Name
English 2327
Professor Martin
30 June 2008
The Land of the Free…
 A Series of Arguments that Inspired Americans to become the United States of America
America is like a healthy body and its resistance is threefold: its patriotism, its morality and its spiritual life. If we can undermine these three areas, America will collapse from within.
 									-Josef Stalin
	America’s strength and independence arise from its ability to compromise and tolerate different cultures as well as embrace individual’s unique qualities. This unity has helped America transform from being a British dependent colony into a united powerhouse of people with different cultures and beliefs. However, in the beginning of its history, America was fragile and unorganized. Through the help of some of the greatest minds ever to influence history, America began to find its power and rise to become one of the strongest nations in the world. Some of the writings that have helped many to become inspired and bear arms to find for freedom include, but not limited to Common Sense and The Crisis No. 1 by Thomas Paine, Notes on the State of Virginia by Thomas Jefferson, and The Federalists Works by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. Through these phenomenal literatures, common people turned into skillful militias to fight for their land and form a common bound with people that came from different backgrounds. All four writings depict what it means to be a true American patriot; they adamantly predicated why the United States should be independent of Britain’s control, and committed treachery. Although writing against their British founders could have caused them to lose everything they worked hard to achieve, they showed bravery and resilience in order to motivate their fellow men to improve their deploring situation. On the contrary, although the papers have a similar emphasis on patriotism and independence, each paper highlights different issues that are important to the colonist, which helped to unite everyone together towards a common goal. Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense and The Crisis No. 1 in effect to profess the benefits of seceding from Great Britain. In Notes on the State of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson writes of the natural beauty of the land and the connection one has with it. In The Federalists Works, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison argues for the ratification of the Constitution and warn of the dangers of factions. The unification of these arguments positioned the United States to become the great country it is currently. 
	Patriotism and the desire for independence are a common theme that unites these passionately written documents together and help to establish a united government by the people, for the people.  Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense and The Crisis No. 1 in order to persuade the colonist to break away from British influence. Thomas Paine uses aphorisms to evoke patriotism in his readers and to anticipate the difficulties America will face in order to triumph over England. In the beginning of The Crisis, Paine states,“ 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 women” (637).  Paine is trying to show that nothing that has value is easily obtained because “what we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly” (637). Although he wanted to break free of Britain’s control, he knew that the fight for independence would be difficult. The colonists at that time were indecisive of whether America should asunder from England, or try to mend the broken relationship. Throughout the essay Paine produced examples of why America should remain distant from the tyranny of England. He claims that it is God’s desire for America to be independent. “Even the distance at which the Almighty hath placed England and America is a strong and natural proof that the authority of the one over the over was never the design of Heaven” (634).  He believes that it was inevitable for America to be independent and it should have stated a long time ago:  “There are injuries which nature cannot forgive; she [America] would cease to be nature if she did” (636). This statement points to the painful recollection of the brutal and bloody massacre at Lexington and Concord by British solders against the colonists. “The last cord is broken” (636) and reconciliation will not be possible after such brutality on the American people. Once there was a time that Paine believed that reconciliation was possible, but he believes that the grotesque massacre meant that Britain was not interested in being peaceful with America.  In The Crisis, No. 1, he further strengthens his claims for separation by stating the sinful nature of having a monarchy.  He proclaims that “only God” can have “unlimited power” to have complete control of anything (637). In Notes on the State of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson compares America’s agricultural economy to Britain’s industrial nation and states the importance of agriculture and how it relates to the purpose God has for his “chosen people” (664). He states, “Those who labor in the earth are the chosen people of God” (664). Since many of the colonists were religious, he associated farming with God’s desire; he is indirectly stating that God favors those who work with their hands. Jefferson notes that in order to have independence the country must continue to support itself with its natural resources and agriculture. He did not want America to become industrialized because he saw what it did to the people of Europe and he did not want America to suffer the same fate and earn money at “workbench[es]” (665). The Federalist Works by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison was written in order to persuade the people of New York to accept the ratification of the current constitution to protect “liberty, dignity and happiness” (668), which is considered a person’s unalienable rights. The overall reason why Madison and Hamilton wrote The Federalist is because they truly believe that the new constitution will help America to maintain its independence from Britain. They wanted America to have a strong opportunity to survive and believe that the new constitution will strengthen their unity and allow the majority to control the government and discourage “faction” (669) in the new system.
	All for of the documents have a patriotic tone and appeals to many colonists livelihood, which was why many were persuaded to protect their country. However, what make these documents stand apart from each other are the different subjects that each person addresses. Thomas Paine highlights the possible benefits of distancing its self from Britain. For example, The United States will have better relations throughout Europe, and gain alliances with other nations, such as Spain and France. Paine states that “our plan is commerce” (634) and it is in Europe’s best interest to have “America a free port”. Paine means that if America’s economy is going to prosper it must stand independently and allow the rest of Europe to trade with them without the interference of England. Instead of focusing on commerce like Paine, Jefferson wrote about the beauty that is America. Jefferson’s literary work, In Notes on the State of Virginia, strongly reflects the appreciation, love, and ambitions that he has for the United States. He would do anything to see it prosper and become a great nation. He also admired its uncontaminated magnificence, as he states proudly in Notes on the State of Virginia when he describes the Natural Bridge, “It is impossible for the emotions, arising from the sublime, to be felt beyond what they are here: so beautiful an arch, so elevated, so light, and springing, as it were up to heaven, the rapture of the Spectator is really indescribable!” (658). The description appeals to the reader’s senses and emotions and allows many people to identify with Jefferson and the connection that many of the colonist form with their great land.  By reflecting on the bond that the colonist had with the land, Jefferson ignites the feelings one had towards his home. He knew that people would be more persuaded to fight if there was a personal connection, such as someone invading their home, and their way of life. In The Federalist Works, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison warn of the dangers that faction has on the government. Faction, which is similar to groupthink, is a “common impulse of passion” by a majority or minority and can lead to adverse actions that are not in the general interest of the community. Madison uses a metaphor to compare how essential liberty is to faction. He writes, “Liberty is to faction, what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. To avoid faction, the people should have a choice in how they want to be represented. Although the papers were different, they all draw towards the same conclusion, which is the right to choose and be free from foreign control. 
	In order for the United States to become stronger and prosper, many realized that they needed to break free from the constraint that was holding them back from prosperity. These intellectuals stepped up to the plate and gave voice to the colonist and ignited the push for the revolution to free itself of England’s control. Through their persistence and dedication to their country, many found the strength and inspiration they needed to fight for their right not to be mistreated and unappreciated by their mother country. These authors sparked zeal in the American people that gave many the inner courage to fight the odds of becoming the United States of America.