Thomas Paine’s place in American History is secure but that wasn’t always the case. He died in relative obscurity after having made the mistake of taking on the Federalists, who viciously attacked Paine. Also, his mistaken commitment to the French Revolution also contributed to his downfall. Though always a friend to Thomas Jefferson, when Paine returned to America he was not beloved. I have to write a five- page paper on Paine this weekend and it centers on (as instructed by our professor), of course, his famous pamphlet “Common Sense.” We are to quote directly from the text and in doing so are to present an argument for or against its ability to persuade colonials and why? This way we convey our understanding of the pamphlet, as well as other readings. We have to come up with some unique argument. I have to admit that I am not sure how to approach this. It seems so simplistic yet finding that door into it has proved arduous. Note: I have two books here I am recommending to you (right, and bottom left).
Thomas Paine’s popularity today among historians and readers of early American history has numerous origins. It’s not hard to imagine why? He never owned slaves and immediately on his arrival (late 1774) denounced slavery and even joined Benjamin Franklin as a member of Franklin’s anti-slavery society. Paine also was an outspoken critic of the English Crown, parliament and its corruption, but most importantly for modern social historians, he was an advocate of the poor, the downtrodden. His ability to offer clarity, context, and relevance to the debate over separation from the mother country of England for the colonists was essential to the popularity of his famous pamphlet, “Common Sense.” His words would have inspired those Revolutionaries already decidedly for independence, and the simplicity and force of his argument would have swayed those who were “on the fence.” The Loyalists would have, most likely, stayed loyal regardless of Paine’s argument.
I am reading several books on Paine which I highlight here and highly recommend. I am also reading a few other books of note and I share those as well. Everything right now is pretty crazy with 2 graduate classes and a full load of classes I am teaching. The end is in sight however, with just a few more weeks of school to go!
