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You are here: Home / Archives for Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine articles on Democracy Chronicles

Born in 1737 England, Thomas Paine was perhaps the most important advocate for democracy in history and saw worldwide democracy as his ultimate goal. He fought with George Washington in the American Revolution while advocating for the end of slavery, the empowerment of women and diplomacy with Native American tribes. As the leading voice for democracy in the French Revolution, he stood alone calling for the end of the death penalty before the revolution devolved into the Reign of Terror, only barely escaping execution by guillotine himself. Contemporary poet Joel Barlow said, "Without the pen of Thomas Paine, the sword of Washington would have been raised in vain". Also see our articles on the Founding Fathers.

How New World Peoples Inspired the Age of Democracy

March 24, 2025 by Adrian Tawfik 3 Comments

A good example of an Iroquois assembly meeting is this painting titled "The Trial of Red Jacket" by John Mix Stanley - source

What is largely underappreciated is how European exposure to the novel concepts of governance helped spark the Enlightenment and give birth to modern democracy.

Filed Under: Adrian Tawfik's Opinion Column, DC Authors Tagged With: Brazil, Election History, Founding Fathers, Native Americans and Democracy, Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine and Bob Dylan

April 5, 2023 by Gary Berton 2 Comments

Thomas Paine and Bob Dylan

I commend Bob Dylan for grasping Thomas Paine’s essence, and for putting it to use. He did a much better job than most historians in that time.

Filed Under: DC Authors Tagged With: Election History, Founding Fathers, Thomas Paine

Examining Government As A “Necessary Evil”

April 29, 2022 by Gary Berton Leave a Comment

Thomas Paine defines government as separate from society, and indeed if society functioned perfectly there would be no need for government.

Filed Under: DC Authors Tagged With: Election History, Founding Fathers, Libertarian Party News, Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine Was Not A Libertarian

April 8, 2022 by Gary Berton Leave a Comment

Libertarianism is the feeble step-child of anarchism: espousing that the individual is everything, the collective is always oppressive.

Filed Under: DC Authors Tagged With: Anarchism, Election History, Founding Fathers, Libertarian Party News, Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine and the Origins of Modern Democracy, Part II

March 25, 2022 by Gary Berton 1 Comment

Central to Paine’s political theories are his ideology of first principles. The foundation of these principles is equality, and as a direct result, justice.

Filed Under: DC Authors Tagged With: Election History, Founding Fathers, Thomas Paine, Worldwide

Paine and the Origins of Modern Democracy, Part I

March 15, 2022 by Gary Berton 1 Comment

Thomas Paine is the founder of modern democracy. He crafted the democratic movement in three countries, and it spread on its own around the world.

Filed Under: DC Authors Tagged With: Election History, Founding Fathers, Greece, Political Dissidents, Thomas Paine

Today I Am Celebrating Thomas Paine’s Birthday

January 29, 2022 by Adrian Tawfik 7 Comments

Paine's Birthday

Born in England on January 29, 1736, the largely forgotten Thomas Paine is known in some circles as the “most-important Englishman whoever lived”.

Filed Under: DC Authors Tagged With: Election History, Founding Fathers, Political Dissidents, Thomas Paine

Upcoming Event: Thomas Paine’s Birthday Zoom Jan. 29

January 26, 2022 by DC Editors Leave a Comment

Thomas Paine's birthday

Hosted by the Thomas Paine National Historical Association, DC urges you to join a zoom event to celebrate the anniversary of Thomas Paine’s birthday.

Filed Under: International Democracy Tagged With: Election History, Founding Fathers, Thomas Paine

Common Sense for Uniting America

November 28, 2021 by Ted Getschman Leave a Comment

Max voting unites us. It incentivizes all candidates to align their political platforms as closely as possible with the majority opinion.

Filed Under: DC Authors Tagged With: Election Methods, Thomas Paine

Happy Tom Paine Day 2019 – Celebrating a Revolutionary

January 29, 2019 by DC Editors Leave a Comment

Tom Paine Our Community – 01.25.18

This year you can celebrate the event with the Florida Veterans for Common Sense in Florida or the much celebrated the Thomas Paine Society in California.

Filed Under: American Democracy Originals, Democracy in America Tagged With: Election History, England, Founding Fathers, Thomas Paine, Worldwide

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