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Rights Of Man Thomas Paine Summary

Decent Essays

Thomas Paine, born British but later a proud American, was certainly one of the most revolutionary thinkers of his time. In his pamphlet, Rights of Man, he describes what it meant to live in America, and how it stood out from Western Europe. Paine illustrated the United States as being “of people from different nations...” who were ultimately are seamlessly united under one democratic government. He pointed out that only in America, could you find a government which didn’t oppress the impoverished nor grant her wealthier citizens with special privileges that separated them from the common folk. Lastly, Paine addressed the true purpose of any democratic government which is to serve the people it governs by bringing them just reform. Paine’s characterization of America still holds true today, evidenced by: the diverse ethnic makeup of America,the recent tax cut, which benefits middle-class Americans, and the crafting of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution following the Civil War. Foremost, Paine drew attention to a unique phenomenon which was was occuring nowhere else in the world, where in Paine’s words, “People from different nations, accustomed to different forms and habits of government, speaking different languages,” were united under one government in addition to, “the principles of society and the rights of man.” In many ways, America still is the immigrant society that Paine brought up in his pamphlet. Almost fifthteen percent of the U.S population is Hispanic,

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