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On January 29, 1737, Thomas Paine was born in Thetford, England. His father, who was a corseter, had high hopes for his son, but by the age of 12, Thomas had failed out of school. Then when he was 19, Paine went to sea which didn't last long and by 1768 he was a tax officer in England. Thomas got discharged from his post, but he got an idea of what was to come and he published The Case of the Officers of Excise arguing for a pay raise for officers. In 1774 he met Benjamin Franklin in London and he helped him emigrate to Philadelphia. His career turned to journalism while in Philadelphia and very suddenly Thomas Paine became very important. In 1776, he published Common Sense, which was about American Independence from England. Later in 1791 to 1792, he wrote The Rights of man in response to criticism of the French Revolution. This work caused him to be labeled an outlaw in England for his anti-monarchist views. He would have been arrested, but he fled for France to join the National Convention. Derided by the public and abandoned by his friends, he died on June 8, 1809 at the age of 72 in New York City.

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How did he influence the U.S. government

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How did he influence the U.S. government

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Thomas Paine influenced the government in so many ways. One way being that he published several pamphlets about things like pay raises for officers, American independence and criticism about the French Revolution. These things influenced our freedom and one of his other works helped inspire our army. Another way Thomas influenced the U.S. government is his American Crisis papers that are ongoing support for an independent and self-governing America. My final reason I think Thomas Paine influenced the U.S. government is by not giving up after writing so many papers and pamphlets, being imprisoned and almost being executed Paine never gave up.

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Paine's arguments or ideas were straightforward. He argued for two main points independence from England and the creation of a democratic republic. These ideas lead him to writing his Common sense pamphlet and Crisis papers.

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Paine had two brief marriages and was unsuccessful or unhappy in every job he had. After being fired from the excise office after asking for a raise and just when his situation appeared hopeless, he met Benjamin Franklin in London, who advised him to seek his fortune in America.

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More works that contributed to his reputation as one of the greatest political propagandists in history were Rights of Man and The Age of Reason.

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Thomas Paine was also a political pamphleteer whose Common sense pamphlet and Crisis papers were important influences on the American Revolution.

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By the age of 12 Thomas had failed out of school and began apprenticing for his father. He then failed again and at age 19 went to sea.

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After going to sea Thomas later found himself as a tax officer in England which then turned into journalism and then a very well known English-American author.

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On January 29, 1737 Thomas Paine was born in Thetford, England.