Thomas Paine, An American Revolutionary
The two most influential books of the Revolutionary era were written by Thomas Paine, an immigrant from England. Common Sense and The American Crisis shaped the American mindset like nothing else.
Tom Hand, creator and publisher of Americana Corner, discusses how Thomas Paine went from avoiding debtor’s prison to being quoted by George Washington, and why he still matters today.
Images courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery - Smithsonian Institution, Library of Congress, Wikipedia.
RELATED ARTICLES
The literary work most often credited with inspiring the American Revolution was a 47-page pamphlet called Common Sense. Published on January 10, 1776, and written by Thomas Paine, a recent immigrant from England, it caused everyday Americans to begin seriously thinking about an independent United States.