The British Empire long ruled over the United States during the 1600s and 1700s. Thomas Paine advocates escaping the British government in his pamphlet “The Crisis, No. 1.” Paine uses a great deal of inversion, figurative language and different rhetorical strategies to increase the impact of the article on his audience.

Paine’s “The Crisis, No. 1” is replete with the use of inversion. Paine unconventionally crafts his sentences through the use of inversion for a greater impact on the reader. He shows this when he says, “The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman” (Paine 108). In our modern time, we would say this as even the bravest of soldiers will try to get away from serving their country, but the men that can face it deserve the love and praise that they will get. Paine continues to use inversion in other parts of his paper. He indicates this when he says, “There are persons, too, who see not the full extent of the evil which threatens them; they solace themselves with hopes that the enemy, if he succeed, will be merciful” (Paine 111). We would generally say this as there are people who do not see the danger in front of them; they comfort themselves with the thought that if the enemy succeeds, he will be merciful. Paine uses countless examples of inversion to get his point across. He demonstrates this when he says, “The heart that feels not now is dead; the blood of his children will curse his cowardice, who shrinks back at a time when a little might have saved the whole, and made them happy” (Paine 110). What we would say is the heart that does not feel anything is dead; his children will die due to his lack of courage, which shrinks when just giving a little could please the whole and save them. Paine’s entire paper is steeped with the use of inversion to get his point across to his audience.
Paine shows his belligerent hatred for Britain in “The Crisis, No. 1” through the use of figurative language. He exploits the use of imagery throughout the paper to show his belief in his country. He demonstrates this when he says, “for though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire” (Paine 109). Paine is displaying the picture of America being able to push through anything, even when they think they will not. Paine also uses metaphors in his writing style to show that he will fight alongside anyone that will fight with him. He exhibits this when he says, “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?” (Paine 110). He is comparing the strongest of powers to the weakest of powers, the loyalists or the patriots, just one person or many of them. Paine personifies things throughout his works. He exposes this when he says, “America did not, nor does not want force; but she wanted a proper application of that force.” (Paine 109). Paine personifies America as a girl that did not ask for any force to be acted upon. Paine uses the continuous use of figurative language to make his audience more interested in it and to show that he believes that the country can pull away from Britain.

Paine uses pathos, logos, and ethos as rhetorical strategies in “The Crisis, No. 1.” Pathos is the appeal to the reader’s emotions; Paine uses this strategy throughout his paper. He uses this strategy when he says, “Say not that thousands are gone, turn out your tens of thousands; throw not the burden of the day upon Providence, but ‘show your faith by your works,’ that God may bless you” (Paine 110). Paine brings up the fact that thousands of people are dead, but then throws in that it is God’s work that they are doing. Logos is the appeal to the reader’s logic; Paine demonstrates this rhetorical strategy through the whole of his paper. He demonstrates this when he says, “If we reason to the root of things we shall find no difference” (Paine 110). He appeals to the reader’s logic by telling them that even if the decision is thought over for an extended period of time, the outcome will be the same. Ethos is the appeal to the writer’s credibility; Paine makes sure that his audience knows that he is a credible source at full length in his paper. He displays this strategy when he says, “My own line of reasoning is to myself as straight and clear as a ray of light” (Paine 110). Paine demonstrates that he has thought long and hard over the subject and that his mind cannot be changed because he knows that what he thinks is right. Pathos, logos, and ethos are powerful rhetorical strategies that Paine practices in his writing.

Paine is an insightful writer who uses rhetorical strategies, loads of figurative language, and inversion to develop a larger jolt of patriotism in his audience. Without advocates of independence like Thomas Paine, the United States of America would possibly still be under control of the British even at this day in time.