Thomas Paine's Influence On American History

“Join, or Die.” “Don’t Tread on Me.” These are two mottos often used by Revolutionary supporters and fighters from about 1754 to 1783, and even sometimes today it is still used. These were battle cries that patriotic men would scream with all their might before charging onto the battlefield, where they might take their last breath. Nearly five thousand men gave their lives, for freedom’s sake. Their sacrifices were not done in vain, as the war was ended on September 3rd, 1783. This sense of victory and accomplishment is what lead these new Americans to further establishing their country, making their mark on history, and creating a new identity for themselves, as free men and woman.
If you ever paid attention in your history class, you might

know that in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue and in 1607 Jamestown became the first successful colony in North America. Move down the timeline a little bit and you’ve got the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth in 1620 and just a couple of years later in 1632, the town of Williamsburg was founded in Virginia. The east coast continued to become more populated and developed and larger cities were being founded, as well as official “states” that were owned by Great Britain. About this same time on the timeline you bump into the French and Indian War. And then, history itself began to change.
The year is 1763 and Great Britain enforces a new Act, or law, on the colonies in hopes of lifting the debt that was created during the French and Indian War.

These Acts were newly signed laws and taxes such as the Stamp Act, Tea Act, Quartering Act, Sugar Act, etc. These were continually created and passed by Parliament until 1775, when the colonists drew a line in the sand and said “enough”. The last Act imposed by Parliament was the Intolerable Acts, which stripped Massachusetts of judicial rights and ability to self-govern. A spark ignited and the colonists and Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense, writes, “If there must be trouble let it be in my day, that my child may have peace” (“Thomas Paine

Quotes”).
The war officially starts in April of 1775, and for eight years the small and seemingly powerless battle against the superpower of the world. The first years of the war are doubtful at best, with defeat after defeat, it looks as though the Crown will end this rebellion quickly. But, with a little well thought out plan, General Washington begins to change the tides. In the beginning of winter, Christmas Day in fact, Washington takes a small army with him to cross the Delaware and ambush sleeping Hessians in the early morning. After that, the war began to pick up for the Continentals. More and more victories, driving the British out of New England and chasing them down the coast to Yorktown. General Cornwallis of the British Military is stuck between the Continental Army and the ocean, as the long awaited French allies of the Continentals arrives, forcing the superpower of the world to surrender. The Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3rd, 1783, marking the start of a new country, based on Independence.
But, what about after the war?

What was America like after the war? What did the civilians do? What was their lives like now? Well, these are all some good questions. But first it should be discussed about what the everyday man was like before the war. The colonists were men who were sent by their king to go and settle on this newly found land. At first, it was only men since the conditions were so strenuous but later women and children came over once an area of land was settled. Later on, colonists were those trying to escape religious oppression or tyranny. Slowly, more colonists became everyday people, the common man. It was these same common men who started the

revolution.
Leading up to the war, citizens became more active in the political matters surrounding them. People started noticing new things they had never known, seeing Great Britain’s true colors as corrupt rulers, caring little to none about those they ruled. In the first years of the war, Thomas Paine writes a pamphlet titled “Common Sense”, in which he writes, “Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even at its best state, is but a necessary evil” (Thomas Paine “Common Sense”). He is trying to show the people that government is something that shouldn’t roam free as the King and Parliament have done. That the rule they have been under is corrupt and that it would, in fact, be morally correct to overthrow such government (most people during this time were very religiously involved, this idea comes from Romans 13 that Paine talks about in his pamphlet). Thomas Jefferson, in regards to the same issue, said, “If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so” (“Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello”). This quote really speaks for itself and further supports what Thomas Paine previously said, along with many ministers in the Great Awakening who supported the idea of a revolution.
However, many people in cities did not side with these “rebels”, as the cities they resided in were under British control. These people did not side with the Continentals for many reasons, whether it was fear of being trialed as a traitor or simply not siding with the rebels. Such cities were almost completely cut off from news that was not biased (similar to “fake news”, citizens would mainly hear news that opposed the Continentals and favor the Crown). In fact, in the first years of the war, barely any citizens supported the “rebels” and their cause (Rose Alexander). Once again, Jefferson has his input on this matter. He says, “It is always better to have no ideas than false ones; to believe nothing, than to believe what is wrong” (“Thomas Jefferson”).
In a couple of years the Continentals prevailed, defeating Great Britain. With the victory of the Revolution, the citizens of the new country felt as though they had a certain swagger, a new and higher position that they did as submissive colonists. After all, defeating the world superpower would make one feel high and mighty. Soon after the end of the war, this feeling was used to launch the country into a rapid construction of itself, in part by the citizens and in part of the great minds and leaders of the time. Minds such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, John Adam, and many others (many that are, unfortunately, forgotten).
This rapid construction of a new nation can be first in the Treaty of Paris itself. After the treaty to end the war was signed, the frontier was opened to the United States to go as far west as where Kentucky and Illinois currently reside (Treaty of Paris). This can be seen later to our third president, Thomas Jefferson, and the Louisiana Purchase. This purchase was bought by the French who were in need of money after their own revolution, which began sometime in the middle of the American Revolution. The United States was now able to reach as far west as Montana. Being explored and navigated the famous Lewis and Clark, their journals were small jolts of inspiration to continue build and thriving in the new land (Lewis, Meriwether).Years later the west coast was finally reached and the country began to build itself up, with no need for further exploration (at least in the minds of people then), focusing on cities, factories, businesses, and a number of other things.
The American Revolution is arguably the most important event in the history of the United States of America (“The American Revolution: A Concise History”). Not only because it is the very conflict that made a foundation for the country so many call home today, but also because its results and its first leaders set the country up to succeed. The Founding Fathers set this country up to be one completely opposite of that from which it came. This can be evidently seen throughout the early years of its history. The victory of that war is what gave the society a thrill of hope, further inspiring the citizens to establish their country and make their mark on history. This spirit or hope can be seen in many of the Founding Fathers’ words, such as Patrick Henry who said, “Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me Liberty, or give me Death” (Freedom Quotes from the Founding Fathers)!