Celebrating Thomas Paine’s birthday is important to remember the man who was a central character in the British, American and French democracy movements
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.
Of True American Heroes (A Defense of American Liberty)
Those who restrict, manipulate, or affect free elections are enemies of True American Heroes
The Connected March on Washington and Syria
History should remind us that our first duty to democracy begins at home: A look at the March on Washington and Syria
Religion and America’s Founding Fathers
Distaste of religion and America’s Founding Father’s words have allowed religion to prosper
Academic Institute For Thomas Paine Studies Founded
Institute For Thomas Paine to study life and work of democracy revolutionary Paine and to be based in his American home in New Rochelle in New York State
July 4: What Became of the American Revolution?
Lofty ideals of war weigh heavily on minds of celebrators this Fourth of July as many wonder if they like what became of the American Revolution
January 29, 1737: Thomas Paine’s Birthday
Thomas Paine was a British man who was a central character in the American and French Revolutions on the side of democracy and human rights.
New Book Revisits Thomas Jefferson, the Man
Book revisits Thomas Jefferson’s contribution to democracy theory and practice cements his place in history
A Really Democratic Foreign Policy
Really Democratic Foreign Policy: When Immanuel Kant and Thomas Paine wrote of democracy in the days of the American Revolution, they did so based on a belief that democratic countries would avoid war with each other. Let it be so.
Why China’s Political Model is Worse than Democracy
The government-selected managers of China’s massive state-subsidized industries, including finance, are caricatures of the only villain in Marx’s ideology, the ruthless power-corrupt upper class.