The simple past tense, sometimes called the preterite, is used to talk about a completed action in a time before now. The simple past is the basic form of past tense in English. The time of the action can be in the recent past or the distant past and action duration is not important.
"And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house". This passage from Kennedy's inaugural address is a metaphor.
'Common Sense' by Thomas Paine responds to the argument that advocated the idea that colonies prospered during British rule by a contrary statement where 'he argues that they could have done better on their own'. ... He exclaims that 'they(colonies) are self-sufficient to ensure their growth and development"
