Thomas Paine

"This is the birthday of a new world." 

WHO HE WAS: Thomas Paine was a writer who's ideas about the equality of all men encouraged the American colonists to rebel against the British. He was born in 1737 in England to a Quaker family. The Quakers were an English religious sect that did not believe that the kings have a God given right to rule. His family was not wealthy and it was difficult for Tom to attend school. He started working for his father when he was only thirteen, making corsets for ladies. This job was just the beginning of a long string of jobs that Tom was to hold, including being a sailor, a schoolteacher, and even a grocer. None of these jobs seemed very interesting to him. 

While working, he also managed to study politics and science. In 1774 he met Benjamin Franklin, who was in England at the time. Franklin suggested that he move to the American colonies. He moved to Pennsylvania that year. The following year, he published a pamphlet called "Common Sense" where he suggested that the colonies should declare their independence from England. It became very popular and actually sold a half million copies. 

Because of this writing, the British government considered Thomas Paine a traitor. Many important leaders read his words, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. He continued to write for the cause of independence. The following words were written by Paine and read aloud by George Washington to his soldiers at Valley Forge: 

WHAT HE SAID:  

"Hereditary succession has no claim. For all men being originally equals, no one by birth could have the right to set up his own family in perpetual preference to all others for ever, and tho' himself might deserve some decent degree of honours of his contemporaries, yet his descendants might be far too unworthy to inherit them." - Common Sense.

 "Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER" and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth." - December 23, 1776