Thomas paine and his contribution to revolution essay

Thomas Paine and his Contribution to RevolutionThe life of Thomas Paine reminds us of the famous adage, “ The pen is mightier than the sword.” Though Thomas Paine was an Englishman by birth, his concerns were about all mankind. According to him “ Universal empire is the prerogative of the writer” (Vickers, 2006, p. 90).

After coming to America in 1774, he inspired and convinced his fellow Americans with his writings to take up arms in the battles of Lexington and Concord in April, 1775. His pamphlet set the American Colonies on flame (Vickers, 2006, p. 83). His work Common Sense comprises not only mere words but possesses the power to influence people. Common Sense came at the right time when the Americans were at crossroads with reconciliation became a high debate and when the Continental Congress disapproved a complete separation.

Common Sense and American Crisis very well reflect Thomas Paine’s patriotic feelings and they were donated to the war. The Americans were taken by Common Sense for it denounced the evil ways of monarchy and showed interest in republicanism. He expressed a need for humanitarianism in government. This rightly set the path for freedom in America (Vickers, 2006, p. 92). Paine joined the continental army and served as aide-de-camp for general’s Nathaniel Greene and George Washington. He was nominated to the Continental Congress as a sectary to the committee for foreign affairs.

Later, the American Revolution proved that ordinary men could do extraordinary things (Vickers, 2006, p. 6). According to Paine, “ My attachment is to all the world, and not to any particular part.” (Vickers, 2006, p.

90). This thought and his principles of liberty, equality and fraternity earned him the French citizenship to start his mission of freeing mankind from the fetters of political and religious tyrannies in France. The Rights of Man won him great admiration not only in France but also in America and in Great Britain. Paine condemned the execution of Louis XVI and his queen Marie Antoinette. He continued to defend his beliefs and championed humanitarian causes until 1806.

He was revered as the founding father of America. He is supposed to be kept in high esteem like George Washington and John Adams had it not been for his work Age of Reason that showed him to the world as an atheist (Vickers, 2006, p. 3).                                          References Vickers, V.

J. (2006). My pen and my soul have ever gone together”: Thomas Paine and the American Revolution. New York: Routledge. The History Guide.

Lectures on modern European intellectual history. Retrieved 20, June 2009 from  http://www. historyguide. org/intellect/paine. html