of Contents

      The Crisis No. I

       Table of Contents

      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; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but “to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER,” and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.

Whether the independence of the continent was declared too soon, or delayed too long, I will not now enter into as an argument; my own simple opinion is, that had it been eight months earlier, it would have been much better. We did not make a proper use of last winter, neither could we, while we were in a dependent state. However, the fault, if it were one, was all our own1; we have none to blame but ourselves. But no great deal is lost yet. All that Howe has been doing for this month past, is rather a ravage than a conquest, which the spirit of the Jerseys, a year ago, would have quickly repulsed, and which time and a little resolution will soon recover.

      I have as little superstition in me as any man living, but my secret opinion has ever been, and still is, that God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction, or leave them unsupportedly to perish, who have so earnestly and so repeatedly sought to avoid the calamities of war, by every decent method which wisdom could invent. Neither have I so much of the infidel in me, as to suppose that He has relinquished the government of the world, and given us up to the care of devils; and as I do not, I cannot see on what grounds the king of Britain can look up to heaven for help against us: a common murderer, a highwayman, or a house-breaker, has as good a pretence as he.

      ‘Tis surprising to see how rapidly a panic will sometimes run through a country. All nations and ages have been subject