The Crisis: A series of pamphlets supporting the
Revolutionary War (1776-1783)
Common Sense: A pamphlet in which he advocated American
independence (Jan. 1776)
· Thomas Paine (1737-1809)
o Born in England in 1736 or 1737
o Parents were Quakers
o Left school at age 13
o Works at father’s trade of corset-making until age 18, when he goes to sea as a privateer
o In April 1759 he settles at Sandwich and a master stay-maker
o Marries in September 1759
o Wife dies a little more than a year later
o Became a government bureaucrat until 1774, when he was fired on charges of smuggling
o In 1771 he married Elizabeth Ollive, daughter of his landlord. Shortly thereafter he and his wife were formally separated.
o By advice of Benjamin Franklin, whom he met in London, he came to America and at once found employment for his pen.
§ Franklin says Paine is an “adopted political son”
o Outraged by events at Lexington and Concord
o A contributor to the first issue of the Pennsylvania Magazine, published in Philadelphia in January, 1775, and soon after its editor and so continued for eighteen months.
o From August, 1776, to January, 1777, he was a soldier in Washington's army, and it was while at the front that he wrote the first number of The Crisis which so powerfully heartened the country for the struggle.
§ Crisis #2: coins term “United States of America”
o He served in American government posts throughout the remainder of the war
o In February, 1782, he was engaged by the secretary of foreign affairs at what was then called the handsome salary of $800 per annum.
o In 1784 the state of New York gave him a house and 277 acres of land at New Rochelle, in 1785 Pennsylvania 500 pounds of sterling
o In October, 1785, Congress gave him $3000. The several amounts were sufficient to make him financially independent.
o From 1787 to 1802 he was in Europe, most of the time in France.
o His Rights of Man, published in London in 1791, attracted the attention of the French liberal party, and he was made a citizen of France and elected to the National Assembly.
o He had the courage to vote against the execution of Louis XVI., and thus incurred the anger of Robespierre, who threw him into the prison of the Luxembourg on December 28, 1793, and there he remained until November 4, 1794, when, on the solicitation of James Monroe, minister to France, he was released.
o On October 30, 1802, he landed once more in America. He found that the reputation he had made as a patriot had been almost forgotten and it was as the author of The Age of Reason he was known. So great was the popular execration of that book that many who would gladly have shown their appreciation of his great services to the country refused to countenance him on account of it.
o Hooted upon the streets, lampooned in the newspapers, deserted by his political associates, he lived a wretched existence.
o He was buried on his farm in New Rochelle, but his remains were removed to England in 1819 by William Cobbett. What became of them is unknown.
Historical Background
See notes on Patrick Henry
- Common Sense (1776)
o printed in Philadelphia and soon selling fast all over the colonies
o In a few weeks, it had sold over 100,000 copies
o Almost everyone had read it or heard about it
o Talks up British atrocities
o Also: “the cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind”
o George Washington reads the pamphlet by Jan. 31 and approves of it
o Dismisses talk of compromise with British and advocated full-blown independence
o Helps to create image of King George III as a monster and a tyrant
§ Until then he was seen merely as obstinate and ignorant
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The Crisis
o First of sixteen pamphlets
o December 19, 1776 – December 9, 1783
o First one says “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”
§ Published just a month after Washington’s retreat across New Jersey
§ In 1776, Parliament wanted to end war once and for all by attacking New York – 55,000 men (including 30,000 Hessian mercenaries) in August 1776
§ Washington stealthily evacuates Long Island after 24hrs of furious fighting under cover of darkness and dense fog. Next morning British find empty trenches.
§ In Manhattan Island, Am. Troops run away from Hessians – hat on ground: “Are these the men with whom I am supposed to defend America?”
§ Sept. 21, 1776 – NYC up in flames – no one ever knew the cause
§ Washington’s army is soon in full retreat
§ In December, it was clear that Congress would not send Washington the troops and supplies he had requested, 6,000 of his soldiers were anxious to leave when enlistments ran out at end of the year
§ Even British thought they could wait it out in NYC until spring, and leaves only 1200 Hessians to guard Trenton
§ At this time The Crisis came out, and on Dec. 23, it was immediately read to all army regiments to boost morale. Two nights later they cross the Deleware (so cold two men froze to death)
§ They catch Hessians off-guard in a hangover on day after Christmas and capture them all without a single shot being fired
Themes/Observations
- Power of prose
- Patriotism
- Patrick Henry vs. Thomas Paine
- Crucial nature of The Crisis to the American war effort
- Others??