In it, Paine argues that representational government is superior to a monarchy or other forms of government based on aristocracy and heredity. Paine also claimed that the colonies needed to break with England in order to survive and that there would never be a better moment in history for that to happen. He argued that America was related to Europe as a whole, not just England, and that it needed to freely trade with nations like France and Spain.
Starting in April , Paine worked for two years as secretary to the Congressional Committee for Foreign Affairs and then became the clerk for the Pennsylvania Assembly at the end of In March , the assembly passed an abolition act that freed 6, slaves, to which Paine wrote the preamble. Washington appealed to Congress to no avail, and went so far as to plead with all the state assemblies to pay Paine a reward for his work. Only two states agreed: New York gifted Paine a house and a acre estate in New Rochelle, while Pennsylvania awarded him a small monetary compensation.
Paine published his book Rights of Man in two parts in and , a rebuttal of the writing of Irish political philosopher Edmund Burke and his attack on the French Revolution , of which Paine was a supporter. Paine journeyed to Paris to oversee a French translation of the book in the summer of Paine himself was threatened with execution by hanging when he was mistaken for an aristocrat, and he soon ran afoul of the Jacobins, who eventually ruled over France during the Reign of Terror, the bloodiest and most tumultuous years of the French Revolution.
In Paine was arrested for treason because of his opposition to the death penalty, most specifically the mass use of the guillotine and the execution of Louis XVI. He was detained in Luxembourg, where he began work on his next book, The Age of Reason.
Common Sense, the Rights of Man and Other Essential Writings of ThomasPaine
Released in , partly thanks to the efforts of President James Monroe , Paine became convinced that George Washington had conspired with French revolutionary politician Maximilien de Robespierre to have Paine imprisoned. The Federalists used the letter in accusations that Paine was a tool for French revolutionaries who also sought to overthrow the new American government. The first volume functions as a criticism of Christian theology and organized religion in favor of reason and scientific inquiry.
Though often mistaken as an atheist text, The Age of Reason is actually an advocacy of deism and a belief in God. The second volume is a critical analysis of the Old Testament and the New Testament of the Bible , questioning the divinity of Jesus Christ. By , Paine was able to sail to Baltimore.
Still, newspapers denounced him and he was sometimes refused services. A minister in New York was dismissed because he shook hands with Paine.
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In , despite failing health, Paine worked on the third part of his Age of Reason , and also a criticism of Biblical prophesies called An Essay on Dream. On his deathbed, his doctor asked him if he wished to accept Jesus Christ before passing. Estate auctioneers refused to sell human remains and the bones became hard to trace. In , the city of New Rochelle launched an effort to gather the remains and give Paine a final resting place. Wilson and William F. The Trouble With Tom: The New York Times. We strive for accuracy and fairness.
But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. Although little used today, pamphlets were an important medium for the spread of ideas in the 16th through 19th centuries. Paine especially refutes the notion that the people can cede their rights or declare their loyalty beyond their own lifetimes, thereby rejecting hereditary systems.
Paine paints an especially rosy picture of the French Revolution and excuses any excesses against the monarchy based on the need to overturn the whole system. While presenting a number of important and lasting points, Paine tends to repeat himself quite a bit and the piece stretches on much longer than necessary.
Jul 29, Jared rated it really liked it Shelves: A great compilation of works of someone who had a profound influence on the American Revolution. Common Sense was perhaps the catalyst to shift public opinion in favor of independence. Some of the other minor works are expectedly more trivial in nature.
A little understanding, however, of his life will show that his popularity was much diminished by the time he wrote Age of Reason. In that work, he seems out of his element in trying to critique various elements of the Bible with an obvious defic A great compilation of works of someone who had a profound influence on the American Revolution.
In that work, he seems out of his element in trying to critique various elements of the Bible with an obvious deficiency in its Ancient Near Eastern context.
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This work was ably defended by a host of his contemporaries yet still carries a certain unfortunate popularity today. May 29, P. Winn rated it really liked it. With the world in such turmoil, this is a great collection that will take readers back to when all started for America.
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It addresses what the forefathers wanted in the new world they found themselves in and is almost exactly opposite of where America finds itself in this day and age of a President who doesn't understand and won't bother to read any of the books like this one that show why America was actually great at one time. Oct 10, Carolyn Page rated it liked it. A historical resource that will make a rebel out of you. Feb 23, Victor rated it really liked it.
One of the most extraordinary works in political philosophy.
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Paine should be required reading in high school. Although his essay, "The Age of Reason", alienated Christians with its argument that the Bible is a fraudulent text, it is an argument that is difficult--if not impossible--to refute. Paine was no atheist; he was a deist and a firm believer in a Higher Authority.
Using William the Conqueror as an example the bastard son of a prostitute who "subdued England" and "gave them law at the point of a sword" , Paine illustrates that all governments are born from banditry and gangsterism--monarchy being the most extreme expression of it. Unlike England, the United States of America has a noble origin, Paine argues, because it is a nation born from the consent of the people and based on Natural Law.
Reading Paine clarified for me how far America has strayed from its founding principles. Jul 05, Jake rated it it was amazing Shelves: Library of America puts together visually appealing, well-edited compilations. I doubt they are always the best editions, but they are consistently good. I also own three of their Willa Cather volumes and one of Mark Twain. As far as Thomas Paine goes, he is a lesser known and lesser liked founding father. Among his faults are not getting along with President Washington and telling the world what he honestly thought of The Holy Bible. Oh yeah, and he wrote passionately for the cause of American Independence.
Jun 23, Mark rated it really liked it. Reading Thomas Paine has become more important in this era of nationalistic fervor, bipartisan politics, and sophistic rhetoric.
Paine cuts through this. An important fact about Thomas Paine, would be that he was thrown out of his own country for being patriotic, rather than nationalistic. This edition presents Paine's writing thoroughly. With so much of his writing, and the nature of the texts, so much in one edition sometimes seems overwhelming.
But, it is good to remember that one can put the Reading Thomas Paine has become more important in this era of nationalistic fervor, bipartisan politics, and sophistic rhetoric. But, it is good to remember that one can put the book down and delve into some lighter reading when necessary. The letter, in particular, give an interesting insight into Paine's thoughts and motivations.
I would recommend starting with those and then move on to the books. This is a nice collection and can be gotten in any library, or bought for little money. Oct 09, Daniel B. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book. I had not read Paine since high school and like many, had forgotten the importance of his role in the American Revolution. His brave, dry, wit escaped me when I was younger and can be appreciated now. This volume in my opinion, is a fine collection of Paine's work, presented beautifully in a high quality book. If you would enjoy reading a solid, logical argument, Paine is difficult to refute or want to read one who poked fun at the enem Outstanding.
If you would enjoy reading a solid, logical argument, Paine is difficult to refute or want to read one who poked fun at the enemy Generals during the war and lived to tell about it , then you have discovered the right book. Jun 10, Lynn Schlatter rated it liked it Shelves: This one gets the "did-not-finish" tag because I only read The Age of Reason.
Part One is a fairly good philosophical takedown of Christianity as a religion Paine was a deist , but Part Two, with its attempt to discredit the entire Bible bit by bit, falls flat. It's possible that when The Age of Reason was written no one had a counterargument for things like: Sep 17, Sherri rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: If you want to know the intent of our founding fathers, read what they had to say! Thomas Paine's writings are an important part of what they thought and said at the time.
Government was not meant to be small, nor were social programs and obligations excluded from the Constitution. The proper care of the elderly and orphans were specifically talked about in Paine's works.
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So were payments to those who were not land owners and a social security like program. May 14, Cormacjosh rated it it was amazing. Highly recommended for young people, especially those leaning towards socialism or communism. The Age of Reason had a profound effect on my life and my views of religion and the afterlife. Jan 22, Lucas rated it it was amazing Shelves: Absolutely not for the faint of heart. Paine approaches polemic as a blood-sport. The result is a graceful savagery that leaves all opponents maimed or destroyed. Not one of his contemporaries could have looked forward to a fusillade from this word-fighter.
As a spectator, I feel all the intense emotions that would accompany a ring-side seat at the Kumite. Sep 17, Phil Smith rated it it was amazing. If you are an American, you need to read this critical work. If you are not an American, you need to read this critical work. One of the finest pieces of political prose ever conceived is captured by Paine in less than pages.
Jan 06, Reid Luzzader rated it it was amazing. This Library of America edition contains all of the writings of Thomas Paine - the United States' most politically radical Founder - that a non-scholar would likely want. Highly recommended for anyone who wants a better understanding of revolutionary-era thought or history. Jun 13, Joe rated it it was amazing. Washington's sword was nothing without Paine's pen. Paine was a true Apostle of Freedom. He spent his whole life fighting for freedom and against tyranny.
This is a great collection of his writings. Jan 13, Tim rated it really liked it. Some good, some mediocre, some unexpected philosophy. Feb 19, Carrie rated it it was amazing Shelves: This is the first source that made me think I wanted to study early American history. Sep 20, Phil rated it it was amazing.
If you're a U. May 16, Chris Newell rated it it was amazing. Feb 12, Rick rated it it was amazing. Jun 24, Eric rated it it was amazing. I just reread almost all of Paine. Sep 23, Craig Bolton added it. Dec 04, Kate rated it really liked it. Common Sense is a great place to start. Nov 11, Melanie rated it it was amazing. I psychotically love Thomas Paine's ideas and writing style. Also, he's not that terrible-looking for a colonist. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Thomas Paine was an English-American political activist, author, political theorist and revolutionary.
As the author of two highly influential pamphlets at the start of the American Revolution, he inspired the Patriots in to declare independence from Britain. His ideas reflected Enlightenment-era rhetoric of transnational human rights. He has been called "a corset maker by trade, a journalist Thomas Paine was an English-American political activist, author, political theorist and revolutionary.
He has been called "a corset maker by trade, a journalist by profession, and a propagandist by inclination".