Thomas Paine (1737–1809)
Thomas Paine met Benjamin Franklin in London, and the introduction changed his life—and American history. Paine emigrated to the colonies from England in 1774. With a letter of introduction from Franklin, Paine began a career as a journalist. In January 1776, he published Common Sense, in which he argued that Americans must fight for independence. The pamphlet created a national mood for revolution.
Revolutionary Leader Paine enlisted in the American army toward the end of 1776. At that time, the army had just suffered a crushing defeat by the British in New Jersey and had retreated into Pennsylvania. The soldiers were suffering from freezing weather, a shortage of provisions, and low morale. Paine was writing the first of a series of essays entitled The American Crisis. Washington ordered Paine’s essay read to his troops before they crossed the Delaware River to defeat the Hessians at the Battle of Trenton.
In 1787, several years after the end of the American Revolution, Paine traveled to Europe and became involved with the French Revolution. Though he wrote in support of the revolutionary cause in The Rights of Man (1791–1792), he was imprisoned for pleading against the execution of the overthrown French king. While in prison, he began writing The Age of Reason (1794), an attack on organized religion. The book turned American public opinion against him, and when he died in 1809, he was a broken man. Years later, however, Paine was once again recognized as a hero of the Revolution.
Thomas Paine met Benjamin Franklin in London, and the introduction changed his life—and American history. Paine emigrated to the colonies from England in 1774. With a letter of introduction from Franklin, Paine began a career as a journalist. In January 1776, he published Common Sense, in which he argued that Americans must fight for independence. The pamphlet created a national mood for revolution.
Revolutionary Leader Paine enlisted in the American army toward the end of 1776. At that time, the army had just suffered a crushing defeat by the British in New Jersey and had retreated into Pennsylvania. The soldiers were suffering from freezing weather, a shortage of provisions, and low morale. Paine was writing the first of a series of essays entitled The American Crisis. Washington ordered Paine’s essay read to his troops before they crossed the Delaware River to defeat the Hessians at the Battle of Trenton.
In 1787, several years after the end of the American Revolution, Paine traveled to Europe and became involved with the French Revolution. Though he wrote in support of the revolutionary cause in The Rights of Man (1791–1792), he was imprisoned for pleading against the execution of the overthrown French king. While in prison, he began writing The Age of Reason (1794), an attack on organized religion. The book turned American public opinion against him, and when he died in 1809, he was a broken man. Years later, however, Paine was once again recognized as a hero of the Revolution.