Excerpt from Crisis No. 1
Thomas Paine
These are the times that try men’s souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph...Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but ‘to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER,’ and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious, for so unlimited a power can belong only to GOD.
How might this text BEST be used by a teacher working with a group of students?
A) to convince students to be patriotic in their schools
B) to tell students what they should believe about patriotism
C) to give students an understanding of a soldier's lifestyle
D) to show students how to write an effective persuasive essay
