Thomas Paine and His Writings

English-Born American Political Leader, Writer and Revolutionary

Jun 2, 2009 Tel Asiado

Philosophy and writings of Thomas Paine, a key campaigner for American independence, famous for Common Sense and The Age of Reason.

Thomas Paine was a political philosopher who inspired the revolutions both in the U.S. and France. In his The Rights of Man, he adhered to the idea that the democratic republic is the only morally acceptable constitution. His main beliefs included the power of reason where there is freedom to debate, tolerance, equality of rights and the dignity of man.

Thomas Paine Common Sense

Thomas Paine was born on January 29, 1737, in Norfolk, England. At the age of 37, he emigrated to the U.S. where he met Benjamin Franklin and became editor of the Pennsylvania magazine. He published one of the first essays calling for the abolition of slavery.

His series of 16 papers, The Crisis, encouraged the patriots during the American Revolutionary War. He achieved fame as a result of publishing Common Sense, which became the rallying point for colonial patriots. This pamphlet argues that monarchy is wrong in both principles and practice, setting out the grounds for American independence from Britain.

Thomas Paine's The Rights of Man

After the success of the war, Paine went to France and then to England. In response to Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France, he wrote The Rights of Man, his treatise on democracy and republicanism, defending the French Revolution.

According to him, all men are born with equal rights. The argument to his idea is the situation that social living can bring about where the rights of others are impinged, and when others do not respect it.

In response, the British Government charged Paine with treason, causing him to flee back to France who welcomed him at first. He was later imprisoned by the Jacobins and barely escaped execution when he advocated exile instead of death for King Louis XVI.

Agrarian Justice and Thomas Paine

In his Agrarian Justice, Paine developed his ideas on civil rights and justice. He advocated an inheritance tax on land which would be used to fund grants to everyone at the age of 21 and annual pensions for everyone over the age of 50 and those unable to work, out of justice and not charity.

Thomas Paine's The Age of Reason

In 1802, Paine returned to the U.S. Paine argued his ideas in his work The Age of Reason in which he promoted deism which appeals to any divine revelation. He rejected both organized religion and the Bible's portrayal of a vengeful God.

America, being primarily a Christian nation, frowned upon his religious teachings.

Though he remained in the United States for the rest of his life, he died in obscurity in June 8, 1808, at the age of 72.

Books by Thomas Paine

• Common Sense, 1776
• The Rights of Man, 1792
• The Age of Reason, 1794
• Agrarian Justice, 1797

Sources:

• McGovern, Una, Editor. Biographical Dictionary. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers, 2002.
• Stokes, Philip. Philosophy, the Great Thinkers. Capella, 2007.

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Thomas Paine, Political Philosopher