Paine in life never used “Tom” as his name, neither did friends and acquaintances. His signature was “T Paine.” Public use of “Tom” started in the slanderous 1790s disinformation campaign of the British government. American political enemies picked it up, chiefly the Federalists and the churches.
Say Thomas Paine, Not ‘Tom’ Read Post »
The Beacon, a freethought journal by Gilbert Vale (1788-1866) was a pivotal, influential social and political publication in the mid-19th century, publishing 587 issues from 1836 to 1851. In the mid-19th century, The Beacon helped to forge a movement against the age’s undemocratic forces.
Gilbert Vale and The Beacon Read Post »
Calculations are objective, there is no room to introduce prejudices. Such a methodology to analyze text was developed by the Institute for Thomas Paine Studies: to make use of proven methods of comparing author features, they took these methods and combined them.
Computer Text Analysis of Thomas Paine’s Writings Read Post »
In 1965, a noted historian, Forest MacDonald, wrote a textbook on the creation of the Republic, E Pluribus Unum. He is known for his rationalizing of slavery, ultra-conservatism, and apologist for all things Southern. But he got one thing right.
Forest MacDonald: An Historian Reveals His Soul Read Post »
Immigration to America was a major impetus for the American Revolution, both physically and intellectually. Thomas Paine welcomed immigrants who were escaping tyranny. In 1776, he wrote in Common Sense, the manifesto of the American Revolution:
Thomas Paine on Immigrants and America as an “Asylum for Mankind” Read Post »
Our Association was founded in 1884, and the founders were from various organizations, all of which were opposed to the Comstock Act. The Comstock Act was created to combat “obscenity”, dodging the idea that the Comstock Act was in itself obscene to democracy.
TPNHA and the Comstock Act Read Post »
While I beheld with pleasure the dawn of liberty rising in Europe, I saw with regret the lustre of it fading in America. In less than two years from the time of my departure some distant symptoms painfully suggested the idea that the principles of the Revolution were expiring.
Thomas Paine on the U.S. Constitution Read Post »
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense begins with a discussion on government; in fact, the content of it in general is about a new form of government. It is a manifesto for a new era, arising from the political economy that is emerging, hampered by feudalism.
O’Connor, although he inherited an estate and was a member of the Irish Parliament, was an advocate for women’s rights, supported emancipation of Catholics although a Protestant, and independence from England. When he joined the United Irishmen fighting the British occupation of Ireland, he was arrested.
Arthur O’Connor’s Clever Poem Read Post »
The only reference to Thomas Paine made by Bob Dylan is the 1967 “As I Went Out One Morning”, on the John Wesley Harding album. I started reading Paine after I heard that song. However, every analysis I read about the song only confused me.
Thomas Paine and Bob Dylan Read Post »
The 19th century history books were steeped in prejudice against Paine, driven by political and theistical bias, largely rooted in fake news, incomplete facts, and the myth of the founding. That myth of the founding puts the Federalist Party as the Founding Party.
On Bernard Bailyn, part 2 Read Post »
The Truth Seeker is the oldest, and most influential, continuous, freethought publication in the world. The Thomas Paine National Historical Association was formed as a result of the Truth Seeker magazine: nine of the sixteen founders of TPNHA were involved in the magazine.
2023 Marks the 150th Anniversary of The Truth Seeker Read Post »
