The American Crisis

Thomas Paine writes that "...God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction, or leave them unsupportedly to perish..." (AR 52). Under Great Britain's Laws, colonists were unsure if they should fight or if they should just expect mercy from the British and that everything would work out. I believe that Paine was saying it all came down to your religious beliefs. If you believed that God would save you, you probably would not concentrate on force. However if you did not believe or rely on your religion, you would count on conquering the British and building up force. No matter what your rank in society, your actions were a result of your religious beliefs in God. Even the emotions of the colonists at this time were completely dependent on their beliefs. If they believed that God would step in, they did not completely live in terror. On the other hand, if they did not have this belief, the colonists would constantly be living in fear and hoping that the British would act merciful towards them. I feel that Paine might be trying to get across the idea of equality with his speech. By bringing attention to God, colonists may think deeper into their values and beliefs. Therefore they may come across the idea that in God's eyes we are all equal. Paine connects slavery to British Laws in this same literature about God and I believe that this was to bring to attention the topic that we are all equal and should come together in this time of harship. African Americans, men, and women are all under the same boat. They were all under Great Britain, and in times of trouble people are more likely of coming togther as one.