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THOMAS PAINE, MORE THAN COMMON SENSE Essay

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Thomas Paine is undoubtedly one of the most prolific founding fathers of the United States, albeit not in the manner most would expect from a founding father. Paine was not a drafter of the constitution, nor was he an early member of Congress or President of the United States. However, Paine did have a profound impact on society, not only in America, but also abroad. Often remembered for helping spur the American Revolution, yet not as often remembered for the other revolution in France. Two of the more famous writings from Paine are, of course, Common Sense and The Rights of Man, both of which were written during revolutionary times in separate countries. It goes without saying that when a revolution is taking place there will be many on …show more content…

As a result of this relationship with Franklin, Paine was given a job as “the editor of the Pennsylvania Magazine” where he took a foray into “radical journalism.” Coming to America in 1774 right before the American Revolution and starting into radical journalism assuredly set the stage for Paine. However, Paine could not have known the attention Common Sense would garner among Americans. Especially considering the political climate of the time; in 1775 Congress extended the “Olive Branch Petition” to try and reconcile and even late into 1776 George Washington was backtracking while claiming “there was not a moment during the revolution when I would not have given everything I ever possessed for a restoration to the state of things before the contest began.” Despite all of this, Thomas Paine published Common Sense in January of 1776 touting the much different idea of independence, not just independence, but also a complete denouncement of England and their tyrannical ways. Paine went in the exact opposite direction of Congress and Washington in Common Sense, going so far as to call George III a “French bastard” and a “very paltry rascally original” while claiming the royal lineage was founded on fables. Not content with only this, Paine went farther and made clear throughout Common Sense that independence from England was the only option and “nothing but independence…can keep the peace of the continent

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