Thomas Paine: Thomas Paine: Master PropagandistMaster Propagandist

The Bill of Rights InstituteThe Bill of Rights InstituteMilwaukee, WIMilwaukee, WI

August 23, 2010August 23, 2010

Artemus WardArtemus WardDepartment of Political ScienceDepartment of Political Science

Northern Illinois University Northern Illinois University aeward@niu.eduaeward@niu.edu

Early YearsEarly Years► Paine was born in Thetford, England in Paine was born in Thetford, England in

1737. He failed out of school by age 12 1737. He failed out of school by age 12 and apprenticed for his father, a corset and apprenticed for his father, a corset maker.maker.

► He also served as a tax collector in He also served as a tax collector in England before meeting Benjamin England before meeting Benjamin Franklin who encouraged him to move Franklin who encouraged him to move to America. He arrived in 1774 and at to America. He arrived in 1774 and at age 37 became a citizen of age 37 became a citizen of Pennsylvania.Pennsylvania.

► Paine became an editor in Philadelphia Paine became an editor in Philadelphia just as the revolutionary movement just as the revolutionary movement gained national focus. He wrote gained national focus. He wrote newspaper articles on abolition, newspaper articles on abolition, women's rights, dueling, titles, and the women's rights, dueling, titles, and the freedom of British India before he freedom of British India before he turned his focus squarely on the turned his focus squarely on the American Revolution.American Revolution.

Common Sense Common Sense (1776)(1776)► Benjamin Rush suggested to Paine Benjamin Rush suggested to Paine

that he write a pamphlet broaching that he write a pamphlet broaching the subject of independence and the subject of independence and suggested the title “Common suggested the title “Common Sense.” Franklin, Sam Adams, and Sense.” Franklin, Sam Adams, and others read drafts and suggested others read drafts and suggested minor changes.minor changes.

► The book was published The book was published anonymously as “Written by and anonymously as “Written by and Englishman” in Jan. 1776 just after Englishman” in Jan. 1776 just after the revolution began. the revolution began.

► Yet it helped transform the terms of Yet it helped transform the terms of political debate – particularly among political debate – particularly among the masses. Paine wrote with the masses. Paine wrote with urgency, excitement, and bold urgency, excitement, and bold simplicity. His arguments were simplicity. His arguments were straightforward and uncomplicated straightforward and uncomplicated so that everyone from artisans to so that everyone from artisans to farmers could relate to his prose. farmers could relate to his prose.

Dr. Benjamin Rush

Common SenseCommon Sense: Republican : Republican IdealIdeal

► Begins with an analysis of the Begins with an analysis of the principles of govt. and an attack principles of govt. and an attack on hereditary rule and the on hereditary rule and the validity of the monarchy itself.validity of the monarchy itself.

►He promotes a “republican” He promotes a “republican” form of government with form of government with lawmakers elected by the lawmakers elected by the people.people.

►His use of he word “Republic” to His use of he word “Republic” to describe self-government by describe self-government by the people became widely used the people became widely used in America after he introduced in America after he introduced it in the book. it in the book.

Common SenseCommon Sense: : IndependenceIndependence

► Hen then turned to a discussion of Hen then turned to a discussion of independence, an issue that had been independence, an issue that had been mentioned sporadically in the press in 1775, mentioned sporadically in the press in 1775, but one which most colonists still refused to but one which most colonists still refused to confront.confront.

► Independence, he said, was inevitable. The only Independence, he said, was inevitable. The only question was how independence would come question was how independence would come "by the legal voice of the people in Congress; "by the legal voice of the people in Congress; by a military power; or by a mob.“by a military power; or by a mob.“

► He called for the creation of a continental He called for the creation of a continental legislature and new unicameral state legislature and new unicameral state assemblies based on a broad suffrage, popular assemblies based on a broad suffrage, popular representation through frequent elections, and representation through frequent elections, and a written constitution guaranteeing the rights of a written constitution guaranteeing the rights of persons and property and establishing freedom persons and property and establishing freedom of religion.of religion.

Common SenseCommon Sense: Impact: Impact► Common Sense Common Sense was immediately successful was immediately successful

and its impact was nothing short of and its impact was nothing short of astonishing.astonishing.

► It sold at least 100,000 copies in its first three It sold at least 100,000 copies in its first three months, was passed around, and read at months, was passed around, and read at taverns. It went through 25 editions and taverns. It went through 25 editions and reached literally hundreds of thousands of reached literally hundreds of thousands of readers in the single year 1776.readers in the single year 1776.

► As a percentage of the population, more people As a percentage of the population, more people read it than watch the Super Bowl each year.read it than watch the Super Bowl each year.

► Paine took no money for his effort. All of the Paine took no money for his effort. All of the proceeds went to the revolutionary cause.proceeds went to the revolutionary cause.

The American Crisis The American Crisis (1776-(1776-1783)1783)

► The CrisisThe Crisis is a collection of articles written during is a collection of articles written during the American Revolutionary War.the American Revolutionary War.

► They constitute Paine's ongoing support for an They constitute Paine's ongoing support for an independent and self-governing America through independent and self-governing America through the many severe crises of the Revolutionary War. the many severe crises of the Revolutionary War.

► General Washington found the first essay so General Washington found the first essay so inspiring, he ordered that it be read to the troops at inspiring, he ordered that it be read to the troops at Valley Forge.Valley Forge.

► Number 1 of this series is of particular historical Number 1 of this series is of particular historical interest, for it was written during Washington's interest, for it was written during Washington's retreat across the Delaware and by his order was retreat across the Delaware and by his order was read to his dispirited and suffering soldiers. The read to his dispirited and suffering soldiers. The opening sentence was adopted as the watchword of opening sentence was adopted as the watchword of the movement to Trenton: "These are the times the movement to Trenton: "These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis shrink from the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW, service of his country; but he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated."an article as freedom should not be highly rated."

The Rights of Man The Rights of Man (1791-(1791-1792)1792)

► Paine returned to England and wrote Paine returned to England and wrote The The Rights of ManRights of Man in response to criticism of in response to criticism of the French Revolution.the French Revolution.

► He argued that all men had an equal He argued that all men had an equal claim to political rights and that claim to political rights and that government depends on the rule of the government depends on the rule of the people. He suggested that democratic people. He suggested that democratic republics were the remedy for the republics were the remedy for the weaknesses of monarchy. Even more weaknesses of monarchy. Even more radically, he called for social programs to radically, he called for social programs to help the poor.help the poor.

► He was labeled an outlaw in England for He was labeled an outlaw in England for his anti-monarchist views and would his anti-monarchist views and would have been arrested, but he fled for have been arrested, but he fled for France as he had taken in interest in the France as he had taken in interest in the events of the French Revolution.events of the French Revolution.

The Age of Reason The Age of Reason (1794-1796)(1794-1796)► He was granted honorary French citizenship, He was granted honorary French citizenship,

was elected to the Revolutionary National was elected to the Revolutionary National Convention, and voted for a French Republic. Convention, and voted for a French Republic. But he did not endorse the execution of Louis But he did not endorse the execution of Louis XVI and was soon imprisoned. XVI and was soon imprisoned.

► During his imprisonment, he wrote what was as During his imprisonment, he wrote what was as to become his most famous work at the time, to become his most famous work at the time, The Age of ReasonThe Age of Reason (1794-96). (1794-96).

► He strongly condemned all organized religion, He strongly condemned all organized religion, and in particular Christianity, as series of and in particular Christianity, as series of “fabulous inventions.” Though he “fabulous inventions.” Though he acknowledged all are free to believe as they acknowledged all are free to believe as they wish, he wrote, “The only true religion is Deism, wish, he wrote, “The only true religion is Deism, by which I mean, the belief of one God, and an by which I mean, the belief of one God, and an imitation of his moral character, or the practice imitation of his moral character, or the practice of what are called moral virtues.”of what are called moral virtues.”

► He was freed in 1794 (narrowly escaping He was freed in 1794 (narrowly escaping execution) thanks to the efforts of James execution) thanks to the efforts of James Monroe, then U.S. Minister to France. Monroe, then U.S. Minister to France.

Final Final YearsYears

► Paine was upset that the American Paine was upset that the American government had not secured his release government had not secured his release sooner and in 1796 he wrote an open letter sooner and in 1796 he wrote an open letter insulting President George Washington. insulting President George Washington. Paine accused him of private betrayal of Paine accused him of private betrayal of their friendship and public hypocrisy as their friendship and public hypocrisy as General and President, and concluded the General and President, and concluded the letter by saying "the world will be puzzled to letter by saying "the world will be puzzled to decide whether you are an apostate or an decide whether you are an apostate or an impostor; whether you have abandoned impostor; whether you have abandoned good principles or whether you ever had good principles or whether you ever had any." any."

► Paine remained in France until 1802 when Paine remained in France until 1802 when he returned to America on an invitation from he returned to America on an invitation from President Thomas Jefferson. But he found President Thomas Jefferson. But he found that his contributions to the American that his contributions to the American Revolution had been all but eradicated due Revolution had been all but eradicated due to his religious views and his attack on to his religious views and his attack on Washington.Washington.

► Died on June 8, 1809 at the age of 72 in New Died on June 8, 1809 at the age of 72 in New York City.York City.

ConclusionConclusion

► Paine’s impassioned, straightforward writings Paine’s impassioned, straightforward writings played an important part in garnering played an important part in garnering popular support for the revolution in America.popular support for the revolution in America.

► But his work in England and France shows But his work in England and France shows that he thought about rights in a principled that he thought about rights in a principled way and not simply in the American context.way and not simply in the American context.

► Ultimately, Paine’s story demonstrates the Ultimately, Paine’s story demonstrates the importance of speaking directly to the people importance of speaking directly to the people and rallying popular support for political and rallying popular support for political change.change.