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[[image:Thomaspaine.jpeg|200px|thumb|Engraving of Thomas Paine]]
[[image:Thomaspaine.jpeg|200px|thumb|Engraving of Thomas Paine]]
'''Thomas Paine''' (1737-1809) was a political and religious writer born in Thetford, [[England]], who came to America in 1774. His pamphlet "Common Sense" in 1776 was a major cause of the American decision to [[Declaration of Independence|declare independence]] in July 1776. It explained [[republicanism]] and the evils of having a king in very clear language. Selling over 100,000 copies and read aloud in taverns and churches, it reached most of the attentive public in all 13 colonies.
'''Thomas Paine''' (1737-1809) was a [[political]] and [[religious]] writer born in Thetford, [[England]], who came to [[America]] in 1774. His pamphlet "Common Sense" in 1776 was a major cause of the American decision to [[Declaration of Independence|declare independence]] in July 1776. It explained [[republicanism]] and the evils of having a king in very clear language. Selling over 100,000 copies and read aloud in taverns and churches, it 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]]. His later writings promoted [[Deism]] and were highly controversial.
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]]. His later writings promoted [[Deism]] and were highly controversial.