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The American Crisis were the papers used to “recharge the revolutionary cause.”

Winter of 1776 was a time of need in the colonies, considering Philadelphia and the entire rebel American cause were on the verge of death and the revolution was still viewed as an unsteady prospect. Paine wanted to enable the distraught patriots to stand, to preserve, and to fight for an American victory. Paine published the first Crisis paper on December 19th.

Paine brought together the thirteen diverse colonies and encouraged them to stay motivated through the harsh conditions of the winter of 1776. Washington’s troops were ready to quit until ordered by Washington to be read aloud Paine’s crisis paper and heard the first sentence, “these are the times that try men’s souls.”

In this and other writings, Paine advocated for a system of checks and balances, separation of church and state, support of universal human rights, the importance of technology to economic development, help for the working poor, and the need to support the union through appropriate taxation. These works are what allowed Paine to be known as progressive and would argue controversial issues in the name of “public interest.”

This essay made a positive impact on the people of america because his writing was known for “recognizing the emotional needs of his audience.” Paine’s main purpose for writing The American Crisis was to wrap people in the comfort of time, which was something that panic and confusion had robbed them of.

Paragraph 1 is about the present. The present is a time to secure the celestial article of freedom and merit the honor of commercial appreciation. Paine encourages the colonists and persuades them to value conflict with the reasons: “the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph,” “what we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly,” and “ it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.” Paragraph 2 is about the past and addresses the question asked those involved in a crisis: Is there anything we could have done to avoid it? Paine says he absolves the past of any meaningfully negative effect on the present and reminds the colonists that this is a time of unity and looking forward. Paine assures the colonists that no matter who’s at fault “the British have done thus far is superficially “ravage” rather than definitively “conquer.” Paragraph 3 is about faith and the future. Paine reminds the colonists to keep their faith in God because Paine’s God is a God of justice and will not favor the British king over the colonists. Therefore, he informs this is a war with the support of God. In the end, earthy powers will not determine the outcome of this war and justice will prevail. Paragraph 4 covers the past, present, and future. In the past, their oppressors were victims of panic; In the present, using panic to expose enemies; In the future, they will see their enemies suffer in a similar panic. Paine says “all nations and ages have been subject to [panics]” and that panic is a precursor to punishment of our enemies.