Page 157 - Beers With Our Founding Fathers

A Patriot’s view of the history and direction of our Country

Thomas Paine
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January 29 1737 to June 8 1809
Revolutionary, Essayist

Thomas Paine was different from other revolutionaries. He was

born in England and did not move to the American Colonies until
1774. His contribution to our history is simple, and well known,

authoring an essay simply known as 'Common Sense'. This essay

was essential in swaying the undecided colonists in supporting
independence – their own independence – from England. He
contended that revolting against unfair taxation was not enough,

but that complete independence was necessary. He expanded the

original short essay into the fifty pages, and best-selling, 'Common
Sense' we are familiar with.

Paine was a prolific writer before his more famous essay, and
continued writing after our Country's independence. In 1787 he

returned to Europe by way of France. There, as the French
Revolution was taking hold, he wrote 'Rights of Man', his defense of

the French Revolution. In 1794, while imprisoned in France, he
began a thesis, completed after his release, concerning religion and

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