Thomas Paine: The American Crisis

Words: 582
Pages: 3

Running Head: The Crisis

The American Crisis
“The American Crisis” were sixteen pamphlets published from 1776 to 1783. The author, Thomas Paine, started the style of propaganda in America with the use of this pamphlet. The pamphlet motivated soldiers, who had no spirit and hope to fight the British, by General Washington during the battle at Valley Forge. Thankfully, the pamphlet helped the soldiers win the decisive battle against the British. Thomas Paine is able to persuade the reader with the use of different strategies to convey his idea of independence.

Thomas Paine was a mastermind with his use of different metaphors in his work. An example of a metaphor Paine used is told in this quote, “The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman” (Ravitch 51). The use of “summer soldier” and “sunshine patriot” is to compare the soldiers who support their country only when it’s going great. Another way to call them are
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In this quote, Paine exhibited Britain’s weak points, “...Britain has trembled like an ague at the report of a French fleet of flat bottomed boats...the whole English army...was driven back like men petrified with fear; and this brave exploit was performed...by a woman, Joan of Arc” (Ravitch 52). Using a simile, “trembled like an ague”, helped Paine’s point to explain the British were really scared from the French. Also, the use of Joan of Arc’s story motivated the colonists to fight the British because a woman and her army were able to defeat the entire, strongest army in the world, the British army. Therefore, these two feats were the greatest accomplishments at the time and the colonists felt they could do the same. Paine was able to convince his reader they could do the same thing the French did and use similes to help his