A passageway in the Town of Lewes …East Sussex

5. In 1776, In “Common Sense” Paine argued that it was time for the American colonies to secede from Britain and form an independent nation.

6. The pamphlet was widely distributed and convinced many colonists that it was indeed time to form a new nation.

7. It contained rational and straightforward arguments that they could understand and arguably was the fuse that led to the creation of the United States of America

8. Over ½ million copies were sold to a population of ca 2½ million of which ½ million were slaves!

9. Unfortunately, Paine could not convince the Americans that they should renounce the biblical institution of human slavery

10. Unfortunately, Paine could not convince the Americans that they should renounce the biblical institution of human slavery It was Lincoln who had read Paine's writings as a young man, and had thus been inspired to struggle for change

11. A passageway in the Town of Lewes …East Sussex

19. by Taraya Thomas Paine, author of 'Common Sense' Two hundred thirty-six years ago today, at the dawning of a revolution, a pamphlet was published with an unassuming name: Common Sense. This publication’s passionate approach to American independence and straightforward appeals to the people clarified for many the goals of the revolution, paved the way for the Declaration of Independence, and made Common Sense one the the most influential pamphlets in American history.

21. Thomas Paine's famous pamphlet changed the mindset of many Americans The pamphlet was published anonymously due to its treasonous messages, signed only “Written by an Englishman.” It was the first American-produced work to directly appeal for freedom from “the royal brute of Britain”. Its success was enormous in comparison to the population of the colonies at the time, selling 500,000 copies in the first year alone. Common Sense argued against a monarchy, shot down John Locke’s reasoning for a constitutional monarchy, and called for a union of the colonies.  Paine even proposed his own ideas for the proper way to run a government with the least amount of potential for one person to have complete control over the laws of the land.

22. Paine’s pamphlet massively influenced the opinions of the Americans, most of whom still regarded themselves as Britons, albeit troubled and estranged. Paine’s fervent opinion that they had escaped the clutches of a tyrannical “monster” that was still chasing them changed their thinking, causing many who were still undecided about American independence to discover where their loyalties lay and join the cause for freedom. Common Sense was a major addition to the sweeping propaganda that led the American people into a life-changing revolution.

23. http://spotlights.fold3.com/2012/01/09/thomas-paine-shows-his-common-sense/http://spotlights.fold3.com/2012/01/09/thomas-paine-shows-his-common-sense/

24. Common Sense In January of 1776, a man by the name of Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet entitled Common Sense, in which he outlined the reasons that he felt it was time for the colonies to part company with Great Britain, and form their own independent nation.

25. Common Sense was widely distributed and read throughout the colonies, and was influential in convincing many thousands of colonists that it was indeed time to form a new united nation. Common Sense was widely distributed and read throughout the colonies, and was influential in convincing many thousands of colonists that it was indeed time to form a new united nation.

26. by Taraya Thomas Paine, author of 'Common Sense' Two hundred thirty-six years ago today, at the dawning of a revolution, a pamphlet was published with an unassuming name: Common Sense. This publication’s passionate approach to American independence and straightforward appeals to the people clarified for many the goals of the revolution, paved the way for the Declaration of Independence, and made Common Sense one the the most influential pamphlets in American history.

27. Thomas Paine's famous pamphlet changed the mindset of many Americans The pamphlet was published anonymously due to its treasonous messages, signed only “Written by an Englishman.” It was the first American-produced work to directly appeal for freedom from “the royal brute of Britain”. Its success was enormous in comparison to the population of the colonies at the time, selling 500,000 copies in the first year alone. Common Sense argued against a monarchy, shot down John Locke’s reasoning for a constitutional monarchy, and called for a union of the colonies.  Paine even proposed his own ideas for the proper way to run a government with the least amount of potential for one person to have complete control over the laws of the land.

28. Paine’s pamphlet massively influenced the opinions of the Americans, most of whom still regarded themselves as Britons, albeit troubled and estranged. Paine’s fervent opinion that they had escaped the clutches of a tyrannical “monster” that was still chasing them changed their thinking, causing many who were still undecided about American independence to discover where their loyalties lay and join the cause for freedom. Common Sense was a major addition to the sweeping propaganda that led the American people into a life-changing revolution.

29. Thomas Paine (1737-1809) - Paine’s writings influenced the American Revolution (1775-1783), the French Revolution (1789-1799), and free thought movements ever since;

30. “You will do me justice to remember that I have always supported the Right of Man to his own opinion, however different that opinion be from mine.

31. “…He who denies to another this right makes a slave of himself to his present opinion, because he precludes himself the right of changing it”

32. Paine drew on Lewes's dissenting tradition when it came to formulating many of his own ideas. Indeed, there was no escaping it, for the town's radical past was present wherever he went, a robust tradition reaching back through time ...

33. Following the battle of Lewes in 1264, Simon de Montfort compelled Henry III to sign the Mise of Lewes which laid the foundation for parliamentary government in England

34. During Queen Mary’s persecution of Protestants in the mid sixteenth century, seventeen Protestant martyrs went to the stake in the name of their faith

35. During the Civil War, Lewes declared for the Commonwealth and raised a troop to fight for the Parliamentary cause.

36. Five centuries previously, the townspeople razed much of Lewes castle at the death of their Norman overlord, protesting that they were now free men;

37. Q Tom Paine - Champion of the Enlightenment

38. Thomas Paine His influence on the Enlightenment, the founding principles of the United States of America and why he is important today at the dawn of the Dark Ages 2.0

39. The Enlightenment

40. Paine and Freethinking

42. Paine drew on Lewes's dissenting tradition when it came to formulating many of his own ideas. Indeed, there was no escaping it, for the town's radical past was present wherever he went, a robust tradition reaching back through time ...

43. Following the battle of Lewes in 1264, Simon de Montfort compelled Henry III to sign the Mise of Lewes which laid the foundation for parliamentary government in England

44. During Queen Mary’s persecution of Protestants in the mid sixteenth century, seventeen Protestant martyrs went to the stake in the name of their faith

45. The White Hart - Lewes

47. During the Civil War, Lewes declared for the Commonwealth and raised a troop to fight for the Parliamentary cause.

48. Five centuries previously, the townspeople razed much of Lewes castle at the death of their Norman overlord, protesting that they were now free men;