FAQs Archives

Was Thomas Paine a “failure” before coming to America?

Thomas Paine Historical Association — Mon, 05 May 2025 07:29:40 +0000

Far from it. Paine had several occupations, most notably as an excise officer. However his abilities were used far beyond that position. For example, he was the only Councilman to serve in Lewes, England (an important commerce and redistribution center) for 6 straight years. This required political connections with the Whigs who controlled that area of southern England. He also had friends in the Whig aristocracy who would later provide boarding for him on his return to England in 1787. So he was hardly a failure. He was dismissed as an excise officer after leading their movement for labor rights, the price for standing up on principle which he continued throughout his life. These assertions of “failure” come from the same sources as many invented slanders, like drinking or being unkempt. And they are passed down by many writers and historians without real investigation. Unfortunately, the progressive supporters of Paine had a hand in this disinformation – Howard Fast’s Citizen Paine embraced the negative characterizations of Paine in an attempt to make him a working class hero. Recent research has shown that Paine was very well connected to the leading Whigs in the 1760s, and this is where he learned his craft of writing, with many essays being written by him in collaboration with these same Whigs.

The post Was Thomas Paine a “failure” before coming to America? appeared first on Thomas Paine Historical Association.

Was Thomas Paine a socialist?

Thomas Paine Historical Association — Mon, 05 May 2025 07:29:40 +0000

If by "socialist" we mean a state-supported welfare system to ensure the poor and working poor lead comfortable lives, then yes. Paine supported a social welfare state. If by "socialist" we mean that wealth is produced by the working classes (in his day the farmers and the mechanics) and that they should reap the benefits of that wealth, then yes as well. (Paine had a labor-theory of value). But if by "socialist" we mean the definition it was to gain some 20-30 years after his death, ie. that the working classes control the means of production through the state, then probably not. Those ideas and even the language around them had not come into use during Paine's lifetime. In his era capitalist forces were just taking shape, and he did not foresee some aspects of that. In reference to "socialism" in that light, he would have no clear grasp of the issues involved. He did support the program of Babeuf in the French Revolution, but opposed his methods. (The word "communism" was coined by Goodwyn Barmby in a conversation with those he described as the "disciples of Babeuf".) So all in all, he seems to have supported, and advocated for, many of the tenets of what people later referred to as "socialism." Paine was a theoretical precursor to socialist theory, as Edmund Burke was a precursor to conservative theory. The theoretical foundation of Paine's political thought was "equality", while Burke's foundation was "order."

The post Was Thomas Paine a socialist? appeared first on Thomas Paine Historical Association.

Was Thomas Paine an American citizen?

Thomas Paine Historical Association — Mon, 05 May 2025 07:29:40 +0000

Yes. He was born in England, emigrated to the American colonies and became a citizen (took an oath to the country as an officer of the Army, and served in its government), and then was adopted by France with an honorary citizenship as well. For complete details see Thomas Paine's Citizenship Record under Articles & […]

The post Was Thomas Paine an American citizen? appeared first on Thomas Paine Historical Association.

Was Thomas Paine an anarchist?

Thomas Paine Historical Association — Mon, 05 May 2025 07:29:40 +0000

No. Although many have tried to make that case (including an ex-President of this Association, William van der Weyde), Paine believed the government's role should be for promoting the general happiness and well-being of the people. In Agrarian Justice and Rights of Man he outlined the principles that would become the basis of the welfare state, help for the poor, aged, and young. He supported taxation of the rich to fund these programs. He also fought for a strong central government based on his principles of human rights. The phrase "at best, government is a necessary evil" is often misinterpreted: only the "evil" part is elaborated, and the "necessary" part is given short shrift. Paine's central tenet was to apply Enlightenment principles to government, make government democratic, and use government to make social and even economic changes. Anarchism dismisses and opposes all government.

The post Was Thomas Paine an anarchist? appeared first on Thomas Paine Historical Association.

What is Paine‘s position on the separation of church and state?

Thomas Paine Historical Association — Mon, 05 May 2025 07:29:40 +0000

Since Paine believed that all organized religion was a tool to monopolize power and profit and to oppress the people, his belief in the separation of church and state was vehement. Witnessing first hand England's use of the church to wield the king's power, he learned early on to keep religion out of government and maintained that position throughout his life. He influenced many Founders, including Jefferson, during the Revolution, and his writings led to this basic tenet in the American creed. Simply put: Paine emphasized reason as the means to effective government, and showed in The Age of Reason – Part I and elsewhere that organized religion was man-made and unreasonable.

The post What is Paine‘s position on the separation of church and state? appeared first on Thomas Paine Historical Association.

Did Paine die penniless?

Thomas Paine Historical Association — Mon, 05 May 2025 07:29:40 +0000

Like the "disheveled drunk" slander, this is not supported by fact. This slander was part of the propaganda to destroy his reputation because his enemies could not destroy the content and influence of his writings. The farm he owned in New Rochelle was substantial, and he rented it out for cultivation. The money in the bank, and stock he owned in a bank, and the farm were given to the Bonnevilles, who later divided it up and sold it. He could afford rent and care at the end of his life to the same degree that most could, including dedicated friends to look after him, but he ran short of cash now and again. This slander is part of the cruelty shown towards him, as Paine refused payments for his works to maintain his objectivity, and his refusal of riches was turned upside down to attack him.

The post Did Paine die penniless? appeared first on Thomas Paine Historical Association.

What was Paine’s role in the American Revolution?

Thomas Paine Historical Association — Mon, 05 May 2025 07:29:40 +0000

Paine was the only leading Founder who served in both the military and the government during the Revolution. But more than that, it was Paine's Common Sense that transformed a tax rebellion into a social and political revolution. Paine provided the ideology of the American Revolution: an end to monarchy, establish a system of representative democracy, and the establishment of an independent and free America. As the Revolution faltered, in December 1776, Paine wrote the American Crisis and turned the tide and filled the ranks of the Continental Army, where he was serving as an officer, and was the voice of the Americans throughout the Revolution in the other Crisis papers. He later became the secretary to committee on foreign affairs, and personally brought the crucial support of France into the fight.

The post What was Paine’s role in the American Revolution? appeared first on Thomas Paine Historical Association.

Did Paine write these quotes?

Thomas Paine Historical Association — Mon, 05 May 2025 07:29:40 +0000

The following quotes are NOT from Thomas Paine:

“Lead, follow, or get out of the way.” This quote does not exist in the Paine corpus, and seems to have its origin in the 20th century.

“Reputation is what other people think of us. Character is what God knows of us.” This quote is from a book by Shannon L. Alder.

“The government that governs best governs least.” This is from Henry David Thoreau, who borrowed it from the cover of the journal Democratic Review, 1837-1859.

“The duty of a patriot is to protect his country from its government.” This is from Edward Abbey in A Voice Crying in the Wilderness, pg.19. And the actual quote is “A patriot must be ready to defend his country from his government.” The version presented here is the one used on the Internet.

“Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property… Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them.” This quote is in Thoughts on Defensive War in Foner’s Complte Works of Thomas Paine, however there is a question, at this point, as to whether this is Paine’s writing.

The post Did Paine write these quotes? appeared first on Thomas Paine Historical Association.

What was Paine’s role in the French Revolution?

Thomas Paine Historical Association — Mon, 05 May 2025 07:29:40 +0000

Paine played a similar role in the French Revolution to that in the American Revolution. His Common Sense was translated into French and was widely read, which greatly spurred on the forces against monarchy and for democracy. He wrote Rights of Man in defense of the French Revolution against the attacks of England, and he was greeted in France as a hero and elected to the Assembly. There he took a leading role in writing the French Constitution and fought for universal suffrage. But he lost that fight, was sentenced to death, and barely escaped execution. Rights of Man became the vehicle which spread the ideals of the French Revolution around the world. Many of his most significant and impactful works were done in France in the 1790s.

The post What was Paine’s role in the French Revolution? appeared first on Thomas Paine Historical Association.

Did Thomas Paine live in Bordentown?

Thomas Paine Historical Association — Mon, 05 May 2025 07:29:40 +0000

Bordentown is the only place in the world where Paine bought property. He was given a farm in New Rochelle, NY by the State Assembly, but never chose a place to buy outside of Bordentown. The house he actually bought, along with a piece of land across Crosswicks Creek, was on Church St. W. It was moved sometime in the late 19th century from the corner of Farnsworth down the block of Church St W. a couple of lots, and is still there. The plaque on Farnsworth is incorrect as it names the present structure at the NW corner of Farnsworth and Church W as the house. However, Paine never lived in the house he bought! He "gave" it to a widow of the war to live rent free, and then rented it to a ship Captain and his wife. He eventually sold it in 1803 along with the land across the creek. Paine actually lived in Bordentown between 1778 and 1787 (one of the longest residences in his life) with his close friend Joseph Kirkbride at the foot of Farnsworth overlooking the river (the property is at 2 Farnsworth). He had a room on the second floor of a large house, and it was there he worked on his famous bridge. A statue of Paine was erected in 1996 near this property where his horse Button grazed at the end of Prince St. This house became a hotel and then the first female college in the country. It burned to the ground around 1900, and the current house there was built soon after.

The post Did Thomas Paine live in Bordentown? appeared first on Thomas Paine Historical Association.

What was Thomas Paine’s stance on slavery?

Thomas Paine Historical Association — Mon, 05 May 2025 07:29:40 +0000

Paine was a staunch abolitionist despite the fact that he seldom wrote on the subject. The biographies on Paine are in error when they attribute “African Slavery in America” and “A Serious Thought” to Paine, and Paine was not a founding member of the first abolitionist organization established in Philadelphia in 1775. However Paine always called for the abolition of slavery in personal corresondence and was close friends with many of the leading abolitionists of his day. Recent discoveries in the research into Paine’s undiscovered works has revealed more abolitionist tracts and letters, and the influential pamphlet written in London, “Old Truths and Established Facts”, to get the abolitionist Slave Act passed has been confirmed that it was written by Paine and Joseph Priestley. See, for example, To Benjamin Rush March 16, 1790. Also see Mariam Touba’s essay.

The post What was Thomas Paine’s stance on slavery? appeared first on Thomas Paine Historical Association.

Did Thomas Paine make corsets for a living?

Thomas Paine Historical Association — Mon, 05 May 2025 07:29:40 +0000

Paine was trained at an early age to follow his father's trade as a staymaker. The first biography of Paine by Oldys (who was paid by an English Lord to slander Paine) characterized Paine as "corset-maker" to deride him. This is one of the many slanders spread to this day to discredit him. Paine trained as a teenager to be a staymaker but worked only a couple of years at it after returning from sea as a privateer at age 20.

The post Did Thomas Paine make corsets for a living? appeared first on Thomas Paine Historical Association.