Thomas+Paine+bl4

=Thomas Paine (1737-1809)=

Essential Questions

 * 1) Why is Thomas Paine important to American history?
 * 2) What was Thomas Paine's role in the American Revolution?
 * 3) What influence does Thomas Paine have on us today?

Accomplishments

 * 1) January 10, 1776, he published a short pamphlet, //Common Sense//, which immediately established his reputation as a revolutionary propagandist.
 * 2) In August 1792, Paine was made a French citizen and a month later was elected to the National Convention.
 * 3) During his imprisonment, Paine embarked on his third influential work, //The Age of Reason// (London and Boston, 1794-95).
 * 4) In 1774, Paine met Benjiman Franklin in London. Franklin helped him emigrate to America from England.
 * 5) From December 28, 1793, until November 4, 1794, he was imprisoned in Luxembourg prison until the intercession of the new American minister, James Monroe, secured his release.
 * 6) Paine's political influence was greatest in England. In intellectual terms, his //Rights of Man// was his greatest political work and was certainly the best-selling radical political tract in late 18th century England.
 * 7) Wrote a series of pamphlets entitled //The Crisis// during the American Revolution. These articles showed Paine's belief of America being independent and self-governed. The most famous of these being //Common Sense//.
 * 8) Paine claimed that 150,000 copies of //Common Sense// were sold.
 * 9) Paine was known most for his “plain style.”
 * 10) Paine married his daughter and took over Ollive’s tobacco shop; but soon thereafter he again lost his position as collector, the tobacco shop failed, and in 1774 he separated from his wife.

Works Cited Harris, Sharon M. __Houghton Mifflin college division__. 2007. 23 Oct. 2007 . Kelly, Melissa. "Thomas Paine - Writer/Propagandist." __About.com__. 2007. 23 Oct. 2007 <[|http://712educators.about.com/cs/biographies/p/paine.htm>.] Klemetti, Erik, et al. "Thomas Paine." __US History__. 2007. 23 Oct. 2007 . Kreis, Steven. __The History Guide__. 11 Oct. 2006. 23 Oct. 2007 . Reuben, Paul P. "Chapter 2: Thomas Paine." __Perspectives in American Literature__. 24 Mar. 2007. 22 Oct. 2007 <[|http://web.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap2/paine.html>.] Saffier, Fannie. "Thomas Paine." __Adventures in American Literature__. Austin: Holt, Rinehar and Winston, 1996. 94.