Which statement was one of Thomas Paine's argument for independence

Americans could not easily break ties with Britain. Despite their recent hardships, the majority of colonists were raised to love England and respect its monarch.

Fear was another factor. Most colonists were familiar with the harsh abuses the British used on rebels in Ireland. A revolution could bring mob rule, and no one, not even the most rebellious Americans, wanted that. Furthermore, despite their many taxes, times were good in the colonies. In some ways, Americans were even better off than the average Briton.

the answer is option a.