Paine argued England’s parentage claim was morally forfeited by its violence

Evidence

“But Britain is the parent country, say some,” Paine wrote in turning to a second argument. “Then the more shame upon her conduct. Even brutes do not devour their young, nor savages make war upon their families.” … All plans and proposal for restoring imperial harmony made “prior to the 19th of April, i.e. to the commencement of hostilities, are like the almanacks of the last year; which tho proper then, are superceded and useless now,” Paine asserts. … In any event, given the ethnic diversity of European immigrants to colonies such as Pennsylvania, where “not one third of the inhabitants … are of English descent,” Paine observes, “Europe and not England is the parent country of America.” — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 75

Categorization

• XREF: Paine’s repudiation of the family metaphor for empire connects to course themes: how competing metaphors for political community (family, contract, brotherhood) ground competing claims of obligation and right. — connects to: Marcuse justified oppressed violence on historical-function not ethical grounds; British atrocities and Paine’s pamphlet jointly pushed colonists toward separation — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 48

Broader Connections

• British atrocities and Paine’s pamphlet jointly pushed colonists toward separation #corroborates (0.85) — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 48
• Marcuse justified oppressed violence on historical-function not ethical grounds #complicates (0.75)