Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine was one of the most influential figures in the founding of the United States. Born in England in 1737, he arrived in America in 1774 at Benjamin Franklin's encouragement, just as tensions between the colonies and Britain were reaching a breaking point. His pamphlet "Common Sense," published in 1776, became an instant sensation, selling over 150,000 copies and helping to crystallize public opinion in favor of independence. As John Adams noted: "Without the pen of Paine, the sword of Washington would have been wielded in vain."

Paine was not just a writer but a revolutionary activist who participated in three major revolutions - the American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the movement for British parliamentary reform. During the darkest days of the American Revolution, his series "The American Crisis" helped sustain morale among Washington's troops and the general public. His opening words "These are the times that try men's souls" became a rallying cry for the revolutionary cause. In France, he served in the National Convention and narrowly escaped execution during the Reign of Terror.

Beyond his revolutionary activities, Paine was a profound political philosopher whose ideas about democracy, human rights, and social justice were far ahead of his time. His later works like "Rights of Man" and "Age of Reason" challenged traditional authority and advocated for democratic principles, religious freedom, and social welfare. Paine's impact on philosophy and politics helped shape the age of democratic revolutions and continues to reverberate through modern political thought. (Adapted from the Bordentown Historical Society)

Thomas Paine Collection at Liberty Online

Common Sense (1776). A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776 that argued for American independence from Britain.

Age of Reason (1794). A book written by Thomas Paine in 1794 that argued for the importance of reason and logic in understanding the world.

The American Crisis (1776-1783). A series of pamphlets written during the American Revolution that inspired American troops and patriots with their passionate defense of independence and criticism of British rule.

Buy Books by Thomas Paine

Common Sense

"These are the times that try men's souls," begins Thomas Paine's Common Sense, the impassioned pamphlet that helped ignite the American Revolution. Published in Philadelphia in January of 1776, Common Sense sold 150,000 copies almost immediately. A powerful piece of propaganda, it attacked the idea of a hereditary monarchy, dismissed the chance for reconciliation with England, and outlined the economic benefits of independence while espousing equality of rights among citizens. Paine fanned a flame that was already burning, but many historians argue that his work unified dissenting voices and persuaded patriots that the American Revolution was not only necessary, but an epochal step in world history.

Common Sense (Dover Thrift Edition)

Written in 1776, this is the classic Dover Thrift Edition of Thomas Paine's enormously influential pamphlet that helped ignite the American Revolution. A passionate and persuasive text, it denounces the monarchy and makes a compelling case for American independence. This affordable edition makes this foundational text accessible to students and general readers.

The Age of Reason

The Age of Reason, Thomas Paine's masterful defense of free thought and secular philosophy, represents one of the most controversial and influential works of religious criticism in American history. Published in three parts between 1794 and 1807, Paine challenges organized religion and argues for reason and scientific inquiry as the path to understanding the natural world and divine truth. Though controversial in its time for its criticism of established religious institutions and traditional religious beliefs, it remains a foundational text in the development of American religious freedom and secular thought.

Thomas Paine: Collected Writings

A collection of the work of Thomas Paine, the democratic voice of the Age of Revolution, includes Common Sense, The American Crisis, Rights of Man, and The Age of Reason, plus letters and prophetic articles.