Tom Paine
Writer and Revolutionary
By Jill Scholey
15th Jan 2012
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The turning point came in April 1775 when a group of American militiamen were attacked by a band of British redcoats on Lexington Green.
This incident was to mark the beginning of the War of Independence, and made Paine extremely angry.
He wrote “When the country into which I had just set my foot, was set on fire about my ears, it was time to stir”.
As Paine developed as a writer, he found himself parting ways with Aitken.
More and more, Paine wished to concentrate his attention on rousing Americans to fight for their liberty and independence.
As a Quaker, Paine had been brought up to avoid violence, but he recognised the dilemma. "I am thus far a
Quaker that I would gladly agree with all the world to lay aside the use of arms, and settle matters by
negotiation, but unless the whole will, the matter ends, and I take up my musket and thank heaven
He has put it in my power."
Paine published Common Sense in 1776, which was to have an overwhelming influence on the colonies.
It was an immediate success and sold more copies than any other pamphlet of the time.
Not only was it published in America but in Europe too.
Paine estimated that 150,000 copies were sold in America alone.
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