Thomas Paine (Paine Thomas)

(1737-1809)
Born in Thetford (UK) January 29, 1737. Arrived in America in 1774 with the support of Benjamin Franklin, who idolized. He was editor of "Pennsylvania Magazine '(' Pennsylvania Magazine ', . 1775-1777), . greatly influenced the atmosphere of uncertainty, . characteristic of the time, . putting forward robust arguments in favor of American independence in his pamphlet Common Sense (Common Sense, . 1776), . then, . when the war, . in a series of proclamations American crisis (American Crisis, . 1776-1783),
. The first of these Dzh.Vashington ordered the soldiers to read, to maintain their morale. In this paper, common good (Public Good, . 1780) Paine argued, . that the claim of Virginia to western lands should be part of the question of the right of all the colonies make such claims, he hoped, . that his proposed approach would help unite and strengthen the future of Union,

. In 1787 Paine went to France, . in 1791 in London published the first part of the Treaty of Human Rights (Rights of Man, . 1791), . which welcomed the French Revolution, . responded to the hostile revolution Reflections Burke, . published in 1790, . and explained the advantages of the republic to the monarchy,
. Paine urged the British to overthrow the monarchy, just as was done in France. In Britain, he was accused of treason, fled to France, where he was elected to the Convent in 1792, which belonged to the Girondins, led by Brissot. After the seizure of power by Robespierre Payne in December 1793 was jailed for ten months for having opposed the execution of Louis XVI. Treatise The Age of Reason (The Age of Reason, 1794-1796) was dedicated to the development of the position of deism.

Promonarhicheskie supporters Anglicanism and Calvinism in America, announced this treatise Payne 'bible of atheism' and blasphemy. Jefferson, in his foreword to the Human Rights asserts that its principles and the principles of Paine coincide. Since that time, Payne has often been criticized, hoping to undermine the position of Jefferson. Liberals in America, and various British revolutionary society contributed to the expansion of influence Paine, using his writings as textbooks in educational programs for adults. No less important role played and the furious attacks of the opponents. All this has borne fruit: in 1800 Jefferson was elected president, and in 1832 the UK adopted a Bill on reform. After returning to America at the invitation of Jefferson in 1802 Payne was attacked again Calvinists who sought additional arguments in the bloody and reactionary outcome of the French Revolution. Paine died in New York on June 8, 1809.