Thomas Paine was a political writer who fervently supported the American Revolution. In this excerpt from his popular work Common Sense, Paine uses an analogy to refute a common Loyalist claim.


The first king of England, of the present line (William the Conqueror) was a Frenchman, and half the peers of England are descendants from the same country; wherefore, by the same method of reasoning, England ought to be governed by France.


Which claim has Paine refuted?


A -The American colonies should join Britain in any future war against France because the colonists are of English descent.

B -Britain should govern the American colonies because the colonists are of English descent.

C -France should govern the American colonies instead of Britain because the British king is a descendant of a Frenchman.

D -The American colonies should not trade with France because of the ongoing war between France and Britain.