Read the excerpt from thomas paine’s work “the crisis” no. 1.

britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to tax) but “to bind us in all cases whatsoever,” and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. .

. . neither have i so much of the infidel in me, as to suppose that he has relinquished the government of the world, and given us up to the care of devils; and as i do not, i cannot see on what grounds the king of britain can look up to heaven for against us: a common murderer, a highwayman, or a house-breaker, has as good a pretence as he.