Early life
This country is where Thomas Paine was born in 1737.
What is England?
Thomas Paine arrived in the American colonies in this year.
What is 1774?
This pamphlet was published by Thomas Paine in January 1776.
What is Common Sense?
This series of essays was written by Paine during the Revolutionary War.
What is The American Crisis?
Paine believed government should exist to serve this group.
Who are the people?
Paine grew up in this social class, which shaped his views on power and authority.
What is the working class?
At the time Paine arrived, tensions were growing between the colonies and this country.
What is Britain?
Common Sense was different because it used this type of language.
What is clear and direct language?
These essays were written when this was low among soldiers and civilians.
What is morale?
Paine helped shape this developing idea in the colonies.
What is American political identity?
Paine had very little of this, which helped him connect with ordinary people.
What is formal education?
Many colonists were frustrated by taxes and this political issue.
What is lack of representation?
Rather than just criticizing policies, Paine attacked this entire system.
What is monarchy?
This general ordered parts of The American Crisis to be read to soldiers.
Who is George Washington?
Despite his influence, these groups were largely excluded from Paine’s vision of equality.
Who are women, enslaved people, and Indigenous peoples?
Living under this type of system caused Paine to oppose inherited power.
What is monarchy?
Before Paine’s influence, many colonists still hoped for this instead of independence.
What is reconciliation with Britain?
Common Sense helped shift public opinion from reconciliation to this goal.
What is independence?
The American Crisis encouraged soldiers to continue fighting during this type of moment.
What are difficult or desperate times?
Paine’s work shows that revolutions are influenced not only by battles, but also by this.
What are ideas and beliefs?
Paine’s early struggles most directly influenced his opposition to this idea.
What is kingship / inherited authority?
Paine noticed political debates were mainly written for this group, not ordinary people.
Who are elites?
The success of Common Sense showed the power of this method of spreading ideas.
What is mass communication / pamphlets?
Paine’s wartime writing shows that this was as important as weapons in the Revolution.
What are ideas / words / morale?
Paine’s long-term impact demonstrates continuity and change in this concept.
What is citizenship / political participation?