Thomas Paine was an American Revolutionary writer whose work opened the eyes of Americans. He was born in Thetford, England on January 29,1737. He dies June 8,1809. Paine was a citizen of France, England, and America during his life. He was either extremely loved or extremely hated by people because of his strong and different opinions.
Thomas Paine published many very well known pamphlets. “Common Sense” is one of his most popular pamphlets because it influenced the Declaration of Independence to be made and signed. In three months, 100,000 copies of it were sold. His goal was to share his ideas and open the eyes of Americans about gaining independence from Great Britain. “The Crisis” written while a part of George Washington’s army, “The Rights of Man” written in England after The American War, and “Age of Reason” written during The Reign of Terror were what gave Thomas Paine such a controversial reputation. Thomas Paine’s mother was a poor corset maker and his father, unlike Paine, was a Quaker. At the age of thirteen, he was an apprentice for corset making. He later left home at nineteen and worked odd jobs for seventeen years. After having two marriages ending both in divorce, the only thing that helped Paine’s depression was writing. After Benjamin Franklin met and loved Thomas Paine in London, he wrote
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He moved to France where he was elected to the National Convention. After he served in Washington’s army in 1777, he was named secretary of its committee on foreign affairs. He later reigned from secretary in 1779, and he was made clerk of Pennsylvania Assembly. He also spoke on behalf of America when he was a member of American diplomatic mission to France in 1781. Because of writing “Age of Reason” while in prison, his rejection of orthodox religion made him unpopular. He died sick, poor, and socially rejected seven years