Tea Party: The New "Common Sense"

By Douglas V. Gibbs

If ever there was a movement that was reminiscent of the mood of the revolutionaries that brought about the independence movement in the American Colonies over two hundred years ago, the Tea Party is it. Inspired by the desire to oppose a tyrant, and the choice words of patriots, both movements led to great changes. The big difference is that those who fought for independence had to achieve their goals through a bloody revolution. This time, American patriots are doing so with a peaceful revolution that partly came to fruition in the election of 2010 when the supporters of the U.S. Constitution made a statement that is still ringing in the ears of the hard left statists.

On February 19, 2009, Rick Santelli's rant on CNBC inspired a movement. Santelli made remarks about the Homeowners Affordability and Stability Plan, accusing the government of bad behavior, and suggested that the people should revolt in the form of a Tea Party. His call for a Tea Party was answered by cheers, whistles, and applause. The video went viral, and subsequent rallies emerged in various cities, dubbed Tea Parties. Many believe they drew their inspiration from Santelli's rant. Santelli's words of common sense had ignited a movement, a movement that was already forming, one that already had in mind what it was going to do, and a movement that needed the nudge that Santelli gave it.

John Adams said of the American Revolution that, "The Revolution was effected before the War commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligations. This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people, was the real American Revolution."

But if the revolution was already in the minds and the hearts of the people, then why was it that in 1775 the mood was one of hoping for reconciliation with Britain as loyal subjects, and then one year later it became a mood of independence? If Rick Santelli ignited the Tea Party, what ignited the Revolution. . . and what does the Tea Party and Revolutionaries have in common in that respect?

The book, "46 Pages: Thomas Paine, COMMON SENSE, and the Turning Point to Independence" by Scott Liell paints a picture of that era, and how Paine's pamphlet, "Common Sense," ignited The Revolution. And as one reads this book, and studies the mood of the time period, we find many parallels with today's Tea Party, and realize that the Tea Party of the early 21st Century is indeed the new Common Sense for an age that finds patriots pitted against tyranny, much like what the Patriots faced during the American Revolution.

The book begins by painting a very accurate picture of the mood of the Colonies a year before the Declaration of Independence. July 6, 1775, the delegates of the second Continental Congress, in the hopes of reconciliation, agreed on the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms. The idea was to justify to the world the Colonies' decision to take up armed resistance to the British Parliament's attempt to enforce absolute authority over the colonies, while also assuring the crown of the still strong bonds of affection and loyalty the colonies held for the king.

One year later, the mood had changed. On January 10, 1776, the sales of Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" had begun. Rather than whisper in the corner, Paine's pamphlet took on the colonies' grievances head on, and included the king among the causes. New to the American Colonies, convinced by Benjamin Franklin to make the move, Thomas Paine embraced the American way of life, and knew that after the king's dismissal of the Olive Branch Petition, only independence would suffice.

Paine understood that a call to action was necessary - not just a call for independence, but a call for the colonies to be united. "Common Sense" traced the evils in the colonial society to British rule. He labeled the British as tyrants, and explained that ejecting the tyrants must be a common objective of the colonies.

The British always kept the colonies fragmented, playing upon their differences. Liberty, however, became the "common faith" (as John Adams put it), and served as one of the uniting principles. "Common Sense broke the people's affection for the British crown, attacking the concept of a monarchy, and working to break the belief that the colonies were merely children in the extended family of King George III.

An unlikely patriot, Thomas Paine was a "37-year-old former corset maker, failed shopkeeper, and cashiered tax collector who arrived in the colonies on November 30, 1774, aboard a typhoid-ridden ship named the London Packet. [page 23] The trip took Paine from the stale Old World, to a new land where opportunity was abound.

After bed-ridden for six weeks following the trip, Paine began writing political essays. As his writing grew, Paine's works reflected his pleasure at having found an outlet for his emerging voice. He wrote under a number of pen names a variety of non-partisan articles, that weren't so non-partisan. When he met Benjamin Rush, who was a supporter of American independence, Paine was ready to take the debate to the next level.

Thomas Paine needed to convince the Americans see the necessity of American independence. He needed a work that would obviate all of the objections to independence. He began "Common Sense" with the assertion that: ". . . government even in its best state is but a necessary evil," promoting the idea that "the relationship between the governed and the government must hold that man possesses certain inherent rights simply by virtue of his humanity. Governments are merely social constructions, created for the purpose of safeguarding those rights." [pages 62-63]

Benjamin Rush was worried about using the word "independence," but Paine ignored those concerns. Before publication, Paine showed his pamphlet to Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and David Rittenhouse (Philadelphia scientist, astronomer, and inventor). These men, after reading "Common Sense," recommended little in the way of alterations.

As important as the words in the pamphlet was the timing. Independence was a doctrine on the rise, though only whispered in the pubs and meeting halls. "Common Sense" brought to the debate passion, urgency, and even anger. The pamphlet was a truly radical work, attacking the ideological infrastructure that ruled American society.

The strength and unity needed to defy British authority was present, but Paine convinced the colonies of the necessity, and the justice, of taking the next step, which included defying the king. "Oppose not just the tyranny but the tyrant" [page 78].

Sometimes poetic, Paine's pamphlet used powerful language and imagery to evoke the cause. "Common Sense" declared, and defended, colonial separation from Great Britain, and indicated that by doing so, the colonies would be "securing the blessings of self-government for an entire nation and for future generations" [page 80].

Failure to act now may be just as enduring.

The timeliness and contentious style of the publication, historically, has forever connected "Common Sense" to the American Revolution. The pamphlet was the spark that led to a string of responses and events. Despite some opposition, the pamphlet sold a large number of copies, and those copies were handed down to even more readers. "Common Sense was available to virtually anyone who had a desire to read it. Reconciliation with Britain became a fallacious dream, and the Revolution became a reality.

Sales in the first three months were at about 120,000, but by the end of the year the total number of copies in circulation stood at 500,000. There was roughly one copy of "Common Sense" for every five inhabitants of America, nearly one per every household [page 95].

The call for independence by Paine's "Common Sense" earned a profound and widespread popular impact because the minds and hearts of Americans were already inflamed by two years of political and economic turmoil. Paine's style spoke to the people, bridging the gap between the language of the people and the traditional language of political discourse. Paine wrote to the "tempers and feelings of the public" [page 115]. "Common Sense" played an important role in the political struggle between Great Britain and the American colonies, implying that independence was bigger than a mere separation from George III and the British Empire. Independence represented a complete break with the whole of human history. American independence would break the unbroken string of inequality, oppression, ignorance, and tyranny. American independence would not only cast off British rule, but create an asylum for liberty [page 116].

The ideas of "Common Sense" did not trickle down through pundits and politicians, but spoke directly to the people.

General George Washington realized that his troops needed something to fight for, and gave orders that "Common Sense" be distributed among the troops. "Common Sense" did more than just call for them to fight tyranny, but called for them to oppose a "tyrant." The enemy was named, and the cause of independence was reinforced. Paine's pamphlet gave the Continental army a purpose, as well as one to the sacrifice of those who fought and died.

The Tea Party exhibits many of the aspects of "Common Sense."

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

Liell, Scott, 46 Pages (Philadelphia, Running Press, 2003)