S8 Ep587: 4. Joseph Ellis, *The Cause: The American Revolution and Its Discontents, 1773 to 1783*. Thomas Paine’s *Common Sense* revolutionized the rebellion by using plain language to argue that an island could not rule a continent and that monarchies were inheren

4. Joseph Ellis, *The Cause: The American Revolution and Its Discontents, 1773 to 1783*. Thomas Paine’s *Common Sense* revolutionized the rebellion by using plain language to argue that an island could not rule a continent and that monarchies were inherently flawed. Paine shifted the movement's focus from the rights of Englishmen to the natural rights of all human beings, making American victory seem inevitable. However, the harsh reality of war was felt at Valley Forge, where George Washington’s army faced starvation and exposure due to a lack of congressional support. During that brutal winter, approximately 1,200 soldiers died of malnutrition and exposure, testing the endurance of those who "stayed the course". (4)
1865 PARIS