Thomas Paine’s Significance in the American Revolution
“He lived long, did some good and much harm.” Those were the words that were written on Thomas Paine’s obituary notice printed in the New York Citizen, a popular newspaper in the early nineteenth century. During his life, few had recognized his importance during the American Revolution, and even today, he remains unknown to the average citizen. Despite his influential publication of Common Sense which inspired the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine was never fully recognized for his contributions during the American Revolution. Thomas Paine convinced the colonists to declare independence, inspired the Continental Army, and contributed to the foundation of freedom and liberty of the Declaration of Independence.
Few people made a greater contribution than Thomas Paine in making independence possible. Thomas Paine arrived at Philadelphia on November 30, 1774. Upon his arrival in the colonies, he sensed that there were growing tensions, and feelings of rebellion that was steadily rising since the Boston Tea Party. Hence, after he witnessed the fighting in Lexington and Concord, he felt that independence from England was imminent and unavoidable. Published anonymously in January 1776, Common Sense was the first published work which criticized the British form of government and argued for separation. This political pamphlet was the bestselling work in 18th century America, with approximately more than 500 000 copies spread among the four million inhabitants. It convinced many colonists, who previously were loyal subjects to King George III, to declare independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Paine stated that all his arguments were based on “nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense,” and to never settle for anything short of independence.
During the Continental Army’s struggling times in the midst of the Revolutionary war, Thomas Paine published several works to uplift the soldier’s spirit. The most famous of these pamphlets was the Crisis. This pamphlet was so inspiring that George Washington ordered it to be read to his troops soon after it was published. It began with these famous words that described the soldier’s feelings and the start of the American Revolution:
These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. [1]
Thomas Paine’s philosophy on government structure had direct impact in the writing of the Declaration of Independence. In Common Sense, Thomas Paine envisioned a government where the people held supreme power by electing their representatives. This would later become the backbone of the Declaration of Rights in the Declaration of Independence. He described his hope for a truly free nation where all men are equal, and their rights cannot be taken away by anyone. A loyal friend to Thomas Jefferson, the two discussed the idea of natural rights which were rights, freedoms and privileges that are a basic part of human nature which cannot be taken away. In the Declaration of Independence, these rights included, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
By convincing the colonists to seek independence, boosting the spirits of the Continental army, and contributing to the free and liberal basis of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Paine was an influential figure during the American Revolution. Without Thomas Paine and his publication of political works such as Common Sense and the Crisis, there may not have been an American Revolution. It was Common Sense that inspired the colonists in separating from the Great Britain instead of seeking for reconciliation and made these loyalists become patriots, fighting against the crown for their independence.
[1] Thomas Paine. “The Crisis” (Philadelphia: 1777) 1