Thomas Paine
lectors’ movement for higher salaries. He suffered a series of setbacks: The movement failed, he was fi red for leaving his post, his tobacco shop became bankrupt, and his wife left him. In 1774, while in London, Paine met BENJAMIN FR ANKLIN, who helped him emigrate to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where Paine ventured into journalism. He published an antislavery tract and became coeditor of the Pennsylvania Magazine. From February to September 1775, Paine worked as an editor and contributed poems and essays of his own. These early writings were already establishing the foundation for his later more political writings. For the magazine, Paine wrote articles about the latest inventions; later Paine himself would be the inventor of an iron bridge, smokeless candle, and several other items. In addition to covering the newest inventions, he wrote articles on social issues that interested him such as calling for the humane treatment of animals and urging equal civil rights (but not suffrage) for women. Paine was extremely vocal in his political beliefs. In one of his own articles, which he published on March 8, 1775, Paine advocated the abolition of slavery. In April 1775, he helped found one of the fi rst abolitionist societies. He also criticized the colonists for complaining about Britain’s enslaving them whereas many of the colonists kept their own slaves. Through his association with the magazine, Paine met Benjamin Rush, who was a friend of JOHN A DAMS and other members of Congress. These individuals were already contemplating the idea of a free and independent America. Benjamin Rush was the person who suggested to Paine that he write a pamphlet on the subject of the colonies’ separating from England. Rush was concerned with how the pamphlet would be accepted so he cautioned Paine to avoid the terms independence and republicanism (Freed 74). Paine disregarded the warning. At fi rst, no publisher would agree to set the pamphlet in print, but fi nally Robert Bell agreed. Paine wanted to title the pamphlet Plain Truth, but Rush suggested the name Common Sense (Foner 75). The pamphlet was published on January 10,
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1776, and quickly became popular. Common Sense actually began with “an analysis of the principles of government and an attack on hereditary rule and the validity of monarchy, not with a discussion of America’s relations with Britain” (Foner 75). Without Common Sense to sway public opinion, most historians now agree, the American rebellion would have failed from lack of popular support. THOMAS JEFFERSON reportedly was inspired by Paine’s essay when writing the Declaration of Independence. In 1777 Paine joined the army and served as an aide to one of George Washington’s generals. While at Valley Forge, Paine wrote The American Crisis, which had a significant positive impact on the soldiers’ morale. In April 1777 Congress appointed Paine as secretary of its foreign affairs committee, which included Indian affairs. In 1780 Paine wrote Public Good, a text that further explored the themes in Common Sense. Public Good explains Paine’s disagreement with Virginia’s claims to western land. In 1787 Paine returned to Europe and spent the next four years traveling in Britain and France. While in France, Paine published the fi rst part of The Rights of Man (1791), a doctrine banned by the English government and William Pitt, the leader of the Tories, because it supported the French Revolution. The book criticized the idea of monarchies and other European social institutions. Paine further argued for the ideal of a republic governed under a constitution with a bill of rights, elected leaders serving limited terms, and a judiciary accountable to the general public. He urged equal suffrage for all males. Paine wrote and published part 2 of The Rights of Man in 1792. “Paine declared that governments exist to guard the natural rights of people unable to ensure their rights without that government’s help. The four inalienable rights he named are Liberty, Property, Security, and Resistance to Oppression.” Paine further argued that because in God’s eyes all men are equal, every generation had the right to establish a political system that satisfied its needs. “Paine argued rationally that all men had an equal claim to political rights and that government must rest on the ultimate sovereignty of the people. He