Thomas Paine:
From Rebellion to Revolution
By: Taylor, Braeden, Hailey, Holly, Robert and
Aislyn
Table of Contents
●
●
●
●
●
●
Biography of Thomas Paine
Key Concepts and Ideals of Thomas Paine
Questions for the Class
Glossary
Conclusion
Bibliography
Thomas Paine: 1737-1809
● Born February 9th 1737 in Norfolk England
● Paine was an unsuccessful man while
working in England.
● Paine met a man named Benjamin Franklin
who
talked him into emigrating to America
● Once in Philadelphia, Paine became a publicist where
he wrote many anti-slavery pieces
● “Without the pen of the author of Common Sense, the
sword of Washington would have been raised in vain” John Adams
TH
Thomas Paine in America
● Wrote Common Sense (1776)
● Attacked loyalty to the British King
● Pointed out the positives that would come
from independence
● Persuaded people to join the American
side (Patriots) and advocated for the
rights of Americans’ freedom from British
oppression
● These ideas/this document would inspire
the French to start their own revolution
BS
Thomas Paine Back in Europe
● After the American Revolution, Paine returned to
England but shortly after returning home the French
Revolution started and he became very involved in it
● He published some of his most famous writings such as
The Rights of Man where he defended the French
revolution and rivaled Edmund Burke’s beliefs on the
conflict.
● He was later jailed for not voting towards Louis XVI’s
death. While in jail he published The Age of Reason
where he reflected the achievements of the Age of
TH
Enlightenment
Key Concepts
Divine Right
● It is clear that Paine disagrees
with the notion of Divine Right
● Notes that while Europe has had
‘revolutions’, nothing has
changed other than the face of
the ruler
● Thinks it is important to break
ties with the past and go against
the ‘collective wisdom’ of
hereditary monarchs
HZ
Divine Right Continued
● Paine borrows from Rousseau - man was born free and
hereditary, monarchical government is keeping him in
chains and stripping his rights
● Boasts about Republican governments in America (and
references to the struggles in France) to prove that
monarchical governments are regressive, not
progressive
● Implies that monarchical governments rule only
thinking about themselves, not the masses
HZ
Inalienable Rights
Inalienable Rights: rights that are unable to be taken away
from or given away by the possessor
“Men are born and always continue free, and equal in
respect of their rights.”
HM
Consent
● Both Paine and Locke had a heavy influence
on American government (Declaration of
Independence, Constitution)
● Paine borrows Locke’s concept of a
government needing consent to be
legitimate
● The republican system of government has
adopted the protection of inalienable rights,
in favour of keeping the masses happy
HZ
Consent Continued
“Sovereignty, as a matter of right,
appertains to the Nation only, and not to
any individual; and a Nation has at all times
an inherent indefeasible right to abolish any
form of government it finds inconvenient,
and establish such as accords with its
interest, disposition and happiness.” (469)
HZ
Consent Continued
● “Old World” governments didn’t think that the American
Republican system would work and are shocked that it
is producing positive results
o
Produces results because it has the consent of the people
● States there is a “barbarous
distinction” between Kings and
their subjects
HZ
Monarchy is Not Necessary for Success
“In this view of government, the republican system, as
established by America and France operates to embrace
the whole of a Nation; and the knowledge necessary to
the interest of all parts is to be found in the center.”
HM
Monarchy is Not Necessary for Success
Continued
“When we study the wretched condition of man under
the monarchical and hereditary system of
government...it becomes evident that those systems are
bad, and that a general revolution in the principle and
construction of government is necessary.”
HM
Monarchy is Not Necessary for Success
Continued
“All the monarchical governments are military. War is their trade, plunder and revenue their objects.”
All the
monarchies do
is start wars
Only call peace
because they are tired
of fighting each other
Don’t resolve
conflicts, they just
cause them
HM
Republicanism
Definition: Republicanism is the ideology of governing a society or state as a republic (la. res publica),
where the head of state is a representative of the people who hold popular sovereignty rather than the
people being subjects of the head of state.
RO
Republicanism Continued
● No King, elected individuals ran the country
● Country for the people by the people
● France and the United States of America being two
examples of Republics
● Was at the core of Paine’s writing
● Based on the idea that the people will make the right
decisions
● Often criticised with being inefficient and ignorant.
RO
Rebellion to Revolution
● Paine wanted to use The Rights of Man as a way to
change the perception of Revolutions around the world
seen not only in The Rights of Man but also in other
works such as The Crisis
● He wanted them to be seen as a change for the better
● He wanted to convince people to fight for their rights
RO
Rebellion to Revolution Continued
"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 their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and
thanks of man and woman." -The Crisis
RO
Pro-Change
● Believed in pro-change as long as it was in the interest
of society as a whole
o
Paine thought that change needed to benefit the group as a whole in order for it to be
acceptable

It could not benefit just one family or man
Community
Family
AH
Pro-Change Continued
● Believed that change, especially the change that came
from the American Revolution, was an act of nature
o
“...where the principles of universal reformation could begin, so also was it best in the
natural world. An assemblage of circumstances conspired, not only to give birth, but to add
gigantic maturity to its principles.”
AH
Pro-Change Continued
“Reason, like time, will make its
own way, and prejudice will fall in
a combat with interest. If
universal peace, civilization, and
commerce, are ever to be the
happy lot of man, it cannot be
accomplished but by a revolution
in the system of governments.”
(472)
AH
Pro-Change Continued
“The revolutions which formerly took place
in the world, had nothing in them that
interested the bulk of mankind. They
extended only to a change of persons and
measures, but not of principles, and rose
or fell among the common transactions of
the moment.” (472)
AH
Opposing Beliefs: Edmund Burke
- Believed that the French revolution was and would lead
to complete anarchy.
- Felt the French revolution was not the same as the
American revolution and it was just a way of being
different from British control. That it was just a
radical revolution to change old traditions
not an actual revolution like the American
revolution was.
TH
Discussion
Questions
Question 1
If you were in the shoes of an 18th century French Citizen,
how would you react to the Revolution?
RO
Question 2
Thomas Paine makes a lot of references to what the
Americans have done with their political system. Overall he
has nothing but praise for how the new nation handled their
revolution.
Is there anything that he purposely leaves out about the
American Revolution?
HM
Question 3
Not long ago, Scotland held a referendum to see if they
should continue to be a part of Great Britain. If Paine was
alive now, do you think he would have been pro- or antiseparation?
If he were to write another document regarding the
referendum, what sort of rights or laws do you think he
would touch on? Explain.
HZ
Question 4
Would Thomas Paine’s views expressed in his writing The
Rights of Man, work in today’s world? (Ex. Afghanistan)
explain your reasoning.
TH
Question 5
Are Thomas Paine’s opinions and views on
monarchical and tyrannical governments of the “old
world”, correct? Why or why not? Are there successful
“old world” governments in the modern day?
AH
Question 6
Americans are proud of themselves and very patriotic. Do
you think Paine’s ideas are still present in America today?
B
Question 7
In 500 years from now, will Thomas Paine’s ideas and
beliefs still be a relevant thing to look at or do you feel like
the ideas expressed in The Rights of Man will be obsolete
and no longer apply to that time? Explain.
TH
Glossary
Glossary Terms
Aggrandizement: verb – to make/appear greater; to
increase the status/wealth/power of
Alteration: noun - the action or process of altering or being
altered.
Antiquity: noun - the ancient past, esp. the period before
the Middle Ages; great age
Assemblage: noun - A collection or gathering of things or
people.
Barbarous: adjective - savagely cruel; exceedingly brutal.
Glossary Terms Continued
Contrivance: noun – something that is artificially and
cleverly created/imposed with the intention of having things
in a story happen in a way that does not seem
possible/believable
Disposition: noun - a person's inherent qualities of mind
and character • [ often with infinitive ] an inclination or
tendency
Dispossessed: verb [ with obj. ] - deprive (someone) of
something that they own, typically land or property
Glossary Terms Continued
Emolument: formal noun – a salary or return earned
through employment
Hessian: noun – a person living in the state of Hesse in
Western Germany
Ideals: noun - a standard of perfection; a principle to be
aimed at.
Indefeasible: adjective - not able to be lost, annulled, or
overturned.
Glossary Terms Continued
Intrigues: verb - [ with obj. ] arouse the curiosity or interest
of; fascinate
Miscarriage: noun - an unsuccessful outcome of
something planned
Redress: verb – to set right; to make up for; to enact
reparation for
Usurpation: verb – to take and hold (wealth, power, etc.)
that does not belong to you illegally or by force
Conclusion
●
●
●
●
●
●
Divine right
Consent
Monarchy is not necessary for success
Republicanism
Rebellion to revolution
Pro-change
BS