Category: Thomas Paine

During the colonization period, the American society was going through a hard and difficult time living under British rules. Many colonies were afraid to speak their minds and follow what they believed as right. However, Thomas Paine rose his voice to invigorate Americans to get rid of the British government and conquer their independence. Paine seems to be a knowledgeable and experienced author according to the following source, “Paine established himself as an editor and writer for Pennsylvania Magazine” (Anne). Through his successful writings, he not only delivered a powerful message, but most importantly he was able to convince the populace to join a Revolutionary war against the British monarch.

Thomas Paine uses his persuasive writings as a platform to transmit his revolutionary ideas directly to citizens often referred to as “common man and common women.” Paine’s pamphlet had such a powerful affect on the peoples’ viewpoint about the British government. His simple and effective yet writings were able to influence the colonial-Americans to try to obtain full independence from Britain. Paine once wrote “A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and rises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom.” In other words, people were being manipulated by the British so that they were unable to realize the unfairness of the government rules and this led the colonist to believe that this was okay. Just because something in society is around for a long time does not mean that it is right thing to follow or that it is beneficial for the well-being of a community. For instance, the trade of slaves during the colonization era was a very common practice between the colonists for labor purposes. The fact that it was seen normal during that period did not mean it was positive for all mankind. It might had not occurred sooner because nobody spoke out against it or wanted to put an end to such unhuman practices. However, Paine’s pamphlet changed American beliefs against Britain and was one of the main elements in the colonies’ decision to participate in a fight for self-government and freedom.

Paine portrays the idea of American Independence as a model for other nations. He states, “The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind” (Paine). Altogether, Paine was encouraging American citizens to stand up and fight for their rights to be free and stop the abuse by the power of the British government. In other words, the ideals of freedom and sovereignty have an impact on other people around the world and by fighting for independence, America could represent an example that might rouse other individuals to fight for their own freedom. The American Revolution represented a model for other countries to follow when they decided to become free from their colonial monarchs. American independence not only meant freedom for the natives but also for other people from all around the nation.

Furthermore, Paine stressed the need for human fairness and self-government. For Paine every man was created equal and Americans did not deserve to be mistreated by the British. He makes this claim by saying. “For all men being originally equals, no one by birth could have a right to set up his own family in perpetual preference to all others forever, and tho’ himself might deserve some decent degree of honors of his contemporaries, yet his descendants might be far too unworthy to inherit them.”9Paine). To put it differently, everyone should have to make decisions for themselves and have the right to own their life and liberty instead of being oppressed for a monarchy. In the same way, it is negative that a monarch, like a king or queen has the absolute power to rule without being choosing by the citizens only because the power was genetic. Namely, during the slave period when a child was born from a slave mother, he/she was automatically a slave just because of the child’s family status. Due to this the child was committed to work for his master since early age. Clearly, this was another reason why Paine insights on Americans to stand up for their rights, to be free from their rulers, and achieve social equalities.

Undoubtedly, Tomas Paine’s work not only influenced society during the American Revolution, but also impacted present and future generations around the world. Also, Paine’s ideas about freedom and human equality had motivate other people to fight to achieve those right for the wellbeing of humanity. Martin Luther King, for example, as well as Paine made a mighty contribution that changed American society. Dr. Martin Luther King established the Civil Rights Movement to abolish segregation, social inequality, and racial discrimination, in order to get a fair and free society. Paine’s legacy and others shows that those ideas are eternal.

In final analysis, Thomas Paine used his powerful writings to talk to the mass generation regarding their independence. He uses anger to convince Americans to fight against the British to obtain their independence and freedom. Significantly, Paine’s ideas about self-government, freedom, and equality changed the American views about the British monarchy, which drove Americans into a Revolutionary War. Once more, Paine visualized the American independence as a “cause of all mankind”. If America became independent from the British, it would serve as an example for other countries around the globe. Still in 2018, Paine’s writing is present in many different aspects. Humankind should follow Paine instructions to keep fighting for what they believe in.

Publishing the political pamphlet in the context of American Revolutionary War, Thomas Paine-a political philosopher and a writer – had rallied brilliant public opinion when expressing his material argument for separation from Britain. Immediately, this pamphlet was widely spread out and influence the discernment of people of early America. Although some arraigned his notion, the majority embraced it and acted on them. To make it become the most influential pamphlet in the Revolution period, he pointed out some unreasonable British’s policies and the necessary of forming the new government system for the colonies. In this essay, I will clearly explain his arguments along with discussing the establishing of new political systems.

To appeal larger audience, Paine described the pictures of the current America and metaphors. He called the Great Britain is the “mother” and this continent-America is “her” make him simplify complicated arguments by likening them to the familiar concepts.

When he rejected the argument that “America hath flourished under her former connection with Great-Britain” and that connection is necessary to remain for the future happiness. Paine maintained it by giving out the obvious example of how America would have flourished as much by her commerce and trading. Cited from Paine, from Common Sense, “Her trade will always be a protection, and her barrenness of gold and silver secure her from invaders”. He also stated the certain situation that the American thought that the protection from Great Britain, but the fact came from “interest” motive, its own financial gain, not out of altruism. We all were misled by our enemies “who will always be our enemies on the same account”. Using this sentence, he was for the revolution, convinced the break way and boycott the English ruling. At the core of Paine’s declare is that reconciliation with the British will only cause the present situation to repeat and thus, it cannot exist. First of all, Paine said that although most of American are English descent, but as being an enemy of Britain, the Colonies has no duty of reconciliation. Second, as long as the colonies still under the British rules, we will still be mistreated. Specifically, financial burdens, the battles with European countries and taxation could never make the America stay in peace and normalcy. Noticeably, Paine pressed out the references if the Stamp Act of 1765, when citizens were taxed taxes on a variety of printed materials. The burden was not to be bear when just 2 year after, new round of taxes on a large range of goods was imposed. To significantly clarify at the final call, Paine said: “Small islands not capable of protecting themselves, are the proper objects for kingdoms to take under their care; but there is something very absurd, in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island.” This claim opens a solid motion of an impassioned plea to break free of the oppression of the British.

To conclude the pamphlet, he proposes an appropriate new governmental structure, as the reveal about the Revolution Era. He says that each colony should be divided into districts, and each colony ought to send delegates to Congress. He also offers a way of choosing congress and president. The president will be chosen from one specific colony, and in the next election, a different colony will be chosen. As what he does, the colonies system created by Paine has enormous space on a national scale to engage in any action such as enact fundamental laws and huge power, less democratic when giving less power per capital to those states with density population. The valuable suggestion about the new political structure appeared, dismissing the arguments for reconciliation. As said by Watson in Building the American Republic, “As Paine’s arguments sank in, one assembly after another instructed its delegates to vote for separation. Congress finally adopted Thomas Jerson’s Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The Declaration’s fervent language has inspired and challenged Americans ever since.” The independence of America is legitimated, open the era of new American Revolution and Construction.

Common Sense covers many topics relevant to the time, as the purpose of the pamphlet was to persuade colonists to powerfully support the cause of American independence from Britain, Paine had to make two points clear. The first point was that America’s relationship with Britain has never been a good one. Paine reminds his readers of America’s toxic relationship with Britain during events such as the Stamp Act by stating “To say, they will never attempt it again is idle and visionary, we thought so at the repeal of the stamp-act…”. As Britain has not treated the colonies fairly in the past, Paine argues that there is no logical reason why the colonists should expect to be treated fairly in the future, overall concluding that Britain cannot be trusted and that the colonies are merely but a tool to Britain. Even if the colonists are able to reach an agreement with Britain, the issues of the past will only repeat once again. New taxes such as the Stamp Act or the Sugar act will arise, and parliament will restrict the colonies once again. Paine’s point is made clear; independence from Britain is logical because of past experiences and the proof that Britain, with its malice intents, cannot be trusted.

The second point Thomas Paine makes clear was the need for the creation of a democratic republic. Paine supports his argument for the creation of a democratic republic by destroying two already existing practices; first, monarchy, and secondly, hereditary succession. It is not hard to tell that Thomas Paine is no fan of the monarchy, in fact, Common Sense spends a lot of time and does very well at attacking monarchism. To validate his disapproval of monarchism, Paine uses biblical references. Paine used biblical references to remind his reader, who he knows is God-fearing, that God himself has deemed monarchy as evil. Paine states that in the early ages of the world “there were no kings”, which also meant “there were no wars”, this is because it is a king’s pride that causes chaos within the world. Paine notes that it was the heathens who had kings, and the ancient Jews who had no man as king as God was their only ruler. However, the Jews, “under national delusion” requested for God to give them a king. Paine goes on quoting what seems like the entire book of Samuel, but he finally reaches the end of the story; The request for a king displeased God, in fact, he was so enraged that he cursed the Jews. Thus, this story is proof that God almighty is a jealous God who deems monarchism as a great sin. However, Paine offers his readers an option; either the scripture is false, and monarchism is still yet to be deemed as evil, or the scripture is true, and monarchism is truly evil. This however is hardly an option, as Paine knows, his readers base their morality on that which the scripture says is moral.

Furthermore, Paine goes on to destroy the practice of hereditary succession, stating that it is “…an insult and an imposition on posterity.”. Paine states that all men are born equal, but hereditary succession claims that a man can be born a king. While Paine says that a man can grow to deserve certain honors, it does not mean that his child should deserve such honors. No man by birth should have the right to establish his family as a permanent ruler over all others forever, as the man himself may deserve to rule, there is no certainty that his descendants will be capable. Paine goes on to ask where these kings originally got their powers, he says it could be for one of three reasons; either by lot, election, or usurpation. If a king is chosen through an election, then the next man should have to be elected to become king, as the right of future generations should not be taken away because of the actions of the first electors. And if a king usurped his throne, then this right was already taken, and the rule is therefore criminal. Paine also points out the psychological aspect of hereditary succession as well. If a man is raised since birth to believe that he is superior to all others and is worthy of ruling as a king merely because he was born, he will become “ignorant and unfit.”. Paine also goes on to debunk a common myth that hereditary succession results in fewer civil wars, when in fact, Britain alone had already been through at least eight civil wars and nineteen rebellions. Paine concludes that Monarchy and hereditary succession have produced nothing in the world but bloodshed and ashes. He states that it is a “form of government which the word of God bears testimony against, and blood will attend it.”.

By reminding his readers of the injustices Britain has committed against the colonists, he has exposed Britain as an untrustworthy ally with malicious intent. And by attacking Britain’s practice of monarchism and hereditary succession, he has revealed that the very foundation of Britain is evil, unbiblical, unstable, and foolish. By making these points Paine was able to effectively speak to the colonists, and in return, be heard. Paine’s arguments were strong, but it was the simple words and familiar concepts, such as scriptural truths, that allowed his pamphlets to be well received by the colonists. Paine’s argument for American independence in Common Sense was quickly accepted and executed by the population. There was no longer the talk of fighting for rights under British rule because Common Sense moved colonists to instead speak of Independence from British rule. And in consequence, this caused the awakening of one of the most significant events in all of U.S History; The American Revolution.

Introduction

Several theories have been advanced by a significant number of theorists, who seek to use these theories to explain the functionality of institutions within political realms of the society. One such theorist is Thomas Paine, who coined the theory of ‘common sense’. Paine is one of the ancient theorists in history.

He developed this theory back in 1776. The theory seeks to criticize the actions of individuals and authorities. Paine’s theory has a number of empirical justifications that can help in inspiring the actions by governments and individuals concerning issues of governance (Larkin 88). This paper explores Paine’s theory of ‘common sense’.

The paper expands on the subject of equality of people in governance as poised by Paine’s theory. The paper also carries a critical evaluation and the worthiness of the arguments that are postulated by Paine.

Understanding the theory of ‘common sense’

As observed in the introductory notes, the concept of ‘common sense’ was developed in the latter years of the 18^th century. During this period, the accolades of British imperialism were still prevalent in the United States.

A substantial number of modern political theorists have argued that this concept by Paine posed the first major challenge to Britain’s Authority in the United States by critiquing the actions of the British administrators in the United States. The theory is strongly founded in the development of governance in the society and the implications for which it has on the interaction of people and the government.

Common sense as brought out by Paine entails passages that appertain to natural rights; human rights made humans equal and should, thus, be treated equally. The main argument of the theory, which is the abuse of power by the political authority, is often easily justified. However, the main concern is whether the justification of such abuses warrants to be given attention by the society.

The society is built by the common demands of the citizenry, while governments are often built on the grounds of exploitative thoughts. Therefore, Paine argues that the foundations of the society promote the equality of human beings through the aspect of common needs, while the foundations of governance kill the recognition of human equality through cultivation of wickedness for gains (Paine and Philp n.p.).

In his exploration of the origin and existence of government in the society, Paine argued that the government is often the source of miseries that befalls man. He makes a comparison of government with the existence of a society in the earth, which does not have any attributes of governance.

He notes that such a population would be quite united and respectful of the rights of each other since human beings are united by their needs under what is known as ‘society’. He made reference to how power is molded in governance, where he noted that people fear power because of its negative attributes. Therefore, the fact that the government is molded along power makes it harder for people to trust the government.

The issue of power and its subsequent exercise is a complex issue altogether and increases the difficulty of embracing the state of equality. Power is molded by both the subjects and the rulers.

While it is claimed that the subjects have a role to play in shaping the exercise of power, the rulers take advantage of the loyalty and the respect accorded to them to abuse the power vested on them. What ought to be asked is whether power can be guarded and utilized for the benefit of enhancing natural equality of human beings (Paine para. 2).

The state of equality of mankind and the government

It is critical to note that the subject of equality is one of the most debatable subjects in the philosophy of governance. One thing that comes into the minds of people concerning the argument of the ‘common sense’ theory is whether the argument provides rational ideas about the issue of equality in governance. Can equality of human beings exist in the political setup?

A number of people argue that some of the arguments that are advanced in the theory of common sense can be justified because of the nature and structure of the society. However, other people find the argument to be logical by citing instances that denote the importance of the embrace of human beings by governments (Aldridge 47).

The society is wide and the question of rights and equality of human beings in the society cannot be easily explicated. This is a pointer to the fact that the passages in the common sense that appertain to natural rights are not certain, thus they are subjected to a lot of critics.

To begin with, the publication of the theory of ‘common sense’ elicited a debate about the black population in the United States and the status or the level at which the black population had rights over the black population. It comes out that the blacks were considered to be lesser human beings than the whites. This can be blamed on the government (Paine para. 6).

What comes out here is that the issue of equality begins with the manner in which people look at each other and treat each other within the society. Racial discrimination existed in America long before independence and has continued to reign. The only difference today is that it is not done openly as was done before.

The cases of racial discrimination are still rampant and widely reported in a substantial number of states in the United States and other regions of the world. Therefore, it is quite irrational to blame the government for failing to respect the equality of human beings, while the society itself, which is considered to be a neutral entity, does not respect the equality of human beings.

However, what should be asked here is whether the government can shape the society and make it embrace human equality. Based on the foundations on which the government is built, it is doubtful to trust that the government can help the society to embrace equality of human beings (Paine para. 6-7).

Paine sought to understand the most critical thing between independence and reconciliation in the development of a nation. He noted that reconciliation is quite complex and difficult to attain, yet it is most critical in the embrace of the equality of mankind in nations. According to Paine, most nations prefer independence over exercising of independence and reconciliation.

The pursuance of independence by governments is argued to be the leading factor to the growth of dependency of nations. In the pursuance of independence, man remains to be a victim of the channels and steps that are put in place in order to attain the most sought for status by nations in the world. It makes more sense to put this argument in the contemporary political economy.

The question that needs to be asked is whether countries in the contemporary political economy pursue the doctrine of independence of the doctrine of reconciliation, and how each course promotes the equality of human beings.

Most analysts seem to be of the opinion that both doctrines are being practiced by countries, though on totally varying scales. Each country prefers to pursue dependency, which is the reason why there is a lot of competition between nations in the world today.

Under such intense competition, the respect of equality of all human beings is often ignored. Reconciliation often comes out as an alternative doctrine after the interests to attain dependence have resulted in actions that raise an alarm on the respect of the rights of human beings (Paine 57-60).

The other thing that comes out in Paine’s theory is the issue of absolutism in governments. Paine opines that governments lack moral virtue. This resonates from the manner in which governments are formed. The lack of moral virtue in governments is a hindrance to the respect of human nature and the equality of human beings.

Pain applauds absolute governments by arguing that the citizens in these countries are often aware of the source of disgrace to human equality. The implication of this statement is that even the governments that claim to embrace the rights and equality of human beings are found committing atrocities, which questions their commitment to enhance the doctrine of human equality (Paine 11).

Conclusion

According to the argument in this paper, the theory of common sense by Paine has been subjected to criticisms by a substantial number of people. As postulated in the paper, it is quite daunting for governments to embrace natural equality because of the foundations on which government is built. The exercise of power by governments is cited as the main impediment to the embrace of natural equality.

Works Cited

Aldridge, Alfred O. Thomas Paine’s American Ideology. Newark: University of Delaware Press, 1984. Print.

Larkin, Edward. Thomas Paine and the literature of revolution. Cambridge University Press: New York, 2005. Print.

Paine, Thomas, and Philp Mark. Rights of Man, Common Sense, and other Political Writings. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995. Print.

Paine, Thomas, Common Sense: Introduction. n.d. Web.

Thomas Paine was a deist. He chose to quote the bible in most of his writings because he understood the readers. He knew that in order for his book to receive the attention he needed, he had to choose a means that was receptive to the ears of his audience (Paine and Kramnick 30).

A majority of Americans had accepted Christianity as a religion. And many of them knew about Christianity. Since religion was one of the ways one could use to influence the decision, he chose to use the Bible. He shows how King George III was like the Pharaoh of England (Paine and Kramnick 45). He also gives an account of how God created the people and how they requested for a King against his will. In so doing, he is against the establishment of a Kingdom in America. He says that one of the sins of the Jews was to accept Monarchy.

Paine goes on to explain that David became a famous and successful ruler not because he was King, but because he was a man after God’s heart. He shows the great power that the King in England wields over them as compared to the Biblical kings. He uses this as an illustration, to make the citizens stop believing that the King had good intentions for America. He goes ahead to explain that with Monarchy, citizens do not have a chance to air their views (Paine and Kramnick 45).

The monarch uses its power to influence decisions even if they are unpopular with the subjects. He makes the readers understand that if they accept to establish a Kingdom, then it could set a precedent that the next ruler would be the heir apparent to the King. If they chose elective politics, then it would also set a precedent for the generations to come.

Thomas Paine urged citizens to develop patriotism for their country. He said that America was big enough to grow self-rule and stop depending on Britain. They had advanced in the economy and had enough wood to make ships and boats of war. They did not have to hire them from other nations. They could form their strong army that no other country could rival, including Great Britain (Paine and Kramnick 20).

Patriots need to know that their colonizers only had a selfish interest in the nation. They chose their best men to fight for a cause that was not their choice. Britain’s enemies were not American competitors. Britain should fight its war and leave America to form its government (Paine and Kramnick 45).

Common sense asks the readers to know that the interest of America is in making peace and trading with other nations. It was not to make enemies everywhere, as Britain had caused them to believe.

People had coined a statement that because America had flourished under Great Britain, the same was to happen in the future of the nation. Paine argues that it was a fallacy to keep them tied to Britain forever, and yet they had the right to rule themselves. America would have flourished much more if the European power had not come to interfere with their trade. He argues that their goods could find a market and earn America more income than it was because of the customs that it had to pay to Great Britain (Paine and Kramnick 50).

The monarch only defends America for the sake of trade and dominion and not because it has good interest in America. The writer argues that the ancient prejudices and sacrifices to superstition had caused America to remain in oblivion. There was no need for reconciliation if Britain was an open enemy. The two countries are miles apart. There was no need to subject such a powerful nation under Britain’s control.

Works Cited

Paine, Thomas, and Isaac Kramnick. Common Sense. Harmondsworth Middlesex, England: Penguin Books, 1986. Print.

Let us start by saying that it is a commonly known fact that concrete people create history and they can make the history of the whole humanity turn this or that way. In the course of the development of human society there were a lot of people who were really significant. One of them was Thomas Paine.

Thomas Paine (1737-1809) was an author, intellectual, revolutionary and he was even called one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. John Ferling called him “a skilled artisan, sometime bureaucrat, drifter, and lethargic visionary”¹. It is known that his life was full of numerous challenges, victories and defeats. Historians say that he was a very temperamental man and this can be easily proved by the following quotation:

Let them call me a rebel and welcome, I feel no concern from it; but I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul by swearing allegiance to one whose character is that of a Scottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man.²

Thomas Paine was born in England in a poor family and lived and worked there until age 37 when he abandoned his motherland “hoping at age thirty-seven to begin life anew”¹. He emigrated to the British American colonies due to Benjamin Franklin’s support. It must be admitted that Paine adored him. Paine’s work as an editor of “Pennsylvania Magazine” (1775-1777) must be stressed, because it influenced the atmosphere of indecision that was characteristic of that time. His pamphlet “Common Sense” (1776) suggested arguments and proofs that supported American independence.

His pro-revolutionary pamphlet series under the title “The American Crisis” (1776–1783) also deserves mentioning, because it was so impressive that G. Washington gave an order to read it to soldiers to support their fighting spirit

In 1787 Thomas Paine came to France, in 1791 he published the first part of the work “Rights of Man”, in which he welcomed and supported The French Revolution and gave grounds and reasons for his idea that republic had a lot of advantages in comparison with monarchy. For Paine “the king was above all a symbol of an infuriating paradox”³. Paine tried to inspire English people to fight against and to dethrone monarchy as it had been done in France. In Great Britain he was accused of treachery and he had to escape to France where he became the member of The National Convention, despite not speaking French.

In December, 1793 after the usurpation of power by Robespierr’s supporters Thomas Paine was imprisoned for the term of ten months on the ground that he was against French monarchy. He was released in 1794. He became notorious because of his work “The Age of Reason” (1794-1796) that was advocating deism. Those people in America who supported monarchy proclaimed this book by Paine “the Bible of atheism” and blasphemy. Jefferson in his preface to “The Human Rights” asserted that his principles coincided with Paine’s political views. That was why Pain’s works became frequently attacked and criticized, because some people tried to harm Jefferson. At the same time liberals in America supported Thomas Paine and they even used his works as textbooks in educational programs for adults.

Paine remained in France during the early Napoleonic era. In 1800 Jefferson became President of the USA and he asked Thomas Paine to return to America. In 1802, at President Jefferson’s invitation, Paine returned to America where he died in 1809.

Works Cited

Downes, Paul. Democracy, Revolution, and Monarchism in Early American Literature. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2002.

Ferling, John. A Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republic. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.

Paine, Thomas. The American Crisis. Whitefish: Kessinger Publishing, 2004.

Footnotes

1. Ferling, John. A Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republic. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) 150.
2. Paine, Thomas. The American Crisis. (Whitefish: Kessinger Publishing, 2004) 8.
3. Downes, Paul. Democracy, Revolution, and Monarchism in Early American Literature. (Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2002) 54.³ Downes, Paul. Democracy, Revolution, and Monarchism in Early American Literature. (Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2002) 54.

Common Sense as written by Thomas Paine was initially published in 1776 during the time of the American Revolution. It was a pamphlet that provided the colonists in America with arguments to get independence from the rule and occupation of the British. It is well-known that Common Sense reached out to hundreds of thousands of people who were desperate to get independence and inspired them into a fight for their liberty.

At a time when a lot of uncertainty prevailed after the war, Paine won over the American people with his simple words which served as motive power for people to get confident about what they wanted. He made them realize that rulers were in fact the representatives of the people and that the Monarchy of the British government had no basis to rule over them. The pamphlet was aimed at convincing people that they should not be ruled by a King who was born to rule rather than has been chosen by people to govern for them, in other words, the fact that the British Monarch had inherited his right to be a king, did not mean that he could govern for the people of America.

Common Sense did not simply try to convince people that they had to fight for their independence. Its aim was to demonstrate the incompetence of the government. Paine himself kept to the point that government might be a necessary evil, but it had to work in the best interests of people taking care of their welfare and expectations. The pamphlet made people suddenly realize that they deserved proper representation. By his work, Paine inspired a vast majority of Americans, and not only men but women (for instance, Abigail Williams) whose most utmost desire was getting independence from their husbands. At the time when the pamphlet was released, independence was much desired and Paine reached out to a large number of people at an appropriate time defending independence from the British. Moreover, the pamphlet made people realize the importance of American independence, which marked the beginning of a radical movement.

Apart from working on Common Sense, Paine is known for having a number of occupations in Britain before his coming to America in 1774. Firstly, he worked as a supernumerary officer at Thetford from 1761 to 1762. After that, he got a position of an excise officer in 1762 in Lincolnshire, and in August 1765, he was fired from this position for committing alleged discrepancies. Until he was reinstated to the position of an excise officer, he worked for some time as a stay maker in Norfolk and then as a servant for some nobility. Paine was a minister of the Church of England until 1767 after which he got work as a school teacher in London. From February 1768, he worked with Lewis in East Sussex where he developed an interest in civic matters and was introduced to members of the elite intellectual society called Society of Twelve which indulged in discussions of town politics. Paine actively associated with the church group Vestry that made collections to be distributed amongst the poor. During the years 1772 and 1773, he was occupied in working with excise officers who demanded the parliament to improve their working conditions and increase their payments. This occupation inspired Paine to the creation of his first political work titled The Case of the Officers of Excise. Finally, in 1774 he was introduced to Benjamin Franklin by a friend who recommended his emigration to America and he arrived in Philadelphia on November 30^th, 1774.

In sum, Thomas Paine had numerous occupations before arriving in America in 1774 where he published his Common Sense, a pamphlet, which has strongly influenced American people’s ideology and contributed greatly to their fight for independence.

Works Cited

Hitchens, Christopher. Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man: A Biography. Atlantic Monthly Press, 2007.

Paine, Thomas. Essential Thomas Paine: Common Sense, The Rights of Man. Plume, 1984.

Roark, James L. American Promise, 4^th Edition. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008.