Analyze Thomas Paine's "The Crisis." Does he use logical evidence or anecdotal evidence more effectively to convince his listener that the colonists needed to go to war with England?

Question

Gwendolyn Mcdaniel

English

6 February, 07:48

Analyze Thomas Paine's "The Crisis." Does he use logical evidence or anecdotal evidence more effectively to convince his listener that the colonists needed to go to war with England?

+3

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Sandra Valencia · Answer 1

Thomas Paine had used anecdotal evidence so as the support his argument in "The Crisis."

Using stories, historical or personal events in order to support one's argument is said to anecdotal evidence. One of the examples of Paine using anecdotal evidence is:

"Not all the treasures of the world, so far as I believe, could have induced me to support an offensive war, for I think it murder; but if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property, and kills or threatens to kill me, or those that are in it, and to "bind me in all cases whatsoever" to his absolute will, am I to suffer it? What signifies it to me, whether he who does it is a king or a common man; my countryman or not my countryman; whether it be done by an individual villain or an army of them? If we reason to the root of things we shall find no difference; "

In the above example, Paine tells a story of a thief who breaks in a house in order to show the reason that why the colonists are justified in order to seek independence from Britain. He compares the thief's action to that of the British king who is unjustly ruling the colonies.