THE CRISIS
BY THOMAS PAINE
English-born Thomas Paine (1737-1809) may be
regarded as a “professional revolutionary.” He first
came to Pennsylvania during a time of colonial unrest
and was given letters of introduction to prominent
colonists by his admirer, Benjamin Franklin. Paine’s
pamphlet Common Sense became required reading
for any colonist who identified himself as a patriot.
Washington had the first issue of The Crisis read aloud
to his troops for inspiration. Paine later continued on
to France during its revolution and died there while still
writing on transnational human rights and
enlightenment philosophy.