The Revolutionary war had an abundance of outstanding political writers; who thrived to make change with their writings. One of these eminent writings was Thomas Paine. Paine wanted to persuade our soldiers to fight for their independence from Great Britain with his writings such as “Crisis No.1”. Paine writing style in “The Crisis No.1” is very influential and he uses common English to make it easier to read. I will be addressing the writing style of “The Crisis No.1” and how Thomas Paine uses rhetorical strategies to influence his readers.

Thomas Paine used figurative language in to encourage our American soldiers to get the courage and strength to fight for their independence from the British. Similes used in Paine’s writings expresses the tension between Britain and the American militia. Paine uses the simile, “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered” to try and persuade his fellow Americans (Paine 108). When Paine uses that simile, he is saying that victory over the British won’t be easy to defeat. Another piece of figurative language that Paine uses in that paragraph is metaphors. He uses the metaphor, "A common murder, a highwayman, on a house-breaker, has a good pretense as he" to stress the lawlessness of the king’s action (Paine 108). Paine implies that he is very upset with the king of England for pain and suffering that the colonists are going through. Paine uses abundance of personification in “Crisis No.1”. For example when he says, “Not a place upon earth might be as happy as America” he gives America a Human characteristic stating that she is happy. Paine is saying that America is a happy country and there isn’t any other placer happier than America. Thomas Paine uses these examples of figurative languages to appeal and persuade to his fellow Americans to fight back British control.

Thomas Paine used unique diction very well to describe his feelings on freedom. For example, he wrote, “it would be strange indeed, if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated” (Paine 108). In this quote, Paine uses the word celestial, which means divine to describe freedom. Paine used to diction to try to strengthen the minds of the American people. When he says, “By perseverance and fortitude we have the prospect of a glorious issue” (Paine 111). In this quote he is saying with much trying, strength and enduring they have the prospect of gaining freedom. “Crisis No.1” uses the best diction to appeal and attract to the American citizens. For example, when he says, “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder conflict, the more glorious the triumph” (Paine 108). Thomas Paine is basically saying that the harder it is to gain their freedom, the greater triumph when they do earn their freedom. Thomas Paine has a very unique way of words that motivated its readers.

Thomas Paine uses emotional and inspirational rhetorical strategies to instill confidence into the average colonist, and to convince him that war against Britain is necessary and winnable. Paine uses Pathos to appeal to everyone’s emotion. For example, when he says, "By perseverance and fortitude we have the prospect of a glorious issue..." to get the soldiers out of a slump. (Paine 111). By Paine saying that quote, it inspired many farmers to rebel against British laws. Thomas Paine to logic to persuade the reader that fighting back is the best course of action. This quote appeals to the logic of the soldiers and farmers and whoever else helped the rebellion "... It will not do to sacrifice a world either to their folly or their baseness…” (Paine 111). Paine is saying that both sides cannot coexist in America; the people must be either loyal to Britain or independent as a new nation. Paine uses religion to appeal to people’s ethics. For example, when he says, “I am as confident, as I am that God governs the world, that America will never be happy till she gets clear of foreign dominion” (Paine 111). Paine argues that America will succeed in this conflict because it would simply not be right that men with good intentions would fail. Thomas Paine uses of rhetorical strategies is pure genius.

“Crisis No.1” by Thomas Paine used rhetorical strategies and his brilliant writing style to change apart of American history. The figurative language used by Paine in “Crisis No.1” is great because it appealed to people minds. Diction used in this piece of writing is outstanding it’s elaborate and long and it describes the feelings of freedom. The rhetorical strategies used by Thomas Paine appeals to the American people emotions, logic, and ethics. The “Crisis No.1” is one of the greatest pieces of writing in American history.