Thomas Paine :: essays research papers

Thomas PaineIn September of 1776, on the outskirts of Newark, among the tired,discouraged, soldiers, as they paused from their effortless retreat, sat Thomas Paine.He wrote many papers that would have a major effect on the outcome of the questfor emancipation. Born the countersign of a Quaker Laymaker on January 29th, 1737 atThetford, Norfolk England. He received a basic elementary education, and startedto work for his father as an apprentice, and later as an coin officer. He wasnot a huge success at either, and was in fact fired twice from the job as anexcise officer. When he arrived in Philadelphia on November 30th 1774,he was sick and feverish, and had to be carried on a stretcher. With a letter ofrecommendation from Ben Franklin, he was judge into a hospital and givenspecial care, until he recovered. With that same letter from Ben Franklin, hefound many doors opened for him, including jobs tutoring many of the sons of thewealthiest men in Philadelphia.Paine started over aga in, by publishing African Slavery In America, inthe spring of 1775, in which he criticized slavery in America as being unjustand inhumane. At about this same time, he became the co-editor for the pascal Magazine. When he arrived in Philadelphia, Paine noticed thetension, and the rebellious attitude, that was continually getting larger, afterwardsthe Boston Tea Party.In Paines opinion, the Colonies had all the right to revolt against agovernment that imposed taxes on them, and which did not give them the right of delegation in the Parliament at Westminster. Then he went one extensive stepfurther, he decided there was no reason for the Colonies to halt dependent onEngland. He published his opinions in the American independence pamphlet CommonSense.In Common Sense Paine states that sooner or later Independence fromEngland must come, because America had lost touch with the catch country. Hefelt that the function of government in society was to scarcely be a regulator, andthus prett y simple. His strong beliefs made him a major influence on theDeclaration Of Independence. He joined everyday Washington in his battle against General Howe in theWar of Independence. Where he motivated many downhearted soldiers who neededreassurance. The retreating of General Washingtons army was a slow, dailyaffair. Being an Englishman himself, Paine knew that the British enemy, wouldnot take the Revolutionary forces seriously and was familiar with tactics of theEnglish soldiers, and could advise the Revolutionary Army of what was to be expected.The English were polite in the way that they did not bang at night.