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'''Thomas Paine''' (Thetford, England, 1737 - New York City, 1809) was a [[political]] and [[religious]] writer born in Thetford, [[England]], who came to [[America]] in 1774.  His 1776 pamphlet ''"[[Common Sense]]"'' was a major cause of the American decision to [[Declaration of Independence|declare independence]] on July 2nd. It explained [[republicanism]] and the evils of having a king in very clear language. Selling an estimated 500,000 copies in colonial America where the total population was only 2.5 million,<ref>http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2013/01/thomas-paine-the-original-publishing-viral-superstar/</ref> and also read aloud in taverns and churches, ''Common Sense'' reached most of the attentive public in all 13 colonies.   

'''Thomas Paine''' (Thetford, England, 1737 - New York City, 1809) was a [[political]] and [[religious]] writer born in Thetford, [[England]], who came to [[America]] in 1774.  His 1776 pamphlet ''"[[Common Sense]]"'' was a major cause of the American decision to [[Declaration of Independence|declare independence]] on July 2nd. It explained [[republicanism]] and the evils of having a king in very clear language. Selling an estimated 500,000 copies in colonial America where the total population was only 2.5 million,<ref>http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2013/01/thomas-paine-the-original-publishing-viral-superstar/</ref> and also read aloud in taverns and churches, ''Common Sense'' reached most of the attentive public in all 13 colonies.   

Late in 1776 when the war was going poorly for the Patriots, General [[George Washington]] ordered that Paine’s inspirational ''"American Crisis"'' (1776) be read to his troops before the Battle of Trenton. Paine supported the Revolution, although he believed it did not go far enough.  He briefly lived in the rebelling colonies before returning to Europe in time to take part in the [[French Revolution]]. There he wrote ''"The Rights of Man"'' (1791).

Late in 1776 when the war was going poorly for the Patriots, General [[George Washington]] ordered that Paine’s inspirational ''"American Crisis"'' (1776) be read to his troops before the Battle of Trenton. Paine supported the Revolution, although he believed it did not go far enough.  He briefly lived in the rebelling colonies before returning to Europe in time to take part in the [[French Revolution]]. There he wrote ''"The Rights of Man"'' (1791).

Paine remained in France until 1802 when he returned to America on an invitation from [[Thomas Jefferson]]. Paine discovered that his contributions to the American Revolution had been all but eradicated due to his religious views. Derided by the public and abandoned by his friends, he died on June 8, 1809 at the age of 72 in New York City.<ref>[http://www.ushistory.org/paine/ Thomas Paine.]</ref>

Paine remained in France until 1802 when he returned to America on an invitation from [[Thomas Jefferson]]. Paine discovered that his contributions to the American Revolution had been all but eradicated due to his religious views. Derided by the public and abandoned by his friends, he died on June 8, 1809 at the age of 72 in New York City.<ref>[http://www.ushistory.org/paine/ Thomas Paine.]</ref>

== Religion ==

==Views on Religion==

Paine was a devout Deist, and slammed Christianity on many occasions. He authored a vulgar and blasphemous pamphlet "The Age of Reason" in which he goes on to describe Christianity a mere fraud and cult. This led to his public disownment, despite being one of the key founders of the United States of America.

Paine was a devout Deist, and slammed Christianity on many occasions. He authored a vulgar and blasphemous pamphlet "The Age of Reason" in which he goes on to describe Christianity a mere fraud and cult. This led to his public disownment, despite being one of the key founders of the United States of America.

*"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." from '' The American Crisis‎'' (1776)   

*"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." from '' The American Crisis‎'' (1776)   

* "He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself." (1795)<ref>Paine, "Dissertation on First Principles of Government," ''The Writings of Thomas Paine,'' ed. Moncure D. Conway, vol. 3, p. 277 (1895).</ref>

* "He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself." (1795)<ref>Paine, "Dissertation on First Principles of Government," ''The Writings of Thomas Paine,'' ed. Moncure D. Conway, vol. 3, p. 277 (1895).</ref>

==Works==

==Works==

* ''[[Common Sense]]'' - published in 1776, which challenged [[England|British]] authority over the colonies and spoke to the common people<ref>http://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/index.htm</ref>

* ''[[Common Sense]]'' - published in 1776, which challenged [[England|British]] authority over the colonies and spoke to the common people<ref>http://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/index.htm</ref>

* ''[[The Crisis]]'' - a series of articles published 1776-77 during the American Revolution<ref>http://www.ushistory.org/paine/crisis/index.htm</ref>

* ''[[The Crisis]]'' - a series of articles published 1776-77 during the American Revolution<ref>http://www.ushistory.org/paine/crisis/index.htm</ref>

* ''Agrarian Justice'' - (1795)

* ''Agrarian Justice'' - (1795)

* ''[[The Age of Reason]]'' -  published in three parts (1794, 1795 and 1807), an anti-religious text<ref>http://www.ushistory.org/paine/reason/index.htm</ref>

* ''[[The Age of Reason]]'' -  published in three parts (1794, 1795 and 1807), an anti-religious text<ref>http://www.ushistory.org/paine/reason/index.htm</ref>

== See also ==

== See also ==

   

   

==References==

==References==

==External links==

==External links==