Thomas Paine:
Master Propagandist
The Bill of Rights Institute
Milwaukee, WI
August 23, 2010
Artemus Ward
Department of Political Science
Northern Illinois University
aeward@niu.edu
Early Years
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Paine was born in Thetford, England in
1737. He failed out of school by age 12 and
apprenticed for his father, a corset maker.
He also served as a tax collector in England
before meeting Benjamin Franklin who
encouraged him to move to America. He
arrived in 1774 and at age 37 became a
citizen of Pennsylvania.
Paine became an editor in Philadelphia just
as the revolutionary movement gained
national focus. He wrote newspaper
articles on abolition, women's rights,
dueling, titles, and the freedom of British
India before he turned his focus squarely
on the American Revolution.
Common Sense (1776)
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Dr. Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Rush suggested to Paine that
he write a pamphlet broaching the
subject of independence and suggested
the title “Common Sense.” Franklin,
Sam Adams, and others read drafts and
suggested minor changes.
The book was published anonymously
as “Written by and Englishman” in Jan.
1776 just after the revolution began.
Yet it helped transform the terms of
political debate – particularly among the
masses. Paine wrote with urgency,
excitement, and bold simplicity. His
arguments were straightforward and
uncomplicated so that everyone from
artisans to farmers could relate to his
prose.
Common Sense: Republican Ideal
► Begins
with an analysis of the
principles of govt. and an attack
on hereditary rule and the validity
of the monarchy itself.
► He promotes a “republican” form
of government with lawmakers
elected by the people.
► His use of he word “Republic” to
describe self-government by the
people became widely used in
America after he introduced it in
the book.
Common Sense: Independence
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then turned to a discussion of independence,
an issue that had been mentioned sporadically in
the press in 1775, but one which most colonists
still refused to confront.
► Independence, he said, was inevitable. The only
question was how independence would come "by
the legal voice of the people in Congress; by a
military power; or by a mob.“
► He called for the creation of a continental
legislature and new unicameral state assemblies
based on a broad suffrage, popular representation
through frequent elections, and a written
constitution guaranteeing the rights of persons
and property and establishing freedom of religion.
Common Sense: Impact
► Common
Sense was immediately successful and
its impact was nothing short of astonishing.
► It sold at least 100,000 copies in its first three
months, was passed around, and read at taverns.
It went through 25 editions and reached literally
hundreds of thousands of readers in the single
year 1776.
► As a percentage of the population, more people
read it than watch the Super Bowl each year.
► Paine took no money for his effort. All of the
proceeds went to the revolutionary cause.
The American Crisis (1776-1783)
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The Crisis is a collection of articles written during the
American Revolutionary War.
► They constitute Paine's ongoing support for an
independent and self-governing America through the
many severe crises of the Revolutionary War.
► General Washington found the first essay so inspiring,
he ordered that it be read to the troops at Valley Forge.
► Number 1 of this series is of particular historical interest,
for it was written during Washington's retreat across the
Delaware and by his order was read to his dispirited and
suffering soldiers. The opening sentence was adopted
as the watchword of the movement to Trenton: "These
are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier
and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis shrink from
the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW,
deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.
Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have
this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the
more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap,
we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives
every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a
proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange
indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be
highly rated."
The Rights of Man (1791-1792)
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Paine returned to England and wrote The
Rights of Man in response to criticism of the
French Revolution.
He argued that all men had an equal claim to
political rights and that government depends
on the rule of the people. He suggested that
democratic republics were the remedy for the
weaknesses of monarchy. Even more
radically, he called for social programs to help
the poor.
He was labeled an outlaw in England for his
anti-monarchist views and would have been
arrested, but he fled for France as he had
taken in interest in the events of the French
Revolution.
The Age of Reason (1794-1796)
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He was granted honorary French citizenship, was
elected to the Revolutionary National Convention,
and voted for a French Republic. But he did not
endorse the execution of Louis XVI and was soon
imprisoned.
During his imprisonment, he wrote what was as to
become his most famous work at the time, The
Age of Reason (1794-96).
He strongly condemned all organized religion, and
in particular Christianity, as series of “fabulous
inventions.” Though he acknowledged all are free
to believe as they wish, he wrote, “The only true
religion is Deism, by which I mean, the belief of
one God, and an imitation of his moral character, or
the practice of what are called moral virtues.”
He was freed in 1794 (narrowly escaping
execution) thanks to the efforts of James Monroe,
then U.S. Minister to France.
was upset that the American
Final Years ► Paine
government had not secured his release
sooner and in 1796 he wrote an open letter
insulting President George Washington. Paine
accused him of private betrayal of their
friendship and public hypocrisy as General and
President, and concluded the letter by saying
"the world will be puzzled to decide whether
you are an apostate or an impostor; whether
you have abandoned good principles or
whether you ever had any."
► Paine remained in France until 1802 when he
returned to America on an invitation from
President Thomas Jefferson. But he found that
his contributions to the American Revolution
had been all but eradicated due to his
religious views and his attack on Washington.
► Died on June 8, 1809 at the age of 72 in New
York City.
Conclusion
► Paine’s
impassioned, straightforward writings
played an important part in garnering popular
support for the revolution in America.
► But his work in England and France shows that he
thought about rights in a principled way and not
simply in the American context.
► Ultimately, Paine’s story demonstrates the
importance of speaking directly to the people and
rallying popular support for political change.