Reading of the book of exodus chapters 7-11 reveals the 10 plagues that befell the egyptians in god’s effort to bring the israelites out of the land. name these plagues in the order of occurrence. for instance, the first was: water (nile) turned into blood.

paine is arguying that they had tried everything before coming to the conclusion that they needed to fight for their freedom.

argument: "every quiet method for peace hath been ineffectual."

claim 1: "our prayers have been rejected with disdain; and only tended to convince us, that nothing flatters vanity, or confirms obstinacy in kings more than repeated petitioning and nothing hath contributed more than that very measure to make the kings of europe absolute."

claim 2: "wherefore, since nothing but blows will do, for god’s sake, let us come to a final separation, and not leave the next generation to be cutting throats, under the violated unmeaning names of parent and child."

the underlined phrase is an example of : understatment