Thomas Paine: The Revolutionary Voice of Common sense
Thomas Paine, a pivotal figure in both the American and French Revolutions, was an English-born political philosopher, writer, and revolutionary whose works galvanized the movement for American independence. Born on February 9, 1737 (O.S. January 29, 1736), in Thetford, Norfolk, Paine’s contributions to political thought and revolutionary activism established him as a foundational force in the struggle for democratic governance and human rights.
Casey Adams
2/1/20252 min read


Early Life and Immigration to America
Paine was born into a modest Quaker family, receiving limited formal education but developing a keen intellect and strong political awareness.
He worked various jobs, including as a corset maker, excise officer, and privateer, but found little success.
His fortunes changed when he met Benjamin Franklin in London.
Franklin recognized Paine’s potential, and encouraged him to immigrate to the American colonies, providing letters of introduction that facilitated his transition.
Paine arrived in Philadelphia in 1774, a time of mounting tensions between Britain and its American colonies.
Common Sense and the Call for Independence
Paine published Common Sense in 1776, a 47-page pamphlet that became one of the most influential works of the American Revolution.
Written in clear, accessible language, Common Sense argued for immediate independence from Britain.
It condemned monarchy and hereditary rule while advocating for a democratic republic.
Paine’s persuasive reasoning resonated with a wide audience, from common laborers to elite statesmen, significantly shifting public opinion in favor of breaking from British rule.
His work is often credited with helping to crystallize the push for the Declaration of Independence later that year.
The American Crisis and Revolutionary Morale
During the darkest days of the Revolutionary War, Paine continued his literary activism.
His American Crisis pamphlet series (1776–1783) provided essential moral and ideological support for the struggling Continental Army.
The opening lines of the first pamphlet—“These are the times that try men's souls”—became an enduring rallying cry.
George Washington found the pamphlet so inspiring that he ordered it read to his troops at Valley Forge, bolstering their morale at a crucial moment in the war.
Advocacy in the French Revolution and Rights of Man
After the American Revolution, Paine traveled to France and became involved in the French Revolution.
His Rights of Man (1791), a defense of the revolution’s principles against the criticisms of Edmund Burke, championed democracy, natural rights, and social equality.
The work was widely celebrated in revolutionary France but condemned in Britain, leading to Paine’s conviction in absentia for seditious libel in 1792.
During his time in France, Paine served in the National Convention but found himself at odds with radicals like Maximilien Robespierre.
He was imprisoned during the Reign of Terror (1793–1794) and narrowly escaped execution.
While in prison, he wrote The Age of Reason (1794–1807), a deist critique of organized religion that sparked significant controversy.
Later Years and Legacy
After his release, Paine returned to the United States in 1802 at the invitation of President Thomas Jefferson.
However, his final years were marked by hardship and declining public esteem.
His critiques of Christianity in The Age of Reason alienated many former allies, and he died largely forgotten on June 8, 1809, in New York.
Only a handful of people attended his funeral.
Despite his fall from public favor in his later years, Paine’s legacy as a revolutionary thinker and advocate for human rights endures.
His writings laid the intellectual groundwork for modern freedom principles, inspiring worldwide movements for independence and reform from tyrannical rule.
Today, he is remembered as a fearless champion of liberty whose words continue to echo in the struggle for freedom and justice.
Thomas Paine

