What is implied by the terms summer soldier and sunshine patriot in Paine's essay?

Answer 1

Thomas Paine was referring to those who supported the revolution when it was easy. Being a soldier in winter and a patriot when it was not safe politically didn't count, to him.

Answer 2

AnswerPaine wrote first pamphlet of the series "The American Crisis" (also, commonly called just "The Crisis") in December 1776. The opening line was designed to remind the soldiers, many of whose enlistments were about the expire in January 1777, that there was a difficult, yet rewarding, road ahead of them.

It refers to someone who only wants to fight when it is warm and easy.

Answer 3

Answer

Well back then there were many soldiers that entered the war during the Spring and Summer when their crops were being planted and then returned home for the harvest, so they were quiet literally summer soldiers. A sunshine patriot only fought when things looked good for his side and remained neutral when things looked bad for his side.

Answer 4

To understand this, think of camping in a tent with open ends: most people will only go camping when it's summer and sunny, because it's easier.

So a summer soldier and a sunshine patriot is one who only shows up when it's easy.

Answer 5

He means basically the same thing as what we mean when we say "fair-weather friend." Sometimes we are willing to be friends (or soldiers, or patriots) when it is easy or convenient, but when things get rough, then we disengage and wait until it is easy again.

He was talking about people who were willing to support a war in the summer, when they didn't have to suffer in the cold, but were unwilling to follow through and be truly committed to the cause of independence when they found out that the struggle was not going to be easy, and they were going to have to suffer cold and hardships and the true brutality of war.

Answer 6

It means you are willing to fight when it's good, when your team is ahead, but you're gone when things get hard.

Answer 7

Thomas Paine was referring to those who supported the revolution when it was easy. Being a soldier in winter and a patriot when it was not safe politically didn't count, to him.

Answer 8

pathos?

Aphorism.

Answer 9

America.