"Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one." This quote, from the first page of the primary source pamphlet Common Sense, lays out Thomas Paine's general idea of government. In Common Sense, Paine argues for American independence. This pamphlet was created pre-revolutionary days to give American colonists the confidence to rebel against Britain. His argument begins with more general, hypothetical suggestions about government and religion, then moves on to the details of the colonial situation. The pamphlet, divided into four parts, talks about the origin of government, the monarchy, divine right and hereditary succession, the present life and affairs in America, and on the present and future abilities of America.

In the first part of the pamphlet, "Of the Origin and Design of Government in General", Paine begins by distinguishing...