Thomas Paine's, Common Sense, influenced the colonist's ideas and decisions on the revolution and the feelings towards independence. Enlightenment thinkers influenced many of Paine's theories, such as John Locke and Jean- Jacques Rousseau. He begins with general reflections about government and religion and then progresses onto the details of the colonial situation. Paine states a distinction between government and society. Government is an institution who is to protect us from our own vices. According to Paine, society is everything constructive that join people to accomplish things. Government has origins in the evil of man. Paine states that the government's sole purpose is to protect life, liberty, and property. He believes government should be judged on the basis of how it accomplishes its goal.
Paine imagines a small group of people that have been placed on an island and cut off from the rest of the world. These people develop alliances and the making of laws becomes inevitable. Paine believes that if the people make their own laws they will be much happier. He also believes that this system is better for American colonists. Paine launches a general attack on the British system of government. Paine states that the British system is too complex and has many contradictions, and the monarchy has too much power. The British system pretends to offer a reasonable system but in reality it does not.
Paine discusses the notions of monarchy and hereditary succession. Paine argues that man was born into a state of equality. It is believed that at first the world was without kings, but the ancient Jews decided they wanted a King; and it is said that this angered God, but he let them have a King. There are specific pages of biblical evidence that addresses God's wrath at the idea of the Jews having a King. Paine believes that monarchy originates from sin. Paine says that hereditary succession is an abominable practice.