# Divine Providence and Justice in The American Crisis

> Theme guide for The American Crisis by Thomas Paine.

Paine repeatedly invokes God's support for the American cause, asserting that divine providence will not abandon a people who have sought peace and justice, and that tyranny is inherently opposed to divine will.

## Where it surfaces

- [The American Crisis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-american-crisis): Paine argues that God will favor the American cause because it is just, and that tyranny will ultimately be punished.
- [The Crisis I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-i): Paine asserts that God will not abandon a people who have sought peace, and that the British king cannot claim divine help; he calls on Americans to 'show your faith by your works.'
- [The Crisis V: To Gen. Sir William Howe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-v-to-gen-sir-william-howe): Paine asserts that God has parted America from Britain and that divine justice will punish British atrocities.
- [The Crisis VI: To the Earl of Carlisle, General Clinton, and William Eden, Esq., British Commissioners at New York](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-vi-to-the-earl-of-carlisle-general-clinton-and-william-eden-esq-british-commissioners-at-new-york): Paine attributes American success to 'the interposition of Providence' rather than British benevolence.
- [The Crisis VII: To the People of England](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-vii-to-the-people-of-england): Paine suggests that heaven is not willing for Britain to succeed, implying divine justice against British presumption.
- [The Crisis VIII: Address to the People of England](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-viii-address-to-the-people-of-england): Paine argues that America has a clear claim to divine providence due to the justness of its cause, while Britain's suffering is self-inflicted and abandoned by nature.
- [The Crisis X: On the King of England’s Speech](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-x-on-the-king-of-england-s-speech): Providence is credited for America's prosperity and for permitting Britain's errors; justice is demanded against the king's false piety.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/themes/divine_providence_and_justice
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/themes