"when information is withheld, ignorance becomes a reasonable excuse; and one would charitably hope that the people of
england do not encourage cruelty from choice but from they see not, therefore they feel not. they tell the tale that is
told them and believe it, and accustomed to no other news than their own, they receive it, stripped of its horrors and prepared
for the palate of the nation, through the channel of the london gazette. they are made to believe that their generals and armies
differ from those of other nations, and have nothing of rudeness or barbarity in them. they feel a disgrace in thinking
otherwise, and naturally encourage the belief from a partiality to themselves. there was a time when i felt the same prejudices,
and reasoned from the same errors; but experience, sad and painful experience, has taught me better. what the conduct of
former armies was, i know not, but what the conduct of the present is, i well know. it is low, cruel, indolent and profligate; and
had the people of america no other cause for separation than what the army has occasioned, that alone is cause sufficient."
- thomas paine, the crisis, november 21, 1778
es
in this section of the crisis, paine is suggesting that
ordinary people in england want the war to end.
b)
ordinary people in england are the reason the colonies are losing the war.
the british people are not being told of the crown's treatment of the
colonies.
the british people are to blame for allowing their king to wage war on
america